The Parade Ground of the Presidio National Historic Landmark District in San Francisco used to serve as the front yard for a former Army barracks first opened in 1897. One of the city’s more remote historic sites now houses the Lodge at the Presidio within one of its volumes. The quaint 42-room boutique hotel was conceived by locally based firm Architectural Resources Group in collaboration with Laura Cook Interiors.
“We want guests to feel at ease here,” says Debbie Cooper, principal with Architectural Resources Group. “This has been our touchpoint to describe the guest experience. It’s interwoven throughout the whole space—in the comfortable furnishings, expansive views, soothing colors, and even illustrated in several art pieces.”
Beyond its restored and repainted new façade, the property pays homage to the military history of the site with original features like the paired central stairs, exposed wood trusses, and a reimagined Windsor chair in the lobby. Many elements recall the hotel’s former life, including seating detailed with a sergeant stripe pattern. The canvas even wraps the wood frame of guestroom headboards as a nod to the original tents used by the Army before the site’s build-out. Deep blue tones pop up as well, informed by the San Francisco Bay.
Defined by masonry walls, the building’s original plan included open quadrants of varied sizes. So, the accommodations at the new lodge are designed to fit into each quadrant, which allows for an eclectic range of guestroom configurations and unique public spaces, such as the dining room with original cast-iron columns set against the newly commissioned aquatic mural.
Clad with original cast-iron guardrails, historic porches were constructed a step below the first floor with stainless steel cables added to meet the contemporary code requirements. Views of Alcatraz Island and the Parade Ground are framed by the front porch, while the rear porch and courtyard overlook the iconic Golden Gate Bridge. Adds Cooper: “We strove to create a hotel that strongly conveys an authentic sense of place that both informs and inspires guests.”
