Replacing two tired Santa Monica motels, both within walking distance of the beach, the Shore Hotel completes the profile of the city’s scenic oceanfront street with a contemporary design that adds 84 moderately priced rooms to the market.
The 90,000-square-foot project between Colorado Avenue and Broadway comprises 164 guest rooms in two buildings. The buildings are connected by a bridge that spans the mid--block alley between Ocean Avenue and Second Street, allowing guests to securely access all areas. The larger building, the structure closest to the beach, is U-shaped with a large, elevated public courtyard that spills onto Ocean Avenue.
The courtyard provides views to the beach, and improves the experience for pedestrians accessing or passing the project, as well as relate to the city’s public garden across the street. A stainless steel trellis over the street-side portion of the courtyard unifies the geometry of the main building and creates a sense of place, an outdoor room.
The horizontal, four-story hotel is clad in stainless steel on its west elevation and features floor-to-ceiling glass and glass balcony railings. The minimalist design is accented with wooden louvers arranged horizontally to screen sunlight and bring warmth to the exterior. Those touches provide a concentrated aesthetic punch.
The design team went to great lengths to provide as many ocean views as possible from room balconies. Canted walls on balconies not directly facing the ocean improve views and provide privacy for guests. Rooms in the east building that face Second Street will have their own views – into the newly renovated Santa Monica Place outdoor mall.
Additional features include a 750-square-foot meeting room, as well as the addition of 294 subterranean parking spaces, a bonus in parking-starved Santa Monica.
