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Sharks suspended in formaldehyde, oversized pill graphics, and butterfly-patterned floors await guests arriving at this $100,000-a-night hotel suite, designed by British artist Damien Hirst for the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas.
Offered free of charge to guests with over $1 million (£758,890) in credit at the resort or anyone else who can spend $200,000 (£151,753) for a two-night stay, Hirst's Empathy Suite in Las Vegas spans 9,000 ft² (836 m²) and occupies two floors in the Palms.
The suite features two master bedrooms and a covered outdoor pool overlooking the Las Vegas Strip, along with multiple lounges that can accommodate over 50 people, a massage room, a salt bath relaxation room, a gym, two bathrooms, and a makeup room.
This $100,000-a-night hotel apartment was designed by Hirst in collaboration with New York-based firm Bentel & Bentel Architects and local firm Klai Juba Wald Architects.
Hirst's design style is evident in almost every aspect of the hotel room, from the furniture and textiles incorporating his designs, to six large-scale, original artworks. The most dramatic element involves two sharks in a transparent formaldehyde tank, named Winner/Loser.
Other highlights include a fish-shaped design above the 12-seat bar, titled Here For A Good Time Not Long Time, and a translucent cabinet filled with pills named Monet, next to a six-person dining table. Another cabinet, The Winner Takes It All, is filled with zirconia gemstones.
White and chrome finishes give the interior a modern feel. Hundreds of molded and embroidered motifs of skulls, pills, and butterflies can be found on the walls, furniture, and upholstery.
For example, 104 butterflies and 17 pills were embedded in the marble floor and pool deck.
Peter Bentel from Bentel & Bentel said, “For several months, we’ve been working with Damien’s team to explore every opportunity for intersection between our work and Damien’s. Exploring those opportunities together is the essence of the game, so why not?”
A range of prescription-like designs can be seen, such as the armchairs in the bathroom and a curved countertop at the bar filled with medical supplies.
Two hundred pill-shaped vinyl devices adorned the interior and exterior of the room, while glowing white columns featured capsule designs on translucent membranes.
The Empathy Suite joins the Palms Casino Resort's five other Sky Villas, all of which have been completely redesigned by Bentel & Bentel. Ranging from US$25,000 (£18,969) to US$50,000 (£37,938) per night, the suites are among the most expensive accommodation options in the world, not just in Las Vegas.
Palms reopened in 2018 after extensive renovations, which included the addition of renowned names in the art world such as Jean-Michel Basquiat, Andy Warhol, and Takashi Murakami.
“I love what Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta have done with Palms,” Hirst said. “It’s been fantastic working with them because they are such brilliant collectors and have a deep understanding of art.”
The British artist is known for his extravagant designs, which draw inspiration from popular culture – from animals preserved in formaldehyde tanks to diamond-encrusted skulls.
In 2018, Hirst's new headquarters in London's Soho neighborhood was redesigned with shimmering blue bricks by the architectural studio Stiff + Trevillion.
