When night falls in Hội An, the sounds of the ancient Vietnamese port town blend with the lull of the Thu Bon River and the songs of the wildlife. This ceaseless rhythm of nature guided T3 Architects and Kanopea Architecture Studio—alongside lighting designer Kobi Lighting Studio, Ho Chi Minh-based LifeStyle Connected, and landscape architecture firm LJ-Group—in shaping Namia River Retreat.

Clad in dark timber and woven screens, the welcome lounge trades in a check-in desk for an informal seating area

Tucked away on a tranquil islet, Namia embraces a low-impact ethos that is meant to keep guests as close to nature as possible. The journey begins at a modest, hidden entrance off the main roadway, which is enveloped in lush vegetation. From there, guests arrive at the welcome lounge, where, in place of a traditional reception counter, a staff member personally greets them, escorting them across a small footbridge into the retreat.

The mainland welcome lounge leads to the Merchant restaurant, offering a serene dining experience framed by a fishpond and views of the surrounding nipa palm forest. Spanning two interior levels and an outdoor terrace, the indoor-outdoor venue is also open to the public.

Sustainability is woven into every aspect of the design. Buildings are constructed with natural ventilation and deep overhangs to minimize heat and rain exposure, while being elevated on stilts safeguards the river’s ecosystem as well as mitigates flood risks.

Rather than relying on concrete and cement, the team reinforced the riverbanks with native nipa palms and mangroves, allowing nature to play a central role in the preservation. “The idea was to keep as much as we could of the existing trees and make sure all the local plants can grow,” says Charles Gallavardin, cofounder of T3 Architects and Kanopea Architecture Studio. “It’s not just about decorative plants but plants that have a real impact on biodiversity and keeping the soil clean.”

At the Fisherman restaurant, reclaimed wood furniture and stone flooring sit beneath a bamboo ceiling

Lighting plays an equally intentional role. “We didn’t want to let the light take over the night,” says Jonathan Trouillon, founder and general director of Kobi Lighting Studio. “We wanted Namia to have a natural cycle of light—from morning and noon to sunset and then natural night darkness, which is never totally dark. When we started to design the project, we highlighted where we didn’t want artificial light as a way to [promote] wellness.”

The deeper you get into the project, the less lighting there is. “For about 80 to 90 percent of the project, the lighting looks downward,” he says. “We don’t light up the sky or people’s faces—we light up just enough on the floor for people to see. Light acts as a guide.”

That starts at arrival, where ambient lighting guides guests across a bridge to the island portion of the retreat, where 60 villas are nestled into the landscape. The buildings are kept low to ensure the trees tower over the architecture, says Gallavardin, “so [it] disappears among the tropical plants.”

The Honeymoon and River Pool villas feature one-bedroom layouts that open to private plunge pools framed by stone decking and river views

Informed by the region’s design vernacular, the villas reinterpret traditional riverside dwellings with tiled roofs and locally sourced materials. “Instead of being inspired by the historical architecture of the city center, we went around Hội An visiting farms and fishermen houses,” Gallavardin says. “There are small traditional houses along the river that we tried to reinterpret and made them more contemporary and luxurious.”

The guestrooms are restrained yet warm, featuring bamboo flooring, solid wood, and handcrafted ceramics. Industrial materials were minimized, with natural plastering, for instance, replacing chemical-laden paints. “You can come back in 20 years and still think it’s elegant,” says Gallavardin. “We didn’t want to follow the latest trend; we wanted to focus on what’s available in this region, which is so rich in terms of heritage and craftsmanship. We wanted to create something very connected with the landscape, spirit, and identity of the place.”

The open-air, elevated meditation sala—constructed from timber posts and thatch—invites in breeze and filtered forest light

On the island alongside the villas, guests will find the Lumina Spa—a wellness sanctuary designed with a thatched roof for natural ventilation and organic, flowing curves that blend into the riverside landscape. Nearby, exclusive to in-house guests, is the Fisherman, a seafood-focused restaurant set poolside with river views. Unfolding beneath an undulating bamboo ceiling that echoes the waves of the river, the restaurant features a rich blue palette with mosaics inspired by fish markets, stone flooring, and reclaimed wood furniture. The resort’s eco-conscious mission extends to its dining concepts, as well, emphasized through initiatives such as eliminating single-use plastics and non-organic compounds and prioritizing locally sourced ingredients.

At Namia, every facet of the design invites guests to slow down, to “feel the garden, smell the flowers, and hear the river, birds, and nature around you,” Gallavardin adds.

This article originally appeared in HD’s July 2025 issue.

The post Namia River Retreat Harmonizes With Hội An’s Verdant Landscape appeared first on Hospitality Design.

Wellness is no longer a line item or a luxury—it’s a lens through which hospitality is being reimagined. The Global Wellness Institute (GWI) forecasts the wellness economy to reach $8.5 trillion by 2027, with the wellness real estate market alone projected to hit $1.1 trillion by 2029. (The industry doubled from $225 billion in 2019 to $548 billion in 2024.)

Guests are no longer only looking for a place to relax; they’re seeking longevity, connection, and personalized care. For them, wellness is about transformation across mind, body, spirit, and space. With the rapidly expanding market and growing demand, the opportunities—and the stakes—are clear.

“More consumers are seeking out healthy places to live, raise their families, and age with a longer healthspan,” says Beth McGroarty, vice president of research at GWI. “They want healthy indoor air and non-toxic environments, nature and outdoor recreation, social connections in our lonely world, [as well as] stress management and sleep.”

While the spa still matters, today’s forward-thinking hospitality brands are designing ecosystems that support wellbeing across life stages, emotional needs, and social contexts. At this year’s HD Expo + Conference, industry leaders dove into what this all means. “A lot of established hospitality brands looked at wellness as the spa and the gym; it was a necessary evil that you had to build,” says Sarah Bonsall, regional director, the Americas, architecture and design at Six Senses, during a panel. “There wasn’t an ROI—it was something you needed to do to get guests in the door. That has changed fundamentally.”

Now, hotels like Six Senses are expanding offerings so guests can stay well on the road, and even stay longer with wellness-centric residences. In fact, the GWI finds that wellness-focused residential properties at the mid- and upper-market ends command a premium price.

The private boardroom at the Well Residences in Bay Harbor Islands, Florida unfolds beneath slatted wood ceilings, shown in a rendering

Non-hotel companies are also getting in on the wellness branded residences game, such as the Well, which offers amenities ranging from spa treatments to movement classes at its locations around the world. The brand is now bringing its expertise to residences with the Well Bay Harbor Islands, which debuts in September in Florida with architecture by Arquitectonica and interiors by Meyer Davis. (The Well Coconut Grove will follow in 2028 with 194 residences designed by the same team.) “Our job is to create the ecosystem for people to pick what works for them at any given time and choose their own adventure,” points out the Well cofounder and chief creative officer Kane Sarhan.

