Client: The Otis Hotel, Autograph Collection, and AC Hotel Austin-University
Location: Austin, TX, United States
Completion date: 2020
Project Team
Art Consultant
Eaton Fine Art
Owner
White Lodging Services
Architect
HKS
Interior Design Firm
FlickMars
Overview
The Otis Hotel, Autograph Collection, and AC Hotel Austin-University is a dual-branded property located in the heart of Austin, Texas’s vibrant campus district. Through carefully curated moments, the two hotels reflect the rich history and culture of Austin. The sophisticated yet playful design has hints of the thriving music scene as well as nods to the surrounding landscape. The art throughout the hotels gives a sense of place and showcases locally sourced art from Austin’s thriving art community. To extend the design narrative through art curation for the hotel, Eaton Fine Art collaborated with FlickMars—a Dallas-based hospitality design firm.
Goals
When curating art for these dual-branded hotels, Eaton Fine Art sought to create a sophisticated, yet decidedly uncomplicated environment. Eaton Fine Art drew inspiration from the city of Austin for the creation of special moments throughout the two hotels. Using local artists, The Otis Hotel and AC Hotel Austin-University showcase Austin’s culture and rich history with subtle nods to academia.
The curated experience begins inside Acre 41, a modern neighborhood restaurant with locally sourced menu options. A vibrant gallery wall above the banquettes features a mix of photography, prints, and objects that reference Austin as the live music capital of the world. Interpretations of record stores and vinyl records deliver a playful vibe to the space.
Acre 41 also pays homage to the surrounding landscape and culture of Austin. Taking inspiration from the surrounding natural springs, subtle hints of water are included throughout the artwork like the inclusion of underwater photography and placement of vintage swimming goggles on the wall. Additionally, South Congress Bridge and the half million bats that occupy underneath the structure from March through November are featured in an abstract poster. Meanwhile, objet d'art pieces provide a nod to the city’s rich Mexican culture.
Additional Information
The Otis Hotel is part of Marriott’s Autograph Collection, an exclusive portfolio of independent hotels around the world. Austin’s culture and rich history provided inspiration for the hotel as the educated choice for easygoing luxury in the campus district. The hotel’s design features subtle nods to academia, including a corkboard wall fixture, chalkboard blue features, and cerused oak paying homage to the 300-year-old Battle Oaks on the nearby University of Texas campus. Each of the guestrooms features unique touches, including in-room record players for guests to play vinyl from the hotel’s music library. In addition, the hotel’s dedication to scholarly passions will be embodied by a masterclass series on the hotel’s rooftop with educational topics such as mixology, stargazing, local history, and more including an orientation, of sorts, for parents of students new to UT’s campus. The Otis Hotel will also set the soundtrack to your stay with an on-site Vinyl Ambassador, who serves as a staff music professor offering personalized, curated musical experiences for guests who want to dive deeper into the beautiful artistry of vinyl.