Astoria maximizes a narrow space in Washington, DC, blending Orient Express opulence and “Chinese ruggedness” with an elegant layout. Its interior design emerged from several sources of inspiration, including its namesake, New York’s first self-made millionaire J.J. Astor and client Devin Gong’s childhood love of trains. Astoria occupies the first and basement levels of a 3-story building with a fully renovated historic storefront. The main floor is dedicated to guest seating and the basement is used for food prep work and storage. CORE designed an interior that fused elements of Astor’s New York City with luxury of The Orient Express trains, where comfort and amenities were integral to the guest experience.