That same philosophy drives Equinox’s approach. “We call ourselves a club because we want it to be your lifestyle,” says Nadia Biski, vice president of architecture at Equinox. “It’s not just a destination but a journey. It’s your life—how you live each day.”

Whether or not a space is intended specifically for wellness, spatial design plays a critical role in this evolution. Stanley Sun, principal and creative director at Toronto-based Mason Studio, poses the question, “What is it about us and our bodies that are connected that can change based on space?” A multisensory palette—scent, sound, light, and touch—can shift how people interact with their surroundings, themselves, and even how they form memories. Blurring the lines between retail, wellness, and hospitality, Mason Studio designed the Clinica, a beauty retail outlet and spa, as a model for a new kind of healing space. “We wanted people to feel [good] when they walked in,” says Sun. “Our light bar is a flood of light that creates no shadows on your face so you can look in the mirror and feel confident and strong.”

As the definition of wellness evolves, so does its impact on the hospitality landscape. Here’s how wellness is transforming the design and development of hotels and destinations in 2025.

Living Longer—and Better

The bright and airy lobby in SIRO Boka Place in Montenegro features tiered seating

The future of wellness travel is built around optimization. According to McKinsey, more than 60 percent of wellness consumers find it important to invest in products and services that help with healthy aging and longevity, from fitness-centric hotels to advanced biohacking medical services. Almost 60 percent of consumers who traveled for wellness treatments in 2024 said they expect to travel for these treatments in the next year.

“There’s a trend called glow-up getaways,” says Seyi Oduwole, foresight analyst at trend forecaster the Future Laboratory, “which is all about self-optimization, betterment, longevity, and lifestyle.” Guests are seeking measurable outcomes and personalized care. “They want more than just a relaxing holiday,” she says. “They want to see results—a kind of transformational travel.”

Some brands are meeting this demand through strategic partnerships. Viceroy, for example, recently teamed up with the Class, a music-driven somatic practice, to provide guests complimentary access to in-room and on-property video modules for grounding, energetic resets, and intentional movement. Hyatt also partnered with Future personal training to provide guests with complimentary guided workouts via an app.

McGroarty says the biggest trend and new obsession is with longevity and healthspan, “leading to a new marriage between medicine, wellness and, high-tech biohacking.” Take Sam Nazarian’s recently launched the Estate brand, where guests have access to a slew of medical tools like MRI, CT, DEXA scans, advanced blood work, hormone therapy, telehealth, and more.

The rooftop terrace at SIRO Boka Place offers panoramic views of the bay and surrounding mountains

For fitness hospitality brand SIRO from Kerzner International, wellness is embedded into the architecture itself. At the Atellior-crafted SIRO Boka Place in Montenegro, for example, movement flows organically through the ground floor’s high-energy zones—gyms, rooftops, and restaurants—while guestrooms and the Recovery Lab offer a deeper respite. “We wanted the ground floor to feel like different experiences within a single space, not small spaces connected by corridors,” says Sara Felch, vice president of design, Americas, for Kerzner International.

The rooms also include a recovery cabinet with resistance bands, yoga mats, and other accessories for post-workout stretching. “SIRO plays a balancing game between energy, movement, and connection versus recovery, retreat, and mindfulness,” Felch adds. “We are very conscious of designing spaces that guests gravitate toward no matter where they are in their fitness and recovery journey, or what kind of day they’re having. We want everyone to feel welcome, seen, and understood.”

Ameyalli Park City by Appellation, slated to open in 2026, takes a nature-first approach to longevity. Centered around a natural geothermal spring, the residential community—designed by Overland Partners—includes an 80-key hotel, Charlie Palmer restaurant, and a 50,000-square-foot Wellbeing Center. Developed in partnership with new age guru Deepak Chopra, the programming is guided by his seven pillars of wellbeing: emotional regulation, sleep, mindfulness, movement, relationships, nutrition, and laughter.

“We hope guests leave feeling nourished, reconnected, and inspired,” says Christopher Hunsberger, COO and cofounder of Appellation. “[This] is a place to slow down, engage with nature, find a sense of community, and rediscover whole body nourishment and destination travel through incredibly thoughtful wellness and culinary experiences.”

Aging Well

Ellore Santa Clara in California reimagines senior living with a lounge that pairs low-profile seating with textured finishes

By 2030, one in six people will be 60 or older, according to the World Health Organization. In response, the next generation of senior living is redefining what it means to age well.

Properties like Inspīr Embassy Row, designed by Beyer Blinder Belle; the HKS-crafted Vivante Newport Center; and Coterie Hudson Yards from MAWD are setting a new benchmark for senior living.

The bistro at Ellore Santa Clara is wrapped in wooden bookshelves and muted tones

One of MAWD’s latest projects, Ellore Santa Clara, honors the generation that built Silicon Valley. “Their lives have stood in pursuit of innovation,” says firm cofounder Elliot March. “This group has traveled the world, stayed in the finest hotels, and dined in the most captivating restaurants. As such, we designed a residence that brings these hospitality elements into both the residential and amenity units.”

The community is layered with vibrant, modern touches, including social spaces like a piano bar, multiple lounges, private dining areas, and wellness rooms. Above all, the essential ingredient is happiness. “We designed the residence to be sophisticated and hospitality inspired, but to also incorporate a great deal of joy through color, pattern, and form, March says.

Designing for All

A curved corridor at Centre Lise et Yvon Lamarre in Montreal creates a calming, intuitive corridor within the neuroinclusive residential development

With roughly 15 percent of the global population identifying as neurodivergent, inclusive design is expanding beyond ADA compliance to embrace emotional and sensory needs. In Montreal, the Centre Lise et Yvon Lamarre—a residence and day center for young adults with autism designed by Lemay—is rooted in warmth and rhythm. “It doesn’t look like a hospital but more like a residential space with soft colors, wood, and calm acoustics,” says Bryan Marchand, architect and design director at Lemay.

The space is thoughtfully divided into a residential wing and day center, with intuitive features like rounded corners and color continuity that reduce anxiety and support autonomy. “Round corners help people see what’s ahead without fear,” Marchand explains, while color—like a soft blue from an apartment door that fades into the corridor—reduces anxiety. “It’s less of a shock when transitioning,” he adds.

Two sensory rooms, cocooned in cushions and absent of windows, offer a personalized respite via adjustable lighting. Marchand sees broader applications for these neuroinclusive strategies—from public transportation hubs to hospitality.

Indeed, such elements are also being adopted in airports and hotels. Newark Liberty International Airport’s Terminal A includes a 1,000-square-foot sensory room designed by PGAL and the Anderson Center for Autism, featuring fish tanks, tactile bubble tubes, and river-like carpets.

