Santa Monica Proper
Project info
Santa Monica Proper
- Location
- Santa Monica
- Type
- Hotel
- Year
- 2018
- Sq. Footage
- 600,000
Set across a 1920s landmark and an adjoining contemporary building, Santa Monica Proper draws from the relaxed spirit and material culture of the California coast. Neutral 1970s tones, weathered woods, patinated metals, vintage furnishings, and contemporary commissions create a common language across the two architectures. The result feels distinctly Southern Californian: informal yet considered, with natural materials and collected design bringing warmth and depth throughout.
In the lobby, pewter-glazed ceramic columns reminiscent of dark oyster shells rise from a geometric white oak floor, establishing a material connection to the coast. From reception, the public spaces unfold gradually into a series of more intimate areas for gathering.
Palma turns inward, with sheer linen panels, sofas, and alcove seating shaping a series of spaces for conversation. The Grotto offers a quieter counterpoint, where grasscloth walls, white oak millwork, patinated cypress, books, and art mingle with vintage and contemporary furnishings. Together, the two spaces shift between the social and the secluded, each offering a different expression of the hotel’s design.
Guest rooms take their cues from the architecture of the hotel’s two buildings, with distinct approaches for the historic and contemporary structures. In the 1920s landmark, original windows frame views of the surrounding palms, while cerused stained-oak nightstands complement the building’s period details.
Atop Santa Monica Proper, Calabra embraces the indoor-outdoor character of Southern California, pairing natural tones and materials with bold pattern and distinctive silhouettes. The experience extends across a sweeping rooftop deck and pool, where ambient lighting and lush plantings by Art Luna and Inner Gardens soften the architecture and create a verdant setting for dining, gathering, and lounging above the city.
