New Ground Up Hotel
The site was
...a collection of downtown Santa Barbara properties with unrealized potential. The owner approached KMA to re-envision the properties as a new hotel destination that would contribute to the vitality and pedestrian character of the surrounding neighborhood.
We began by studying
...the properties as a whole—the surrounding neighborhood, existing development patterns, zoning parameters, and opportunities for a distinctive hospitality experience. Rather than simply maximizing the individual sites, we envisioned a hotel organized around a pedestrian paseo, creating inviting connections between guest accommodations, courtyards, and the surrounding downtown.Architecturally, we drew inspiration from the romance of traditional Santa Barbara design, reinterpreting its scale, materials, intimate passageways, and landscaped courtyards to create a contemporary hotel rooted in the character of the city.
Today, the under-
utilized
...properties are envisioned as a cohesive hotel destination organized around a pedestrian paseo. The design brings together hospitality, architecture, and outdoor gathering spaces to create a memorable guest experience while contributing to the charm and vitality of downtown Santa Barbara.