TUI Blue, meanwhile, has introduced sensory rooms at several hotel properties, designed with dimmable lighting, textured panels, and calming zones. “By providing sensory-friendly spaces in our hotels, we’re actively removing barriers to travel for neurodiverse individuals and their families,” says Craig Moffat, product and proposition manager at TUI Blue. The brand also partnered with Special Educational Needs agencies to provide staff training. “Our goal is to create environments where every guest feels seen, respected, and able to relax fully,” Moffat adds.

Diverse Programming

Soft coral-toned walls frame a pair of plunge pools at the Six Senses Kanuhura

Wellness programming is no longer one-size-fits-all. From stargazing to women’s programming, hotels are tailoring experiences to evolving guest needs. Even children are being considered. At the AW2-designed Six Senses Crans-Montana in Switzerland, for example, the luxury wellness brand’s kids club introduces breathwork and herbology to its youngest guests, ensuring that the next generation sees wellness not as a luxury but as a way of life.

Additionally, at the Six Senses Kanuhura in the Maldives from eco.id architects, the Female Wellness Programming offers three-, five-, or seven-day personalized journeys tailored around hormone balance, metabolism, and perimenopausal care, with practical tips for guests to take home with them. “While each program is designed individually, we have seen groups of women providing one another with a sense of community throughout their stay,” says Anupam Banerjee, the resort’s wellness director.

Solo female travel is also on the rise, with women comprising 71 percent of solo travelers, according to Virtuoso. “[It’s] a huge market that will be massive in the next few years,” says Future Laboratory’s Oduwole. “There’s going to be a generational wealth transfer, particularly with single women, and they’re going to do all of these things [on their own].”

The three-bedroom Beach Reserve at the Six Senses Kanuhura features an outdoor area with beach access

Six Senses Kanuhura also offers a Mindful Stargazing program that blends guided meditation with night sky viewing, inviting guests to unwind in a setting with minimal light pollution. This is part of the growing trend of noctourism, for those looking to see the world after dark, fostering reflection and a sense of wonder.

The same resort has a digital detox program, providing guests with tools to create healthier screen habits. “The Digital Detox offers guests the rare opportunity to disconnect from screens and reconnect with themselves and their surroundings,” says Claudian Marrast, spa and wellness manager at the Six Senses La Sagesse in Grenada, designed by BLEU Design Consultants. “By stepping away from constant digital stimulation, guests often experience improved sleep quality, reduced stress levels, and deeper presence in the moment. Our hope is that guests leave with a renewed sense of clarity and a more conscious relationship with their technology use.”

Nature as a Healer

A cozy seating area at Under Canvas Columbia River Gorge in Washington

Ancient traditions have long taught that nature heals. From lower cortisol to better sleep, natural immersion remains one of the most effective wellness interventions. Since Covid, hospitality has responded with a surge of outdoor-centric experiences—ranging from adventurous safari camps to back-to-basics escapes like Autocamp and Under Canvas, where guests reconnect with the elements through lodges and canvas tents.

“Nature is the antidote to much of what ails us,” says Jade-Snow Carroll, owner and designer of Prospect Berkshires, a restorative retreat on 117 acres in Western Massachusetts. Before any cabins were built, the design began with ecological regeneration—they restored the forest habitat, stabilized the riparian edge to protect water quality and provide foraging opportunities for wildlife, and worked on the meadow to help attract pollinators and songbirds. “This created the canvas for our cabins—a thriving, healthy ecosystem,” Carroll says.

Quiet footpaths meander through the property, designed to keep cars at bay. The cabins themselves are elemental in form and material (glass, wood, and stone) that frame and defer to the landscape beyond. “We kept the interiors quiet and natural, putting the view on display,” Carroll says. The resulting experience is a curated calm, with programming to match.

Guests are encouraged to unplug—some even surrender their phones at check-in—and partake in offerings like fermentation workshops, stargazing, birdwatching, and seasonal festivals such as Samhain. “We hope [guests] leave feeling like they had an experience that sparked their own creativity—an understanding that nature heals and calms,” Carroll says.

At Trailborn Grand Canyon in Arizona, a curved reception desk anchors the lobby

Trailborn, a boutique hotel brand perched on the edges of national parks, follows a similar ethos. Its destinations include North Carolina’s Blue Ridge Mountains, Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado, and most recently, its fifth location in the Grand Canyon, designed by Lake Flato. Each property is rooted in place, encouraging guests to explore nearby landscapes through hiking, forest bathing, rock climbing, surfing, and more.

“Trailborn is about creating memorable stays that reflect a deeper respect for the land and encouraging a sustainable future of travel,” says Trailborn cofounder Mike Weiss, noting that guests should feel recharged and restored after experiencing one of the brand’s properties. “Mike and I feel that life should be an adventure,” says cofounder Ben Weinberg. “It’s an idea we latched onto early on, and one that’s been woven through every part of Trailborn. Life feels bigger and fuller when people are outside, seeing new places, experiencing new things, and spending time with the people they love.”

Creating Community

Exposed ductwork and green piping inject playful energy into the restaurant and bar at Ballers Philadelphia, shown in a rendering

Perhaps the most essential wellness ingredient isn’t a program or material—it’s people. Wellness is increasingly social, with new generations redefining how they gather and connect.

Ballers, a social sports concept launched and designed by Good City Studio, is an example of how movement and community go hand in hand. Its inaugural location occupies the Battery in Philadelphia, a 100-year-old transformed power station with pickleball, padel and squash courts, golf simulators, turf areas, a recovery lounge, wellness spaces, an all-day bar, and event venues—all within a 55,000-square-foot campus. The space is designed for seamless social interaction, where courts and lounges blur together, encouraging spontaneous connection. The venue also hosts DJ nights, fashion pop-ups, and art exhibitions to activate the space beyond sports.

“Ballers is bringing country clubs to the city,” says Amanda Potter, founder and chief creative officer of Ballers, which is founded, concepted, and designed by Potter’s Good City Studio. “We’re celebrating the rich legacy of racquet sports and golf, and we’re weaving in high design with social cultural activations to create an atmosphere fueled by camaraderie and friendly competition.”

Rooted in industrial minimalism, the interiors are layered with nostalgic details. “The copper objects on our bar shelves were inspired by my mom, who sold copper for extra cash before I was born,” Potter shares. “The neon yellow metal accents [nod to] my love of Gianni Versace when I was a teenager in the ’90s. Our design aesthetic could be labeled as eclectic, but our hope is that these personal touches evoke a sense of home.”

Traditional gathering spaces like bars and nightclubs are also losing their allure in favor of healthier, more purposeful social experiences. “[Gen Z] are getting into clubs that are all focused on wellness,” says Oduwole. “That’s where they want to hang out and meet up, rather than going to an actual nightclub.”

