1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge

When I lived in New York more than a decade ago, I never quite imagined the transformation of Dumbo – and most certainly wouldn’t have imagined one of the city’s most eco-conscious hotels would open its doors in this very Brooklyn neighbourhood.

After a long flight, my tiredness was met with the friendly, upbeat faces of the 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge staff. Quite a contrast from the can’t-be-bothered nonchalance I’ve grown accustomed to in Paris, the city I currently call home.

Stepping into the hotel, you’re immediately struck by the enormous green vertical garden in the lobby. The soaring space and modern lines are softened by the rustic tones and natural materials that have been carefully chosen to furnish the interiors.

As I check in I notice a huge undulating black sculpture behind the desk – a sculpture, it turns out, by Brooklyn artist Jarrod Beck who created the site-specific piece from rubber strips blown off a rooftop by a tornado in upstate New York. Not your ordinary check-in desk decoration… I’m handed a small round wooden key, constructed from recycled material no doubt, and guided to my room.

Apart from its sweeping views, rugged-yet-inviting interiors, rooftop pool, spacious rooms, and Bamford spa, what really sets 1 Brooklyn – a purpose-built stay where there’s a story behind everything – apart is its commitment to the environment. Forget those friendly reminders to use your towels more than once, in one of the world’s most wasteful industries it was refreshing to find out the hotel is actually powered by wind and planted with vegetation native to the area.

When I stepped into my room, I felt like I was entering my own modern eco-cabin – with no sacrifice in design or comfort, mind. The thoughtful décor pays homage to the surrounding area’s historic industrial roots – I found out later that much of the material was taken from nearby Brooklyn factories – with reclaimed wood and earthy tones used throughout to create a serene space. Its open-plan layout makes the most of the majestic East River views.

It goes without saying that I definitely didn’t find any plastic bottles by my bed. Instead, a bespoke water filter installed in the wall for clean water on tap that you can pour into your bottle-green glass tumblers.

No menus or superfluous papers were in my room either. Instead, next to my bedside I found an iPad programmed with every amenity and service you could possibly need – room service menu is a few taps away; your favourite newspaper at your fingertips.

There isn’t a traditional restaurant as such. Instead there’s a farm stand of sorts, open nearly all day to serve freshly made, locally sourced fare. Should you need a quick trip around the surrounding neighbourhood, there are a few resident Teslas waiting out front to take you where you need to go. I couldn’t resist, so made an excuse to run to the local corner shop just to have a ride in one.

We all try to live better, waste less, contribute more to our local communities – yet somehow when we’re staying in hotels, most of these ideals fly out the window. 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge, though, is setting a new example in urban hospitality. I’m sure it’s only a matter of time before more hotels follow suit.