Project Name/Client: Hotel Vitale
Design Firm: McCartan
Location: San Francisco, CA
Products: Custom

What is Design?
Design is the embodiment of defined lifestyles. As the first newly constructed hotel in San Francisco since 2001, Hotel Vitale brought with it the opportunity to create a new kind of hotel experience. Understanding the shifting role of hotels in recent years - from temporary lodging space to the embodiment of defined lifestyles - we took our design cues from the hotel’s chosen name – stemming from vitality, which is defined as a wholehearted and joyous approach to situations and activities - and created a hotel experience that feels more nourishing and familiar than many of the gallery-like hotels of a few years ago. With “luxury naturally” designated as keywords in the design brief, the 199-room hotel feels modern, urbane, fresh, revitalizing and nurturing.

How is Design best illustrated through the project?
Situated on San Francisco’s revitalized Embarcadero Waterfront, the new landmark hotel uniquely encompasses luxury touches while featuring soothing natural elements. This eight-floor brick building has numerous outdoor terraces with over half of the rooms featuring sweeping views of the San Francisco waterfront and nearby Bay Bridge. Truly an urban oasis, guests experience a revitalizing stay provided through the hotel’s stunning water and landmark vistas, on-site spa with outdoor rooftop deep soaking tubs, penthouse level yoga studio with terrace and signature restaurant, Americano, featuring nouveau Italian dishes with local ingredients.

Biggest Design Challenge?
The biggest design challenge was to create an environment that was both luxurious and natural. Eschewing the ultra chic and the minimalist feel in modern hotels, we created something more layered and luxurious. Guests entering the lobby are greeted by an oversized painting of sunlit pears doubling as a reception desk, this is framed by massive columns finished in a natural split limestone. In the lounge area, real natural birch trees, soft rippling sheer fabrics, warm yet witty lighting, organic shapes and natural textures create a feeling that is serene and cozy. The guestrooms continue the soothing theme with central soaking tubs, luxurious carpet and a light, naturally textured palette of muted, soft blue, green and cream tones.

What made it Innovative or Unique?
The design process was unique from the beginning largely because of the directive from the client, Joie de Vivre Hospitality, a hospitality management company well-known for its boutique hotels and company mantra of “create joy.” We were free to weave into the design original lighting and furniture designs to ensure a distinctive look and feel.

How did Design make a difference?
By catering to a defined lifestyle segment, in this case a demographic which enjoys refined tastes and simple pleasures, the Hotel Vitale filled a niche not filled by other properties in the area with its “luxury naturally” concept. Its design was celebrated as a 2005 Hospitality Design Award finalist.

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