Equinox’s Biski seconds this shift: “People feel good when they feel healthy and alive. It’s no longer about partying and only having had three hours of sleep. Now, it’s about going to the spa, getting red light therapy, going into hyperbaric chambers, saunas, cold plunges, which make you feel as invigorated as you might when you go out partying—and you’re still with your community. It’s a completely different approach in life.”

The cold plunge room at Othership Flatiron in New York features sunken stone pools, wood walls, and ambient lighting

This cultural pivot has given rise to a new genre of wellness gathering spaces, including social spas like Remedy Place (with five outposts in the U.S.) and Othership, a community-oriented bathhouse with locations in Toronto and New York.

At Othership, events include DJ-led, alcohol-free parties alongside contrast therapy, breathwork, and guided sauna sessions. “We understood from the start that Othership wasn’t just about saunas and ice baths; it was about crafting an emotional journey,” says Ali Mcquaid Mitchell, founder and creative director of Toronto-based Futurestudio, the design firm behind the properties. “As designers, we approached the project with the idea that the space itself should guide users through states of contrast—heat and cold, tension and calm, stillness and connection.”

Unlike traditional retreats, Othership encourages dialogue and emotional release during sessions. “The design needed to hold people emotionally, so we prioritized flow and points of pause,” Mcquaid Mitchell says. “There are moments to gather, but also moments of quiet retreat, where one can be alone in stillness. Wellness spaces need to hold both intensity and calm, individual reflection and collective energy.” Ultimately, the hope is for “people to leave Othership feeling more connected,” she adds, “to themselves, to others, and to something larger.”

Amid these evolving wellness trends, the Well’s Sarhan sums it up simply: “The thing that matters most is connection to community. All the other stuff—food, longevity, spa, movement—none of that matters without [it]. It’s the foundational pillar that holds everything up.”

Formerly the Well, plants and windows define the pool at Hacienda AltaGracia in Costa Rica

Photos by John Athimaritis, Art Gray, Christian Harder, Claude-Simon Langlois, Ian Patterson, Cole Wilson, and renderings courtesy of Ballers, Six Senses, Under Canvas, and the Well

This article originally appeared in HD’s July 2025 issue.

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An homage to Thai heritage, the Aman Nai Lert Bangkok is Aman’s second Thailand outpost, following the storied Ed Tuttle-designed Amanpuri in Phuket that launched the luxury brand in 1988. For the latest location, the 52-suite, 34-residence hotel sits in Nai Lert Park, near the well-preserved 20th-century house built by tycoon Phraya Bhakdinorasreth that informed the property’s grounding aesthetic.

Wood panels carved by Thai artisans frame leather clouds behind the bar at 1872

Consider the locally sourced Supergenti stone that longtime collaborator Denniston wove throughout the property. “It ranges in hues from deep brown to light beige and soft gray, allowing for a harmonious yet tailored expression across spaces,” says senior interior designer David Schoonbroodt, who worked closely with principal Jean-Michel Gathy at the Kuala Lumpur-based firm.

Depictions of the natural world manifest at the hotel in other ways, too. Most remarkably is the 40-foot-high Chamchuri tree sculpture brought to life by Thai artisans in the ninth-floor lobby. “Inspired by the actual rain tree that grows through the slab near the swimming pool, we wanted to continue that dialogue between architecture and landscape,” adds Schoonbroodt. “The gold-leaf treatment features a subtle gradient—darker tones at the top, gradually lightening toward the base—emphasizing the verticality and evoking a sense of elevation.”

It’s buoyed by an installation of bespoke floating lanterns and floor lamps with bases that echo the slender forms of tree branches. “But the true detail reveals itself only when the light is turned on—delicate twig-like silhouettes are cast within the fabric of the lampshade, creating a poetic interplay of light and shadow,” explains Schoonbroodt.

A sense of ceremony pervades Arva, the Italian restaurant where muted hues and rich textures come together

The ethereal vignette is reinforced in lobby lounge 1872, one of the hotel’s seven F&B venues (there’s also a poolside hangout, a cigar bar, the music-fueled Aman lounge, a teppanyaki counter, and an omakase experience). Here, carved wooden panels and Thai leather clouds mingle behind the bar as a nod to traditional Nang Yai shadow puppetry.

Arva, the adjacent Italian restaurant, also extends the mood with the dining island “elegantly poised above a reflective pond, where four curved banquette niches gently embrace the perimeter, creating a sense of intimacy and retreat,” adds Schoonbroodt.

Nature plays an important role throughout the hotel, exemplified by the presence of a rain tree soaring beside the pool

Calming tree motifs continue in the artwork found at the 16,000-square-foot wellness center, comprising the Hertitude Clinic overseen by medical doctors on the eighth floor and the 10th-floor spa that entices guests with its private Spa House—a new concept from Aman and the first of its kind in Bangkok—for half- and full-day journeys incorporating a wood-clad banya. The unique sanctuary delivers a deeply curated wellness journey, “blending cultural authenticity with understated luxury,” says Schoonbroodt. “The result is a soft, enveloping environment that exudes warmth and tranquility, enhanced by gentle, ambient lighting that promotes relaxation.”

In the suites, some of the largest in Bangkok, floor-to-ceiling windows amplify views—as does the one bolstered by a scenic terrace on the 17th floor. Hushed palettes, commodious daybeds, and signature pivoting light panels between the bathrooms and sleeping areas all instill an atmosphere of serenity. This is notably present in the Aman suite, complete with private spa, that takes over the entire 18th floor.

“While the city outside moves with pace and energy,” says Schoonbroodt, “our property offers a rare sense of stillness.”

A sense of calm greets guests in the reception area

Among the highlights of the Aman suite, which takes up the entire 18th floor, is the private spa, complete with hot and cold plunge pools, a sauna, and steam room

Floating lanterns complement the lobby’s 40-foot-high Chamchuri tree sculpture, which is embellished in gold leaf and surrounded by lanterns

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Like the hidden Tyburn River flowing beneath London’s surface, Mr Porter London from the Entourage Group reveals itself discreetly below the Hilton Park Lane hotel in Mayfair.

“We immersed ourselves in the history of Mayfair and its old market—once a hub of commerce, indulgence, and debauchery in the mid-18th century,” says Alon Baranowitz, founding partner at design and architecture studio Baranowitz + Kronenberg.

At street level, a single copper door is the only hint of the 2,297-square-foot space concealed below. Beyond it, guests enter a monochrome foyer that gives way to a sculptural spiral staircase—“a journey into the unknown and the beginning of an extraordinary adventure,” Baranowitz says. “It’s a metaphor that captures the essence of curiosity and the willingness to venture beyond the familiar, leading to experiences that challenge perceptions of reality.”

