West Facade (Courtesy of The Chanler)
Perched above Newport’s first beach at the entry to famous Cliff Walk, The Chanler at Cliff Walk is more than just a luxury hotel; it is a model for the adaptive reuse of a historic structure. Originally known as Cliff Lawn, this estate was built during the early Gilded Age, which was a pivotal era in Newport’s architectural history. The building served as a bridge between the Queen Anne and Shingle style cottages of the early Gilded Age and the much larger and more ornate European-inspired mansions that would begin to dominate Newport’s architectural landscape after the arrival of the Astors and Vanderbilts in the 1880’s. Its transformation from a private family retreat into a world-class boutique hotel is an exceptional example of the successful adaptive reuse of a historic structure from one use to another.
The Gilded Age Pedigree: 1873–1900
Photograph of Original Cliff Lawn Estate, ca.1880s
Cliff Lawn was built in 1873 for Congressman John Winthrop Chanler and his wife, Margaret Astor War. They commissioned the renowned Boston architectural firm Peabody & Stearns to design a summer home to be built at a cost of $300,000, which was a princely sum at that time. The lineage of the owners was impeccable: John Winthrop Chanler was a Congressman from New York and Margaret was the granddaughter of William Backhouse Astor Sr., linking the property directly to one of the wealthiest families in American history.
Architecturally, Cliff Lawn was designed in the Stick Style, a quintessentially American aesthetic characterized by decorative timber framing, steep gables, and wrap-around porches. Unlike the later French-inspired limestone chateaus, Cliff Lawn was originally built in the informal style note architectural historian Vincent Scully called “the cottage style”—albeit one with twenty rooms and a commanding view of Easton’s Beach. For decades, it served as a cultural hub for the Chanler family, whose children (known as the “Astor Orphans”) would go on to become influential figures in American politics and art.
A Century of Transition
Adams Style Room (Courtesy of The Chanler)
During the late Gilded Age, much of the original Stick Style exterior was modified, taking on a more Mediterranean or French appearance with stucco finishes that masked its original Victorian characteristics. The mid-20th century was unkind to many Newport estates. After the Chanler era, the house underwent many alternate uses. It served as a historical museum, a girls school, and eventually a mid-priced hotel. Like many “white elephants” of the Gilded Age, the cost of maintenance often exceeded the income generated, leading to a slow decline in the building’s structural integrity.
The 2000–2003 Transformation
A4 Architecture Floor Plan Level 01 (Courtesy of The Chanler)
The modern chapter of the estate began in 2000, when John and Jeannie Shufelt purchased the property with the goal of creating the most elegant hotel in the United States. The adaptive reuse process was exhaustive, costing over $10 million and taking three years to complete, becoming the only Forbes five-star hotel in Rhode Island at the time of completion.
The challenge was to preserve the historical “shell” while completely gutting the interior to accommodate modern plumbing, HVAC, and luxury amenities. The Shufelts opted for a thematic approach, where each of the 20 guest rooms was designed to represent a different historical period or architectural style—ranging from Greek Revival and Renaissance to Louis XVI. Now, under the management of their daughter as the new Proprietress, the building is continuing to evolve, with the very thematic interiors yielding to a luxurious blend of modern and traditional detailing. The evolution of Cliff Lawn into “The Chanler”, like so many of the houses of its era, has mirrored that of the city itself: from a quiet Victorian summer retreat, to a European inspired manor, to a decaying remnant of a bygone era, to a modest hotel, and now transformed into a world-class luxury destination and chic restaurant.
The Chanler Hotel (Terrace)
A4 Architecture has been pleased to assist the current owners in a consulting capacity for the most recent renovations. If you have a New England building project in mid where quality and fine design are critical, please reach out to the award-winning professionals at A4 Architecture to assist you in realizing your architectural dream. We look forward to hearing from you.
Ross Cann, RA, AIA, LEED AP, is an author, historian, and is the founding Principal of A4 Architecture located in Newport, RI. He holds honor degrees in Architecture and Architectural History from Yale, Cambridge, and Columbia Universities and has taught architectural history in a variety of settings for nearly thirty years.