Situated on a coastal bluff, the Alila Marea Beach Resort Encinitas honors its location both inside and out with a design from San Diego firm Joseph Wong Design Associates and Brooklyn, New York-based studio MARKZEFF that seamlessly merges with its Southern California surroundings. The structure of the property, for instance, gently winds along the contours of the site, while outdoor spaces are orientated to spotlight the striking beachfront views.

Once inside of the 130-key hotel (the third in California from Hyatt’s recently acquired luxury resort brand), materials like exposed concrete and warm wood complement the exterior architecture, while a color palette comprising beige hues and muted gray shades reference the sand, stones, and driftwood found along the beach. “Our design integrates with the natural landscape in tones of materials, textures, and subject matter,” says Stacie Meador, director of hospitality design at MARKZEFF. “The palette was reduced to only a few key materials to give a bold, succinct statement to the interiors.”

The property’s sense of place is deepened by artworks that recall the waterfront setting. The Pocket pool deck and bar, for example, features vibrant wall panels that channel the look and colors of vintage surfboards by local fabricator Brian Szymanski. Across other public spaces, large-scale ocean photography by Aaron Chang is mounted using concave-shaped framing “to trick the eye and make you see the photographs differently according to what angle you look,” Meador adds.

An attention-grabbing staircase wrapped in towering steel rods punctuates the lobby leads guests to VAGA Restaurant & Bar. The F&B concept is punctuated by an exhibition kitchen spanning one side of the space and floor-to-ceiling windows across the other. A double-sided fireplace and chairs covered in natural rope add warmth and texture.

In keeping with the hotel’s theme of understated luxury, each of the 114 guestrooms, nine studio rooms, and five one-bedroom suites is distinguished by clean lines and organic textures that juxtapose rugs and throw pillows detailed with simple stripe patterns.

“Because of its iconic place overlooking the Pacific Ocean,” Meador says, “the interiors followed the lead of the natural environment.”

 

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