Indeed, the unfamiliar unfolds in the subterranean space where traditional, masculine notions of a steakhouse are reimagined through a more sensual, feminine lens. A mirror-polished copper ceiling creates a sense of verticality and expansiveness, while a palette of brushed metals, neutral stone, and velvet lends a soft richness.

In the main dining room, warm tones of brass, copper, and gold are illuminated by uplighting, anchored by a 360-degree bar designed for both intimate and social interactions.

“Restaurants have transformed into event spaces,” Baranowitz adds. “It’s where the quotidian self is momentarily suspended in local and translocal histories and experiences, allowing for one of the essences of the modern self to materialize: its unique desire for originality and authenticity. If our guests leave with that aftertaste, they will embrace Mr Porter as their own, marking the beginning of a beautiful friendship.”

This article originally appeared in HD’s May/June 2025 issue.

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Rising up in a striking composition of red brick, textured inlay, and claret-tinted metal window frames, Melbourne Place stands out “like a beacon visible across the city,” says Patrick Kennedy, founding partner of Kennedy Nolan. The hotel’s distinctive rooftop terrace, featuring porthole-like windows set within an arched brick wall, is especially eye-catching.

Inside, the 191 rooms and suites draw inspiration from the Australian landscape, with color themes that shift by direction—eucalyptus green and orange in the Eastern rooms, and indigo and calico dress blue in those facing North.

“We were keen to imbue an experience to the hotel with qualities specific to Melbourne and not found elsewhere,” Kennedy says.

To achieve this, the design team commissioned many of the guestroom furnishings from local makers and designers, including coffee tables in rich russet-toned West Australian jarrah wood, handmade metal wall lights, custom terrazzo tiles, and curvaceous armchairs upholstered in earthy brown bouclé wool.

The hotel is also home to a trio of dining venues. On the ground-floor, Marmelo—designed by local studio Mitchell & Eades—features a blend of natural, tactile materials, such as a marble bar, handcrafted tiles, and banquettes upholstered in an épinglé fabric. The firm also spearheaded the design of Mr Mills, the moody basement supper club accessed via a chartreuse staircase and decked out in timber and terracotta.

Crowning the property is rooftop bar Mid Air, which reflects the “rich materiality, natural textures, and warmth,” of the rest of the property, says Kennedy. The space flaunts ochre-tinted canvas sofas, tiled tabletops, and bright manor red high chairs with canvas saddles. The circular windows are the venue’s focal point, he adds, drawing eyes to the city’s skyscrapers from the herringbone-tiled terrace.

Marmelo restaurant

This article originally appeared in HD’s May/June 2025 issue.

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Finding Brass, the latest venture from owner/restaurateur Nick Hatsatouris, takes a little work. Accessing the NoMad brasserie involves traversing through the Evelyn hotel lobby, past a bar, and up a set of stairs—but don’t call it a speakeasy.

Crafted by locally based Islyn Studio, the interior design takes inspiration from New York City’s Jazz Age (with nods to France); however, the restaurant reimagines, rather than reproduces, the era.

The sophisticated space opened in October at the Evelyn, a historic Beaux-Arts building that debuted as Hotel Broztell in 1905. Struck by the grandeur of the rooms, Hatsatouris knew he wanted to create a brasserie that channeled the spacious, bygone restaurants of Manhattan.

He also wanted to incorporate the hotel’s location on Tin Pan Alley, a collection of music publishing houses that helped form America’s music industry in the 19th and 20th centuries. “We wanted to pay our respect to that history,” says Hatsatouris.

However, that didn’t mean turning Brass into a period piece. Islyn Studio founder and creative director Ashley Wilkins endeavored to “create a space that has longevity but feels like it’s already laced in the fabric of New York,” she says.

The result is a mix of contemporary and vintage touches informed by the French New Wave, a midcentury film movement that rebelled against tradition. The team preserved historic elements—including a circular skylight, bordered mosaic floors, and ornate millwork—while modernizing the rest of the space. For example, a color scheme of plum, raspberry, and pistachio—from the velvet berry-hued booths to the soft green floor—is evocative of the desserts on Brass’ menu.

Design twists also appear in the vibrant dining chairs and walls painted in a soft gray-brown. The tobacco-colored, petal-shaped chandeliers “felt like such a fun nod to the old smoky jazz clubs of New York City,” Wilkins adds.

To further reinforce this vibe, a retro piano is situated in the middle of the room beneath a restored skylight.

Large-scale, Cubism-like murals of the female form by artist Jessalyn Brooks add a sense of movement, too. Brooks, coincidentally a former jazz singer, painted them onsite.

“When there’s music playing and the candles are flickering, the space has this soulfulness,” Wilkins says.

More from HD:
7 Tasting Rooms and Wineries Make a Visual Impact
Experimental Group Balances Innovation and Legacy
Artful Surprises Await at Hotel Saint Augustine

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MGM Resorts International is deeply entwined with Las Vegas culture.

The hospitality, entertainment, and sports behemoth spans 31 properties in Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, New York, and Ohio, as well as China, with projects underway in Dubai and Japan as well. But the lion’s share of its developments is found in Las Vegas, the city the brand was born in. Today, MGM, which traces its roots to the late 1960s, is Nevada’s largest employer.

With MGM hotels accounting for more than 40 percent of the local market (the portfolio comprises the Bellagio Hotel & Casino, Aria Resort & Casino, Vdara Hotel & Spa, the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, MGM Grand, the Signature at MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, the recently rebranded W Las Vegas, Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas, Park MGM Las Vegas, NoMad Las Vegas, New York-New York Hotel & Casino, Luxor Hotel & Casino, and Excalibur Hotel & Casino) chief content, hospitality, and development officer Ari Kastrati feels MGM has a duty and responsibility to leave a memorable imprint on the city.

“Las Vegas is synonymous with the word ambition,” says Kastrati. “I’ve been here for 25 years, and I’ve seen it evolve over that time. We’re all blessed to be here right now. Travelers come to this city with a great curiosity. Imagine the expectations they have for Vegas when they have the luxury of exploring other destinations.”

Secret to Success

A sculptural chandelier hangs over the dining table in one of KES Studio’s Sky Villas at the Aria Resort & Casino

Experiences are what propel each of MGM’s distinctive integrated resorts, which operate as “large ecosystems that tell a narrative through the hotel, food and beverage, and entertainment,” adds Kastrati. “We take a meticulous approach in understanding the guest journey. How do we engage them for the three, four, or five days they are staying and have surprises for them every time they come?”

A commitment to design is crucial to orchestrating these compelling journeys. “New developments are one thing that’s always challenging for us,” explains Nicole Fournier, MGM’s vice president of interior design. “How do you move a concept forward so the story feels consistent?” She revels in matching the right projects with the right designers, seeking out those who can best execute MGM’s vision—a creative process buoyed by storyboards that help shape a cohesive language.

