With a constant flux of new businesses moving into the bustling downtown area, it seems the competition to create a unique identity and distinct experience for patrons has resulted in extraordinary design work. To give credit where credit is due, the Downtown News created an informal “Design Awards.” Here are a few of downtown’s must-see favorites — each one creative, but in decidedly unique ways — that are sure to captivate the eye and stimulate conversation among companions. Most Luxurious Walking through the massive 2,000-pound revolving door into the lobby of the Se Hotel — located in the former Jessop Jeweler building at 1047 Fifth Ave. — at once calms and delights the senses. Its dark walls and flooring contrasted by light ceiling and accessories with several square-shaped accents give it a Zen-like, feng shui vibe. A conglomeration of different textures has the effect of subtle, sophisticated luxury. “Wherever there’s a blank wall or unused space,” said Rigel Bitterman, the hotel’s national sales manager, “we commission an artist to come in and construct original artwork.” The Se Hotel’s design work focuses on extravagant details, from an Israeli artist’s rotating silk lanterns and a South African artist’s motif of marble slabs made to look like sand dollars, to the imported Chinese slate tile flooring and the luminescent bar paneling composed of stingray skins. Since every piece of furniture, light fixture and artwork was custom-made for the hotel, including Japanese Raku artwork and the installation of dark wood paneling with hand-carved text taken from adult romance comic books, its one-of-a-kind interior design intrigues the curious observer and makes it an obvious pick for our “Most Luxurious” distinction. While in the elevator, the cross-sections of walnut branches set in vanilla resin walls provide a sensuous ride up to Suite & Tender Restaurant, an American bistro housing an aerial, topographic map of San Diego made from gold powder and resin using laser technology. Even the hotel’s restroom was designed with thoughtful precision. A unisex facility, the restroom enrobed in gray river stones, wall-to-wall and floor-to-ceiling, with individual stalls that blend directly into their surroundings. Upon entering the hotel’s spa, an ocean theme presents itself in the form of handmade clay teacups resembling barnacles. Each treatment room contains a private steam room and shower, and custom massage beds allow guests to plug in their own sound source to play through the room’s speakers, pulsating the bed according to the individual selection’s vibrations. For adventurous couples, Se Hotel’s spa offers Moroccan Rasul mud treatments, the only facility in North America to feature this cleansing ritual incorporating herbal steam. The hotel’s rooftop pool sits atop its neighbor, The House of Blues, and has played host to various cirques and fashion shows. Open since 2009, the Se Hotel boasts 183 guest rooms. For more information, visit www.sesandiego.com. Most Adventurous Finding the entrance to Vin De Syrah alone provides such bemusement that conversation among guests will not be short of substance. Blended into a wall of artificial hedge, the door is at the end of a graffiti-filled staircase located at 901 Fifth Ave. Once inside, guests realize their clumsy efforts have been streamed live for other bar-goers to encounter. “The entrance is the best achievement,” said designer Michael Soriano. “It’s the great equalizer, leaving attitudes behind to be able to laugh with each other. It’s representative of transcending into a scary environment to push through the ugly into an awaiting, beautiful wonderland.” With obvious parallels to “Alice in Wonderland,” Vin De Syrah’s interior includes spinning parasols hung from the ceiling, oversized loveseats, wine barrel planters serving as light fixtures and a suspended chandelier made of antique glass goblets, gnarled wood and 75-year-old wine vines. Lush moss and glittering butterflies are dispersed throughout the wine parlor’s walls, and ornamental birds serve as convenient purse hooks. “The design forges discovery,” said Soriano. “People want to walk around and explore the various spaces.” With complicating obstacles to consider, including a restrictive budget and the heat associated with basement conditions, Soriano had his work cut out for him. His hope was to employ props that evoke memories and associate conversation with the property. “It is supposed to be over-stimulating,” he said. Soriano is the creative visionary behind other local business designs including The Pearl Hotel, Analog Bar, Onyx Room, Sessions Public and the now-defunct Parallel 33. For more information, visit www.syrahwine parlor.com. Most Dramatic Having celebrated its official grand opening June 1, Airr Supper Club’s design is nothing short of drastic. Two adjoining rooms, both completely monochromatic in color, offer a stark contrast. A shock of color has transformed the space previously known as The Witherby, located at 526 Market St., into a transfixing vision of red and white. “I was looking for a venue that was conducive to fitting a traditional design,” said Amy Noel, owner and designer, “but I wanted to do something completely different with it. Since it’s a historic building, the architecture speaks for itself. I just washed it in color to make it stand out.” Located on the second floor, Airr Supper Club gives guests a sense of arrival once they reach the entrance at the top of the stairs. The foyer is filled with red and black graffiti, giving it a fashion-forward, rock ‘n’ roll feel, reminiscent of European design. Entering the white room where contemporary American food is served, diners experience an ethereal atmosphere, piquing their inquisition and causing a close examination of every detail down to the white-as-snow table settings. Relentlessly thorough, every piece of furniture and decor remains untouched by color, with the exception of a wall bolstering wine bottles as the room’s main attraction. Stepping into the red room to discover a cocktail lounge is just as visually striking. Noel’s passion for food, wine, music, fashion and art were her inspirations for the fiery red nightclub. In a seemingly single brush stroke, every surface including the long couches, tables and chandelier are uniform in color. “Food and wine are the stars of the show here,” said Noel. “The white room and red room are a contradiction, but one that works.” A more intimate space serving as a VIP room, known as The Witherby Room, is decorated in black, white and silver with modern furniture. A private elevator for bottle service lends the place an air of exclusivity. Initially, Noel was worried San Diegans might be too conservative to appreciate her extreme design, but it has been well received during a series of soft openings over the last few months. She hopes other local designers will follow in her footsteps to break the mold of what’s expected, and push the boundaries on design. For more information, visit www.airr.us.