Downtown Santa Monica Hotels

Downtown Santa Monica Hotels
© Christine Gatti/Dylan Cross

DOWNTOWN SANTA MONICA HOTELS

Gwynne Pugh Urban Studio + Gene Fong Associates

CATEGORY
Hotels

LOCATION
Santa Monica, United States

AREA
158000 ft²

ARCHITECTS
Gene Fong Associates, Gwynne Pugh Urban Studio

EXECUTIVE ARCHITECT
Gene Fong Associates

INTERIOR DESIGN
Studio HBA

LIGHTING DESIGN
Illuminate

GENERAL CONTRACTOR
Lusardi Construction

STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
Englekirk Structural Engineers

MECHANICAL AND PLUMBING ENGINEER
Hellman & Lober

ELECTRICAL ENGINEER
OMB Electrical Engineers, Inc.

CIVIL ENGINEER & SURVEYOR
Psomas

MANUFACTURERS
Arcadia Inc., Dri, Pool Deck Screen

POOL DESIGN
AquaDesign

LEAD COMMISSIONING
Engineering Economics

CIVIL ENGINEER
Psomas

MECHANICAL ENGINEER
Hellman & Lober

ARCHITECT IN CHARGE
Gwynne Pugh, Gene Fong

PLUMBING ENGINEER
Hellman & Lober

SURVEYOR
Psomas

Text description provided by architect.

The process of designing two new hotels at 5th Street and Colorado Avenue in downtown Santa Monica, a site that serves as a vital entry point into the City, presented unique challenges.

Downtown Santa Monica Hotels
© John Edward Linden Photography
Downtown Santa Monica Hotels
© John Edward Linden Photography

Such a prominent location – both a gateway to the City and just blocks away from popular attractions like the famed Santa Monica Pier and 3rd Street Promenade - meant that not just any designs would do.

Downtown Santa Monica Hotels
© John Edward Linden Photography
Downtown Santa Monica Hotels
© John Edward Linden Photography

The new hotels would not only have to meet the highest of aesthetic design standards, but they would also have to work within the City’s multi-modal transportation network.

Downtown Santa Monica Hotels
© John Edward Linden Photography
Downtown Santa Monica Hotels
© John Edward Linden Photography

Gwynne Pugh Urban Studio (GP-US) was hired to provide a design tailored to the City that would incorporate a sensitive urban design and pedestrian approach to inform the buildings’ orientation and character. Gene Fong Associates served as the Executive Architect on the project.

Downtown Santa Monica Hotels
© John Edward Linden Photography
Downtown Santa Monica Hotels
© John Edward Linden Photography

While both structures share some design traits - such as their interior courts that provide for daylight, cross-ventilation, and general interest shops for hotel patrons - it was important that each have its own identity.

Downtown Santa Monica Hotels
© John Edward Linden Photography
Downtown Santa Monica Hotels
© John Edward Linden Photography

The orange metal panels on the Courtyard by Marriott give the hotel its dramatic presence, while slight color variation within the panels adds texture, rhythm, and dynamism.

A cantilevered pool deck sits just over the main entrance on the second floor, giving guests a unique view of the adjacent Metro station.

Downtown Santa Monica Hotels
© Christine Gatti/Dylan Cross
Downtown Santa Monica Hotels
© John Edward Linden Photography
Downtown Santa Monica Hotels
© John Edward Linden Photography

The large cut out created by the second floor deck creates a dynamic change of view for passing train riders and pedestrians.

Downtown Santa Monica Hotels
© Christine Gatti/Dylan Cross
Downtown Santa Monica Hotels
© Christine Gatti/Dylan Cross

At the street level of the Marriott, the primary pedestrian entrance to the hotel is located in the middle of the block and the hotel has been designed to open up to pedestrians as they come off the popular Expo Line.

Downtown Santa Monica Hotels
© Christine Gatti/Dylan Cross
Downtown Santa Monica Hotels
© John Edward Linden Photography

The corner has been given a strong presence by bringing the building down to the edge of the sidewalk, and the storefront has been set back to allow for a widened sidewalk that could accommodate outdoor seating as well as providing for a gracious pedestrian environment.

Downtown Santa Monica Hotels
© Christine Gatti/Dylan Cross
Downtown Santa Monica Hotels
© Christine Gatti/Dylan Cross

The Hampton Inn & Suites, with its sea foam green tower, makes a striking contrast to its neighbor across the street.

Downtown Santa Monica Hotels
© Christine Gatti/Dylan Cross
Downtown Santa Monica Hotels
© Christine Gatti/Dylan Cross

This juxtaposition was purposeful, with the green Hampton meant to symbolize the ocean and the Marriott representing the land.

Downtown Santa Monica Hotels
© Christine Gatti/Dylan Cross
Downtown Santa Monica Hotels
© Christine Gatti/Dylan Cross

The glass curtain wall of the Hampton along Colorado Avenue gives the structure a strong presence, while the entrance has been set back from the street and designed to be as open and transparent as possible.

Downtown Santa Monica Hotels
© Christine Gatti/Dylan Cross
Downtown Santa Monica Hotels
© Christine Gatti/Dylan Cross

One of the effects is the activation of the street corner, thus extending the esplanade that passes in front of the neighboring Marriott and terminates on the other end at the famed Santa Monica Pier.

Downtown Santa Monica Hotels
© Christine Gatti/Dylan Cross
Downtown Santa Monica Hotels
© Christine Gatti/Dylan Cross

In a true exercise of urban design, our firm has actively maintained the theme of the urban fabric and designed two buildings that not only respond to one another, but integrate the neighboring community, the Metro Line, and the existing architectural aesthetic already present in Santa Monica.

Downtown Santa Monica Hotels
© John Edward Linden Photography


Downtown Santa Monica Hotels
© John Edward Linden Photography
Downtown Santa Monica Hotels
© John Edward Linden Photography
Downtown Santa Monica Hotels
© John Edward Linden Photography
Downtown Santa Monica Hotels
© John Edward Linden Photography
Downtown Santa Monica Hotels
© Christine Gatti/Dylan Cross
Downtown Santa Monica Hotels
© Christine Gatti/Dylan Cross
Downtown Santa Monica Hotels
© Christine Gatti/Dylan Cross
Downtown Santa Monica Hotels
© Christine Gatti/Dylan Cross


Downtown Santa Monica Hotels
Site / Ground Floor Plan
Downtown Santa Monica Hotels
Site / 2nd Floor Plan