Although many of the firms selected are powerhouses, as Fournier puts it, MGM is also keen to work with emerging designers. Every week, Fournier and Joyce Ceryance, director of interior design, peruse portfolios that have been submitted to them, adding the ones that make an impression to a database with the hope they might be a fit for an upcoming project. Collaboration is Fournier’s favorite part of the job, considering herself a caretaker in the partnership. “I get to be a voyeur and see into the eyes of the talented people in our industry,” she says. “Everyone sees things differently.”

Redefining F&B

For the renovation of Bellagio’s Prime Steakhouse, Woogmaster Studio enhanced the dining room’s French blue and chocolate palette

Dynamic F&B venues, increasingly blurring the lines between dining and entertainment, encapsulate the MGM ethos. “It lifts the experience and expectations for guests and puts Las Vegas in a unique position for someone making a choice to come here,” points out Kastrati.

Consider Tao Group Hospitality’s Palm Tree Beach Club, opening in May at the MGM Grand. The open-air retreat, designed by New York’s Rockwell Group with bungalows, cabanas, daybeds, and chaise lounges, doubles as Norwegian DJ, music producer, and Palm Tree Crew cofounder Kygo’s daytime residency. Likewise, in 2024, the Pinky Ring by Bruno Mars, the music sensation’s Rat Pack era-style lounge and music venue, debuted at the Bellagio with a mirrored passageway, halo-like chandelier with tiers of hanging crystals, and a sunken conversation pit courtesy of Toronto- and New York-based design firm Yabu Pushelberg.

Found at the Bellagio, curving forms dominate the Pinky Ring by Bruno Mars, the handiwork of Yabu Pushelberg

Prime Steakhouse, from chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, has been a fixture at the Bellagio since 1998, but earlier this year, local practice Woogmaster Studio (the firm also revamped the property’s pool complex, beauty salon, and barbershop) gave it a new look that respects its past.

“Prime has a Hollywood Regency air, and we looked back to that history while we invented complementing layers to amplify the room,” says founder Alex Woogmaster. The beloved French blue and chocolate palette was maintained, but now it’s elevated with woven metal mesh screens, cut-crystal mirrors, Brutalist-reminiscent gold-leaf wallcovering, and “handmade bas-relief doors depicting the fountains just outside,” adds Woogmaster. “We are in love with the added texture throughout.”

For the pool deck, home to Como Poolside Café & Bar and coveted cabanas, Woogmaster drew from the greenhouses of Rome’s Villa Borghese. “The interplay of the new, classically inspired soft architecture and the renewed gardens are stately but made approachable by a sense of resort color that doesn’t take itself too seriously,” he says. “That’s the trick here, playfulness amidst classicism.”

Fournier loves walking into this space and taking in the striped canopies and bright teal and limoncello hues. “We’re trying to build upon the classical nature Bellagio was founded on, and seeing what’s happened at Como and Prime is an exciting evolution,” she points out.

Stay Awhile

Floral motifs in the corridors of the Bellagio’s Spa Tower contrast pared-back suites, courtesy of Champalimaud Design

Most of what’s on the boards for MGM is currently under wraps, but in the fall, MGM Grand will roll out its new guestrooms by Gensler. The Bellagio is still reveling in the $110 million 2023 renovation of its Spa Tower, including 819 guestrooms designed by Chicago-based the Gettys Group, and 104 suites completed by New York’s Champalimaud Design.

The Gettys Group mingled marble, granite, and velvet to conjure Italy’s Lake Como and the picturesque town of Bellagio in the guestrooms. Some “channel the soft, crisp energy of a sunrise over the lake,” says director Matt Swope, while others “reflect the warm, calming glow of sunset.” Adds CEO Ron Swidler: “One of our favorite details is the mother-of-pearl inlay on the vanity mirrors—subtle, luminous, and evocative of water’s reflective beauty.”

Champalimaud Design also looked to northern Italy in the suites, embracing colors like granite, indigo, and rose. “We wanted them to exude elegance without pretension,” says partner and CEO Ed Bakos. This translated to subtle design moments like architectural headboards, color-blocked consoles, and furniture embellished with fringe. “The tapering of a leg, the detail of drapery, it’s a montage that transports you to that Italian mindset,” adds Bakos.

The dramatic bronze staircase is the centerpiece of KES Studio’s Sky Villa

In 2022, Aria Resort & Casino announced the reimagining of its seven Sky Villas and 423 Sky suites. Houston-, New York-, and Los Angeles-based Rottet Studio designed the latter as a serene counterpoint to the buzz of the Strip. “Gray, beige, and cream [hues] ground the space, while deep blue and rich terracotta accents echo the drama of the surrounding mountains and sky,” says founding principal Lauren Rottet. Large windows, curated art books, and sculptural seating all create “space that holds you in its quiet elegance,” she adds.

Kara Smith, founder of KES Studio in New York and Los Angeles, has a vast residential background that informed her design of the Sky Villas (with more to come). The high-roller pads—complete with a theater, gaming room, office, lounge, dining room, bar, and karaoke—take cues from the hedonistic 1980s with its mélange of marble, alabaster, walnut, and lacquer. “It is a breathtaking experience to enter and see the vastness of the space, the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Las Vegas Strip, anchored by the double-height staircase made of pure bronze that we restored to its original condition with some additional shine and polish from the previous renovation 20 or so years ago,” Smith says. “It creates an immediate sense of opulence and sexiness.”

Kastrati and Fournier are dazzled every time by such creations and how they continuously fuel MGM’s momentum. “A director doesn’t take credit for the work they do on a film, but instead for the team they have assembled,” points out Kastrati. “It’s no different from development.”

This article originally appeared in HD’s April 2025 issue.

Photos by Brandon Barré, Sean Davidson, Clint Jenkins, Ye Rin Mok, Vanessa Rogers, and courtesy of KES Studio and MGM Resorts International

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Last year, Copper Cane Wines & Spirits reopened its Quilt & Co. tasting room in downtown Napa, California.

Situated in a three-story 1908 building, it’s capped with a rooftop patio, an ideal hangout for visitors after they plunge bottles of Belle Glos wine into signature red wax in the dipping room. San Francisco’s Architectural Resources Group preserved the façade’s quartet of cast-iron columns and reassembled the wood-paneled storefront base from historic photos but modernized it with triple-slider windows.

Wine tasting for Quilt & Co. takes place in a stylish downtown Napa lounge

2024 also saw the arrival of St. Helena, California’s Bella Union Winery, part of the Far Niente Wine Estates portfolio. Here, Culver City, California-based architecture practice JK & Co. and Mike Niemann of Pacific Building Workshop in Marina del Rey, California hatched a sequence of six tasting experiences.

There’s the cloistered outdoor patio Wren, for instance, with its firepits and aqua-tiled water feature, as well as the salon, a mélange of emerald velvet, oak, and black metal.

