Silicon Valley doesn’t need a beach or big city energy to be a destination. Home to tech giants like Facebook and Google and conveniently located near the San Francisco Bay, the area—where a number of medium-sized cities come together like an intricate puzzle—has been enjoying an unprecedented design hotel boom, with appearances by big names and smaller boutique chains alike. With work-related travel slowly resuming, we’re taking a closer look at the most recent Silicon Valley openings. Taking inspiration from innovation and envelope-pushing creativity, these new Silicon Valley hotels showcase what it takes to create hospitality experiences for the sophisticated tech crowd.
The Ameswell, Mountain View
Spitting distance from Google, Facebook, and NASA, the brand-new Ameswell features 225 rooms, a swimming pool, and plenty of outdoor areas to get lost in. Designed by San Francisco–based BAMO, the hotel pays homage to its environment by incorporating touchless technology throughout, and offering innovative space perception. “The design of the hotel was initially inspired by German artist Kurt Schwitters, whose permanent exhibition I saw years ago at the Sprengel Museum in Hanover, Germany,” says Michael Booth, principal at BAMO. “I was drawn to the idea of this kinetic relationship between horizontal and vertical surfaces, and the layout of our building attributed nicely to this concept.”
On the ground, this means suspended, floating panels in the hotel restaurant, exposed ceilings, and textured walls. Smart fitness mirrors in the rooms and space-themed exhibits in the common areas remind guests further that they’re in tech territory.
theameswellhotel.com, Expedia, Tablet
Hotel Citrine, Palo Alto
The latest addition to the roster of Silicon Valley hotels, Citrine is the talk of the town. Brought to life by the L.A-based Beleco Design, Citrine is airy and elegant, aiming to tick all the current trend boxes. Curvy bouclé armchairs? Check. Artful lighting? Check. “There was no built history that would have provided inspiration to a lifestyle hotel in the immediate area,” says Christian Schnyder, principal at Beleco, referring to the curious challenge Silicon Valley hotel designers inevitably face. “Instead, the design brief focused on sustainability and socially responsible aspects of the building and its programming.” The design team didn’t want the hotel to be “high tech” for the sake of innovation itself, but rather to offer functionality and comfort. The result, says Schnyder, is “modern and clean design” that “doesn’t take itself too seriously”—think whimsical art, printed pillows, and the occasional burst of bright green and orange.