Hotel Saint George (photo credit: Casey Dunn).
Located in the heart of the enclave’s thriving arts community, the hotel encompasses 55 guestrooms, LaVenture restaurant, Bar Saint George, a wine room and, in the lobby, a retail space for the Marfa Book Company.
LONDON – HKS Hospitality Group has recently transformed the interiors of an 1880s era hotel into the Hotel Saint George, a contemporary boutique destination named after the original property in Marfa, the remote West Texas town celebrated as a haven for artists and tourists seeking creative inspiration. Located in the heart of the enclave’s thriving arts community, the hotel encompasses 55 guestrooms, LaVenture restaurant, Bar Saint George, a wine room and, in the lobby, a retail space for the Marfa Book Company.
With their clean, pared-back aesthetics, the interiors of Hotel Saint George have been conceived to harmonise with both the austere beauty of the surrounding desert plains as well as the minimalist art for which the town is known. Utilizing some of the site’s existing structure, a simple and unpretentious language was created to articulate and define the hotel’s interior spaces that are characterised by concrete floors, industrial materials such as cold rolled steel, and reclaimed materials including brick, marble and wood from local sites. The hotel’s simple yet sophisticated style is punctuated by vintage and custom furniture pieces from both high and humble origins along with a world-class art collection that evokes the special spirit of Marfa.
Lobby
Housed within the site’s original columns and dark, lustrous steel-clad core, the lobby mixes retro furnishings with industrial style centrepieces such as the mahogany and steel reception desk which stretches the length of the lobby space and has been crafted by local fabricator SILLA according to a bespoke design from HKS. Classic Alvar Aalto lounge chairs arranged in conversational groups encourage a casual and comfortable living room atmosphere where guests and locals can connect and while away the hours.
Marfa Book Company
Marfa Book Company, an independent bookstore nationally acclaimed for its diverse variety of art, literature and design tomes as well as curated retail products, has returned to its original 1996 site and is now part of the hotel lobby. A beloved cultural anchor in the town, the unconventional shop and gift space features bookshelves and fixtures crafted by local artisans to celebrate the inherent beauty of their repurposed raw materials.
Dining
LaVenture, the hotel’s eclectic destination restaurant, serves rustic, American-style cuisine with French and Italian influences. A wine room and private dining area provide exclusive culinary experiences for smaller, more intimate parties.
Driven by versatility, the dining area and bar space embody an aesthetic that resonates with Marfa’s artistic culture. The restaurant offers homage to years past with vintage rugs, repurposed brick and wood from dismantled local buildings, and marble from the hotel’s former facade. Furnishings convey classic sophistication, with chairs designed by Mies van der Rohe used as a reference to the Bauhaus style admired by Donald Judd, a “founding father” of the Marfa art scene.
Guestrooms and Suites
55 guestrooms and suites have been designed in an understated, streamlined fashion with hints of industrial flair and a considered balance of materials and textures. Distressed leather and gently lustrous steel elements are paired with soft design touches such as lush sheepskin rugs and white cotton bedding, all accented by contemporary paintings from Texan artist Mark Flood. Large mirrored sliding barn doors, timber surface flooring, vintage-style blankets and a classic chair, unique to each guestroom, help create an effortlessly relaxed, residential feel. Accentuating the platform bed is a felt-lined wall inset with a recessed mirror which spans the length of space and evokes the perception of the room extending beyond its envelope.
Bespoke open closets, complete with metal frames and wooden shelves, house amenities and personal items, while expansive glazing looks across the landscape’s plateau to the 2350 metre-high Chinati Peak of the mountains beyond.
Artistic collaboration was a guiding principle in the thoughtful design process of Hotel Saint George. Led by Mary Alice Palmer, associate principal and senior vice president, and Adele Cuartelon, senior designer, HKS Hospitality Group’s expertise in hospitality interiors was complemented by architecture from Carlos Jimenez Studio and final dressing and accessorising by Alice Cottrell Interior Designs.
Vicky is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the Editor-in Chief. She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.
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