The airy, light-filled Jewel Box, one of six distinctive hospitality settings at Bella Union Winery in Napa Valley

In addition to California, places all over the world are creating compelling winery and distillery design.

Below is a look at seven spaces that celebrate wine and spirits—from a scenic events venue to a 168-year-old Cognac house.

Sauska Tokaj

The architecture of Sauska Tokaj’s winery engages with the landscape

Tokaj-Hegyalja, some two and half hours east of Budapest, is one of Hungary’s most well-known wine regions, and one of its most acclaimed producers is Sauska, helmed by husband-and-wife team Christian and Andrea Sauska. Sweet and dry white wines are made at the new Tokaj winery—there are two additional locations in Budapest and Villány—which Budapest-based BORD Architectural Studio designed as a duo of intersecting sculptural orbs floating atop the vineyard like UFOs.

“The winery’s strong architectural presence means that every angle presents something intriguing to admire,” says Alessia Genova, principal at New York firm Tihany Design, which handled the interiors. To welcome visitors into the equally dynamic interiors, “a sculptural wooden counter echoes the undulating hills, reflecting the organic textures of nature and the artistry of winemaking.”

The Sauska Tokaj bar is topped by a radial ceiling installation

Walnut-fluted steel columns bring depth and texture and for a sense of refinement, “we introduced plaster-finished walls in a pale green hue, chosen for their silky tactility and their ability to subtly reflect the surrounding vineyards,” she adds.

Bronze metal and mirrored glass accent the bar, restaurant, and tasting room. At the bar, the overhanging shelf and radial ceiling pattern direct the eye “toward the center, amplifying the spatial language and enhancing the sense of grandeur,” Genova says. “The tasting area extends beyond the building’s signature saucer shape, seamlessly connecting with the interior garden. This integration creates a tranquil, almost meditative atmosphere.”

Thames Distillers

Rendered in green marble, the Fords Gin bar at Thames Distillers in London was conceived by renowned bartender Leo Robitschek

It was a tall order: design a bar for serving world-class drinks “that doubles as a visitors’ center for Fords Gin,” recalls Fords Gin founder Simon Ford. Conveniently housed in London’s Thames Distillers, where Fords Gin is made, the tasting experience was conceived by local architecture and design practice Transit Studio, which “took over an evocative yet empty shell and sought to fill it with life, warming up the space,” says firm director Zoe Masterton-Smith.

A floor salvaged from a former mill in Bristol was the starting point. Then the other elements were layered in, including a dining table spawned from reclaimed timber, a massive chest of drawers to showcase the botanical collection, and the centerpiece bar and backgrounding joinery, fusing rippled green marble, gold mirror, oak, and reeded glass. “The bar lights evoke the traditional soda siphons and custom brass drip trays are etched with an intricate elephant motif,” adds Masterton-Smith, a nod to the Fords Gin label.

Ford asked renowned bartender Leo Robitschek to design the bar, and “the result is a bartender’s ideal workspace—both functional and beautiful. Every component and tool is thoughtfully placed within arm’s reach,” says Robitschek, noting the two full-service stations arranged in a butterfly style. “The bar runs seamlessly and is as refined and decadent as the best in the world.” Ford’s favorite feature? “Leo made sure the bar was equipped with state-of-the art freezers to chill glassware and to keep batched martinis as icy cold as we choose.”

Frank Family Vineyards

High ceilings and sliding glass walls define the Miller House hospitality space at Frank Family Vineyards in Calistoga, California

Leslie and Rich Frank were married at Miller House, a barn on the grounds of their Calistoga, California winery Frank Family Vineyards, so the structure holds special meaning for the couple. Now reborn as a hospitality space by the late architect Howard Backen and Napa Valley-based Hawkins Interiors, Miller House provides “an elevated yet inviting experience for guests. Our goal was to capture the essence of Napa, while giving it a stylish edge inspired by Leslie’s eye for fashion and design,” says firm founder Julie Hawkins.

On warm, sunny days, tastings take place outside on furniture covered in hardy fabrics emblazoned with “prints that are eclectic and bold,” points out Hawkins. Patterned vinyl wallpaper also energizes the all-white bathrooms.
Cooler afternoons mean guests linger inside in the cozy lounge area comprising Cognac-hued leather sofas and recycled ash tables topped with books and objects. Artwork and a mirror-flanked fireplace reinforce the welcoming feel of a living room. “When the sliding glass walls on three sides are opened,” says Hawkins, “you truly feel like you are sitting in the vineyard.”

Ehlers Estate

Ehlers Estate is located in Napa Valley’s picturesque St. Helena region

Ehlers Estate in St. Helena, California also called upon Hawkins Interiors for the modern remodel of its tasting room set within a stone building dating from the 1800s as well as an adjacent residence.

Restoration was top of mind, so wooden posts and beams were cleaned, and the original concrete slab floor was polished. Selecting the furniture, a mix of new and vintage pieces that felt at home in the heritage space, was a particularly time-consuming endeavor.

A stone building dating from the 1800s is a dramatic backdrop for the Ehlers Estate tasting room

“The clients are European, so they brought in a bit of that aesthetic, which was different from our usual style but made for a fun challenge,” explains Hawkins. Tapestries from London artist Sussy Cazalet were commissioned early on, helping to guide the overall look and feel of the interiors, as well as one of Hawkins’ favorite finds: a 100 percent Trevira fabric. Flaunting a pattern redolent of zipper teeth in alternating shades of ivory and tobacco, it was used to upholster the Pierre Jeanneret-inspired armchairs.

Her team also “leaned into medium wood tones for the tables and furniture, pulling in the warmth of the stone walls,” she says. “You can feel the history from the building itself.”

Klocke Estate

A curving banquette contrasts floral walls in the Klocke Estate restaurant

Klocke Estate produces its brandies in New York’s Hudson Valley, on 160 acres of idyllic farmland in the town of Claverack. It was that idyllic setting, overlooking the Catskill Mountains, that inspired Ken Fulk when he was dreaming up the tasting room and restaurant at the distillery designed by Hudson- and Manhattan-based architecture practice BarlisWedlick.

“We dove into the region’s history of Dutch settlement, culture as an artist enclave, and ongoing relevance as bucolic getaway. This drove the subdued color palette of green, deep blue, and gray and a strong influence of the decorative traditions of the mid-19th century,” says the San Francisco- and New York-based designer.

Antiques from the area, lights fashioned out of vintage glassware, and a tapestry from local artist Richard Saja mingle with velvet and walnut tables handcarved by local artisan Gary Keegan to forge what Fulk describes as “an alchemy of lived-in, pastoral opulence.”

