For decades, the airplane hangar has been purely functional. A vast, industrial shell designed only to house aircraft. In Arizona’s private jet hangars, however, that expectation is being reimagined. The Altitude Lounge, a collaboration between Garaza Design and interior designer Stephanie Larsen, transforms the hangar into something entirely new: a destination for living, entertaining and experiencing luxury at altitude.
The project began with an ambitious vision. The client wanted more than storage for a Gulfstream jet; they envisioned a space that could also showcase a collection of luxury cars, host gatherings and feel as refined as their home. For Garaza’s Wes Summer, it was a natural extension of a larger idea.
When people think of garages, they often picture standard epoxy floors and a row of basic cabinets. “You can have these magnificent homes, but the garage is usually this forgotten room,” Summer says. Garaza Design recognized an opportunity to reimagine the space, elevating it from an afterthought into a designed extension of the home and is now bringing that same vision to hangars.
Spanning roughly 20,000 square feet, The Altitude Lounge is immense, designed to accommodate a private jet alongside multiple vehicles displayed on triple-stacked lifts. But what sets the project apart isn’t its size, it’s the atmosphere.
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Rather than treating the hangar as an industrial volume, Larsen approached it like a residence, layering materials to create warmth, contrast and intention.
Brick veneer wall paneling wraps the space, grounding it with texture and permanence, while ribbed walnut paneling introduces warmth. Underfoot, durable tile supports the weight of vehicles, transitioning into hardwood flooring within the lounge to shift from utility to comfort. Steel, wood, concrete and stone are carefully composed, creating a balance between rugged performance and sophisticated design.
At the center of the hangar, the lounge anchors the experience. A slightly raised platform with integrated custom LED lighting defines the space, while a lowered ceiling plane creates intimacy within the expansive structure. A 165-inch screen, layered seating and tactile materials transform the area into a true living environment.
“You can bring the home into the hangar by creating vignettes where you can lounge and enjoy yourself before the flight,” Larsen says. “ It’s more of an experience than just a place of transportation and somewhere to park your planes.”
The result is a hangar designed not just for arrival and departure, but for lingering. A bar, dining area and even a ping pong table, one of the client’s priorities, encourage a more relaxed, social experience.
For Summer, this reflects a broader shift in luxury design. “If someone owns a jet, their expectations are different,” he says. “They want a space that reflects their lifestyle, not just something functional.”
That philosophy extends behind the scenes. The hangar integrates specialized cabinetry to house aviation equipment, from battery tenders to transport systems, all seamlessly incorporated into the design. Every detail is considered for both performance and aesthetics.
“The devil is in the details,” Summer adds. “It’s not just about how it looks, it’s about how it works.”
Even the artistic elements reinforce the narrative. David Yarrow Photography, featuring cars and aircraft, adds visual identity, while early design concepts explored bold, graphic wall treatments inspired by lightning bolts that bring energy and movement to the space.
The Altitude Lounge represents more than a single project; it charts a bold new path. As luxury living evolves, so does the expectation that every environment, even one rooted in function, can be elevated through design.
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