Entrusted with a soaring, glass-wrapped hotel rising 31 stories above Austin’s lively downtown, KTGY looked past the famed city’s typical storyline to bring a wealth of natural inspirations to life in a property that redefines a quintessential Austin hotel experience. The design of the Austin Marriott Downtown skillfully incorporates the feeling of Austin’s authentic point of view and unbounded creative spirit. In the lobby, the eye is drawn upward, soaring through open spaces to a series of dramatic, warm wooden arches along the entry corridor that gracefully curve away from concrete columns, mimicking the form of the agave plant and defining the public spaces. A trio of reception desks accented with black metal and Statuarietto marble are backed by two-story screens of metal and moveable tiles of red gum wood, while overhead pendant lighting of rope and metal echoes the shape of cactus spines and creates a visually spectacular welcome for guests. A two-story lobby bar expands upon the central concept, with floor-to-ceiling, metal screens embellished with linework that is a modern interpretation of the pattern of cracked earth. The first-floor restaurant space furthers the warm welcome and creates a dialogue with the city’s dynamic arts scene. Fueled by the energy of a vibrant city and the beauty of the moment when man-made wonders meet the awe-inspiring natural world, the Austin Marriott Downtown was designed to offer a wealth of unforgettable experiences, wrapped in the delight of spectacular design.