The bar at the Klocke Estate in Hudson, New York exudes a patina that depicts the notion of aging

Fulk’s embrace of materials mirrored the brandy-making process. “Klocke brandy is aged in an impressive copper still from Cognac, which was shipped to the distillery in many pieces and then assembled by French technicians,” he says. “In the great room and bar spaces, I reintroduced this material with expansive copper cladding, complemented by faux bois patterns. The copper’s sheen and patina further represent the idea of beauty through aging.”

Danza del Sol Winery

Danza del Sol Winery’s Barrel Room in Temecula, California amplifies views of the vineyards

Located on the De Portola Wine Trail in California’s Temecula Valley, Danza del Sol Winery beckons with its 40 acres of vineyards. It’s a particularly alluring backdrop for weddings, which unfurl in the Barrel Room, an event hub designed by Los Angeles-based AAHA Studio for its longtime client Wedgewood Weddings.

The versatile space honors both the history of winemaking and modern California design through a balance of industrial and contemporary features. Past the Tuscan-style façade painted with stucco, polished cement floors juxtapose faux, lightweight, pre-finished polyurethane beams that exude an “unfinished, natural look,” points out AAHA Studio cofounder Harper Halprin, “and barrel-lined walls that create a direct connection to the local area.” A custom chandelier crafted from rope and exposed bulbs also “introduces a modern, artistic touch that contrasts beautifully with the rustic elements.”

Sustainability was key to the design, so reconstituted wine barrels are also found outside, cleverly standing in for tables and umbrella stands. But, Halprin says, “the true focal point is the large glass doors that span the back wall.” Opening to the alfresco ceremony space and entertainment areas, they frame views of the rolling hills, drawing the landscape indoors and eliciting “a magnificent play of light and shadow.”

Maison Courvoisier

Built in 1857, Maison Courvoisier is one of the most famed Cognac houses in Jarnac, France. When Gilles & Boissier revitalized the property, founder Félix Courvoisier’s legacy was front and center.

Located in Jarnac, France, Maison Courvoisier’s Salon du Fondateur illuminates bi-color walls that recall bygone distilleries

“We sought to capture the intimate, convivial atmosphere he would have cultivated. It was essential for us to imagine this man, to feel his presence, and through him, the brand he embodied,” says Dorothée Boissier, cofounder of the Paris architecture and design agency.

Isabelle Vignon, Courvoisier’s historian, was instrumental to the process, and “this deep dive into the archives allowed us to design the bar, lounge, and salon, a space enriched with carefully curated archival pieces that narrate the story of the Maison,” she adds.

Bespoke glass shelving in the bar, lounge, and salon divides the space from the tasting room, distinguished by its monumental pure white marble table and François Houtin’s handpainted frescoes, and the Salon du Fondateur, where “we incorporated bicolor boiserie walls, with the lower section painted in a deep black, an almost tar-like finish. This detail echoes a time when alcohol vapors from distillation would blacken the walls of old distilleries, a distinctive marker once used to identify clandestine operations,” explains firm cofounder Patrick Gilles.

Over the years, Maison Courvoisier’s character was diminished, and Gilles & Boissier was keen to revive forgotten details—“to restore ceiling heights that had been lowered, reopen windows overlooking the Charente River that had been blocked, and, most importantly,” says Boissier, “to bring back architectural richness through elaborate moldings, decorative elements, and refined craftsmanship that are always at the heart of our projects.”

Photos by Amy Bartlam, Jerome Galland, William Geddes, Marc Goodwin, Yoshi Makino, John Merkl, Adam Potts, James Riley, and Michael B. Woolsey

This article originally appeared in HD’s April 2025 issue.

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From the outside, Hotel Saint Augustine in Houston seems to be playing it safe, but once guests look beyond its unassuming exterior, unexpected surprises await: pops of color, rare vintage finds, and an immersive indoor-outdoor experience.

Inspired by Houston’s Menil Collection, Hotel Saint Augustine’s five buildings are crafted from stacked gray brick, echoing Renzo Piano’s design of the nearby museum

“Our aim was to create a space that feels both intimate and expansive—a blend of residential warmth and cultural richness,” says Tenaya Hills, head of design, Bunkhouse Hotels, JdV by Hyatt. “We wanted to capture the spirit of Montrose: creative, open, and deeply rooted in the arts.”

The project is the first in Houston for Bunkhouse, the Austin, Texas-based hospitality brand, and developer the Marchbanks Company, unveiling a discreet new build with architecture by Texas firm Lake|Flato that is designed to blend seamlessly with the landscape while simultaneously fostering a sense of calm. “Drawing inspiration from early modernist design, the architecture is very quiet in spirit, allowing nature to take center stage,” says Lake|Flato project director Nyssa Sherazee.

Located in Montrose’s Museum District, the 71-key hotel was four years in the making and features five two-story buildings connected by accessible open-air bridges, verdant courtyards, inviting porches, supportive gray brick masonry façades, and ash wood panels. Austin-based Ten Eyck Landscape Architects helped enhance the natural beauty of the 95,000-square-foot site as the “connection to nature was essential,” Hills points out.

Perseid restaurant’s yellow walls contrast with Art Deco-informed iron pendants that look like eyes

Paying homage to Houston’s cultural landscape, the design teams took inspiration from the nearby Menil Drawing Institute and Menil Collection. “We wanted the space to feel sophisticated yet comfortable—something that envelops you in the beauty of architecture, color, and furniture,” says Hills.

Once inside, guests are greeted by enigmatic yet theatrical interiors by Brooklyn, New York- and Jackson Hole, Wyoming-based Post Company, with many of the furniture pieces sourced from the Round Top Antiques Fair in Texas to give the hotel a “good amount of spontaneity,” says studio partner Jou-Yie Chou.

Take the lobby, where guests are met with a bright red high lacquer back-lit jewel box, which takes cues from the Menil museum’s gift shop. It’s paired with a burled walnut reception desk with Calacatta Viola marble accents and rich red velvet drapery, evoking a chic ambiance. “We had a vision for the hotel’s design, but on the hunt for vintage, you never know what you’re going to get,” he adds.

The lobby lounge blends vintage and contemporary seating, while sheer linen drapery filters soft light

The guestrooms nod to the de Menil’s home, including a high-lacquer mini bar and dark oak flooring that juxtapose blue, red, sage, and mustard hues and velvet textures. The bathrooms exude old Hollywood glamour with marquee wall sconces, Calacatta Viola stone countertops, and marble floors in Rosso Impero or emerald green. “We wanted to engulf the rooms in color so they would have this surreal, almost dream-like quality,” says Chou.

Inside Perseid restaurant, meanwhile, a unique find hangs from the ceiling: Art Deco-inspired pendants made of bent iron with armatures that look like eyes. “The exterior is beautifully done—it’s intentionally quiet—so we wanted to contrast that by providing these moments of surprise and delight throughout the property,” Chou adds.

This article originally appeared in HD’s April 2025 issue.

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