Urban impact
The hotel is located in the Plaza Saltillo neighborhood and includes eighty-three rooms situated within a five-story, L-shaped tower and an adjoining two-story podium which houses two restaurants, three bars, a coffee shop, leasable street-side retail space and a parking lot.
Design Philosophy
The project’s philosophy questions the established luxury hotel “requirements”: the grand entry, the hotel restaurant and the spacious -albeit regularly empty- lobby. Instead, the design features a dynamic, functional layout inspired by the material typologies of the surrounding 1920s warehouses as well as the masonry and concrete construction found at Huston Tillotson University, a facility situated next to the project. The resulting building becomes a synergy between high-quality architecture and cost-conscious design strategies.
Façade Morphology & Materials
The facade morphology acts as a playful response to the area’s construction regulations, in which buildings longer than 30m should include, at least, 0.6m by 6m overhangs. As a result, the design employs a series of articulated concrete “ribbons,” formulating long awnings, protected overhangs and corner balconies for hotel guests. The discrete horizontal lines made of concrete are interrupted by a series of carefully selected materials in shades of black.
Contextual Design
The ground floor includes a mix of restaurants situated adjacent to a low-rise brick building with great historical significance. The existing structure is preserved, featuring a bar and a restaurant, and connects to the new addition via the kitchen space. By referencing the architectural language still present in East Austin’s built environment, the project becomes a powerful and original response to an urban context comprised of largely homogenized residential buildings.