Bunkhouse unveils first property in Houston
Bunkhouse Hotels has announced the opening of Hotel Saint Augustine, its debut property in Houston.
The boutique hotel comprises 71 guestrooms and suites, an all-day lobby lounge, bar and listening room, an intimate event space, cloistered circular courtyard pool, and a Gulf Coast bistro helmed by James Beard semi-finalist, Aaron Bludorn.
Situated in Houston’s Montrose neighborhood, the new venture from Bunkhouse and developer The Marchbanks Company finds home in a sprawling newbuild located adjacent to the Menil Collection campus.
In keeping with Bunkhouse Hotels’ tradition of naming properties after patron saints, Hotel Saint Augustine’s origin is inspired by several references – the patron saint of printing, given its proximity to the Menil Drawing Institute; one of the co-founders of Houston, Augustus Chapman Allen; the abundance of Saint Augustine grass found throughout the city; and a nod to the month of August for the hazy, late summer feelings of nostalgia it brings.
With architecture by Texas firm Lake|Flato, five small two-storey buildings spread across 2.2 acres blend seamlessly into the neighborhood’s residential character, intersected by a series of lushly landscaped courtyards and winding outdoor pathways amidst mature heritage oaks. Each building is connected by open air bridges and porches to create a residential feeling, with brick exterior walls featuring projecting bays of screened porches and a series of inviting gardens.
The natural landscape is a key element of the design, with landscape architecture by Texas studio, Ten Eyck, who worked with The John Fairey Garden in Hempstead for several years to cultivate a collection of complimentary plants for the hotel’s grounds, including eyelash sage, dwarf rock palm and blue rabbit’s foot fern.
Design studio Post Company collaborated with Bunkhouse Hotels on the interior design of the property. While Hotel Saint Augustine is not directly affiliated with the Menil Collection, one of the country’s finest arts institutions, the property does seek to engender the ethos of the Menil family and the museum, drawing inspiration from the spirit of the museum collection and of Houston itself – a duality of old world and new, a rich diversity and a forward-thinking sensibility. The resulting subtle surrealist design reflects Bunkhouse’s signature style while embracing the essence of the city.
The artwork throughout the property has intentionally been kept minimal to create a serene environment through artful elements found in the hotel, such as furniture, textures, lighting, objects and landscaping choices.
The lobby sits in the main building behind a quaint entry courtyard. Designed to mimic a curator’s private home, the space feels like a layered living room with rich interiors and saturated colours. The reception desk is wrapped in burled walnut with Calacatta Viola marble accents, while a collection of curated products for sale that honour the city’s heritage are displayed against bright red lacquered shelves with glowing back-lit panels.
Dramatic theatrical drapery in sheer linens divide the adjacent open parlours and seating areas, creating various nooks for intimate gatherings throughout the day. Deep blue walls and ceilings in the lobby and bar combined with dark black glazed ceramic tile floors add to the sense of otherworldliness, pulling the space into an immersive, moody palette. To bring the outdoors in, antique mirror panels reflect the hotel’s surrounding landscape and large, framed windows peek out to the courtyard and screened porches.
