Glamour in Glass: Beverly Hills Members Club Shines in Stylish Upgrade

Beverly Hills has always embodied glitz and glamour. From world-class dining to high-end shopping, the city is synonymous with luxury and prestige that has long attracted people from around the world. It’s only fitting that a private members-only club joined the scene.

Designed by Kelly Architects, Gravitas offers its members an unmatched experience by blending extraordinary culinary experiences, impeccable service and exclusive networking opportunities. This 27,000-square-foot club boasts a bespoke, sophisticated design where every detail is thoughtfully customized for the unique uses of every space.

From an open-air dining area with temperature-controlled wine lockers to private conference rooms and game lounges, Gravitas showcases one-of-a-kind artistry, redefining what a luxury hospitality experience should be.

Behind this luxurious experience are dedicated professionals from all specialties whose passion and craftsmanship make Gravitas truly exceptional. Among these artisans are the glass specialists whose commitment to design excellence define the space. After years of mastering the precision and artistry architectural glass demands, their expertise ensures its place in distinguished, high-end environments like Gravitas.

Glass fabricator Pulp Studio and installers Camero Glass and Metal X Fab, LLC each played a vital role in bringing the Gravitas vision to life. These master glass artisans and installers dedicate more than 10,000 hours to refining their technique, developing the precision and control to not only install the glass, but also manipulate it through complex processes such as layering, bending and shaping.

The results are sculptural façades that integrate color, depth and structure to enhance both the aesthetic and functional qualities of the built environment.

Gravitas features decorative architectural glass throughout the exterior, entryway, dining area and conference room—showcasing extraordinary versatility in both design and application of the medium.

Entryway

The entrance of Gravitas features neutral gray reflective glass that creates a sleek, contemporary aesthetic—evoking the feelings of a glass house. Each of the nine panels is laminated to low-iron glass, eliminating the blue-green tint typical of standard glass and allowing the architectural details and decorative elements to appear in their true color and clarity.

A custom-colored interlayer brings the façade to life, casting bold pink and red reflections that shift with the light. According to Kelly Architects, the pink façade glass draws inspiration from California sunsets, lipstick and roses, as well as the wellness culture that Beverly Hills is known for. The vibrant hue symbolizes charisma, and the team sought to thoughtfully reinterpret that spirit for the city of Los Angeles.

With 20% visible light transmission, the glass entrance at Gravitas balances privacy and performance—reducing heat and glare from the Southern California sun while keeping the interior discreet. This thoughtful design ensures that the exclusive social club remains hidden in plain sight, unnoticed by passersby on the street.

Main Dining Area and Cocktail Lounge

Inside the club, 150 pieces of two-layer laminated bronze glass form the stair handrails that frame the art-deco inspired restaurant space. Bold yet refined, their gilded accents catch the light, echoing the club’s luxurious interior. The exposed edges of the glass are a deliberate aesthetic detail, one that elevates the overall design of the club and shouldn’t be overlooked.

Each handrail is crafted using proprietary technology to achieve a flawless, zero-tolerance finish. While building codes require laminated glass for handrails, the meticulous edgework elevates both safety and design integrity. This allows property managers and business owners to go beyond standard pre-polished laminate and realize a truly exceptional, custom finish.

George Kelly, founder and principal architect of Kelly Architects, was onsite for the installation of the handrails. The panels were installed by a specialist from Metal X Fab, LLC using a robotic suction-cup system controlled via remote joystick.

The machine’s precision allowed each panel to be maneuvered into place with remarkable accuracy and control, ensuring a flawless fit and seamless visual alignment.

Conference Room

In the conference room, Camero Glass installed privacy glass that allows effortless control of visibility, seamlessly transitioning from opaque to transparent with the flip of a switch. When powered on, the glass becomes clear; when powered off, it turns translucent, creating a space that’s both private and adaptable.

From the beginning, the intent was to incorporate privacy glass into the space. When walking down the hallway, the glass remains clear, creating the perception of a larger, more open space while offering visibility into all the rentable amenities that Gravitas offers. At the same time, the system allows the ambiance to be adjusted as needed—shifting effortlessly from open and welcoming to private and intimate.

The secret behind this transformation lies in the liquid crystal sheet. In its unpowered state, liquid crystal molecules disperse light, rendering the glass translucent. When voltage is applied, the molecules align in a uniform direction in a way that permits parallel light to pass through the glass.

From the exterior façade to the finest interior details, Gravitas exemplifies how thoughtful design and expert craftsmanship can elevate a space beyond function into an art form. Through the collaboration of architects, artisans and installers, glass becomes more than just a material; it’s a defining element of luxury.

The result is a setting that reflects the sophistication of Beverly Hills itself: timeless, refined and meticulously crafted in every detail.

Kirk Johnson is the CEO of Pulp Studio, the leading fabricator of technically advanced architectural decorative glass in Los Angeles, Calif. With three decades of experience in the glass industry, Johnson began his career on the production floor and has since mastered every facet of the business—from cutting, tempering, and lamination to insulation, fabrication, sales and executive leadership.