Montrose has gained a brand new saint. Lengthy related to luxuriously quaint boutique properties, the anxiously awaited growth of Austin-based Bunkhouse Accommodations to Houston has lastly arrived. The undeniably stylish Lodge Saint Augustine could also be sparkly and new, however with the succinct efforts that went into the seamless introduction of its presence within the neighborhood, it’s purposefully troublesome to note.
Fortunately, Lodge Saint Augustine lacks what all Bunkhouse properties lack — the gaudiness and unapproachability sometimes related to excessive profile luxurious accommodations. It’s cozy. Positioned close to what’s arguably some of the serene and lauded museum parks within the nation, The Menil Assortment, Lodge Saint Augustine’s buildout is so efficiently unassuming that the road of which property is an amenity to the opposite begins to blur — and that’s the objective.
“Within the design of Lodge Saint Augustine, we have been impressed by each the adjoining Menil Assortment and the encompassing neighborhood. The structure of the lodge references the grey palette of the Menil Assortment and the low-rise, residential scale of Montrose,” Lake|Flato associate Chris Krajcer tells CultureMap. “Drawing inspiration from the early modernist homes of Louis Khan and Rudolph Schindler, the structure could be very quiet in spirit, balancing a composition of solids and voids. We crafted the positioning as a succession of buildings ordered round a sequence of courtyards, in order that the visitor expertise is certainly one of being immersed in an inviting backyard.”
Unfold out over two acres, 5 buildings, and expertly curated inexperienced areas, the utilization of muted brick, uncooked wooden, and black metal, catwalk-style elevated walkways permits Lodge Saint Augustine to really feel like an extension of its neighbors: The Menil Assortment and The College of Saint Thomas.
Upon passing by way of the principle entrance into the courtyard, guests will discover aromatic Douglas Fir clads the underside of all overhead buildings, permeating the air throughout any time spent on the property.
Notably, the courtyard and Augustine Lounge are open and accessible to the general public — you don’t need to be a visitor to indicate up and hang around. The aforementioned Augustine Lounge is comprised of a large number of seated gathering areas, together with an elongated frequent desk with seating to match. This house, together with all others inside the lounge, has been designed with an intention for precise utility—it isn’t for present.
As soon as engrossed within the house, one can really feel the intention. Comfortably-upholstered classic lounge furnishings populates areas round work areas, one-on-one seated desk nooks, a walk-up lounge bar, and 70s-era seating beneath an ambiance-setting, reel-to-reel tape deck verify that the Augustine Lounge is a respectable “third place” for the neighborhood. The vibe is decidedly a great, old style throwback to the unique Montrose mantra: show-up, get comfy, keep awhile.
“For us, Lodge Saint Augustine provides an opportunity to change into a part of a neighborhood that deeply aligns with the Bunkhouse ethos,” Bunkhouse senior VP of design and improvement Tenaya Hills says. “Montrose, and by extension, the Museum District and Houston at giant, foster an unbelievable sense of neighborhood, of creativity, of previous world and new. We needed to create a spot the place everybody might come and really feel as welcome and impressed. As the subsequent iteration of our Saint accommodations, we intention to offer the identical distinctive feeling of seclusion, of permission to be indulgent, and, most of all, fully relaxed.”
Bunkhouse enlisted architectural agency Lake|Flato for this venture, accompanied by New York and Wyoming-based Put up Firm for inside design, with Ten Eyck taking cost of the landscaping. Award-winning Houston chef Aaron Bludorn is on the helm of the extremely anticipated Perseid restaurant, which will likely be open all day, seven days per week starting in January and likewise accommodate Augustine Lounge and in-room eating. Whereas the lodge is especially named in honor of the patron saint of printing and sits throughout the road from the Menil Drawing Institute, Perseid is aptly named after the annual meteor bathe that peaks throughout — you guessed it — the month of August.
The structure of Lodge Saint Augustine displays ideas of famed Houston architect Philip Johnson, who was the architect for The College of Saint Thomas, in addition to the non-public architect to John and Dominique De Menil, whereas the lodge’s inside is a really intentional nod to the De Menil’s private inside designer Charles James. James and Johnson have been famously as fond of each other as Joan Crawford and Bette Davis. But, right here they’re, paired as soon as once more.
Company of the 71 room lodge could also be delighted to study that over 50 p.c of the principally courtyard-facing rooms and suites have both balcony or terrace areas, full with ceiling followers for Houston’s oftentimes stagnant summer time days. Talking of summer time days, the quaint round pool could be heated in addition to cooled. Those that go for a a dip within the pool will discover it refreshingly cool.
Rooms and suites (beginning at $429 per evening) supply opulently-upholstered velvet beds with crisply-pressed and embroidered white linens. Whimsically-upholstered furnishings solidify the comfortable environment all through the remainder of the property. Bogs flip moody with the introduction of shiny, deep-green tiles, bullnosed marble, and glistening chrome {hardware} fixtures. Marquee-style vainness lighting deliberately mimics that of the first rest room of Dominique de Menil, whereas thoughtfully wall-hung shelving is offered for storing private gadgets. Elegantly delicate in scent, in-room spa merchandise are by Los Angeles-based, woman-owned Klur. Other than the furnishings and the seamlessly built-in minibar and fridge, visitor rooms are noticeably stark in hopes of participating a visitor’s unconscious — go discover.
Perched above the long run Perseid sits the treehouse-like ballroom. Along with its 1,850 sq. toes, there’s a 1,200-square-foot pre-event house in addition to a 260-square-foot balcony. In whole, the ballroom can accommodate 130 seated or 250 standing friends. The principally glassed-in house provides courtyard views.
Panorama architects at Ten Eyck labored alongside Hempstead’s The John Fairey Backyard for years cultivating principally native vegetation that may present lush views 12 months spherical. Nobody ought to fear in regards to the giant pecan tree that vastly predates the lodge; it stays in what’s now the courtyard and is poised to gather a wholly new era of followers.
The well-curated retail and check-in house of Lodge Saint Augustine’s foyer is designed in juxtaposition to the opposite public-facing areas. Vivid purple, high-gloss, cubist shelving encapsulates the expertly-mitered Calacatta Viola marble desk that’s central to the room. Alongside the considerably anticipated choices of espresso desk books and branded accoutrements lie gilded containers of knickknack, attention-grabbing equipment and objets, in addition to branded, brilliant blue tennis balls for any very-welcome four-legged lodge friends to take pleasure in.
Lodge Saint Augustine selected Louisville-based Miscellaneous Items Firm to offer “Grayhaven,” which would be the signature scent for the lodge. The incense is a mixture of moss, pine, and saltwater scents that lend themselves to a decidedly “wealthy man library” vibe. One of the best half about this very singular scent is that when greeting buddies for a meal at Perseid, one gained’t must share that they’ve simply strolled over from pre-drinks at Augustine Lounge — they’ll already know.
