Following a string of alluring properties across California, Kentucky, and most notably, Texas, hospitality group Bunkhouse has crossed the border to open a new hotel in Mexico City. Here, the American company has teamed up with Mexican urban redevelopment company Reurbano to revive a 1947 apartment building in Condesa, a leafy downtown neighbourhood known for its many glorious Art Deco buildings. As it happens, the building of the newly opened Hotel San Fernando features architectural details such as casement windows, encaustic tile floors, wainscoting in the corridors and lobby, and stained glass which are all emblematic of the aforementioned architectural style. Upon entering the premises, guests pass entry doors featuring curved metal panes that are original to the building, but adorned with new glass that mimics the historic stained-glass windows. The corridor which follows is lined with the original soft green encaustic concrete tiles on the floors and walls that have an abstract white pattern, while the ceiling features handmade pendant lights from local artisan Julia Bramely-Sanchez, which leads to the lobby and lobby lounge.
The lobby sees an updated design dotted with pieces from various local collaborators, including lobby lounge chairs from local furniture showroom Originario, while the eclectic art programme features work from Mexican artists such as Pedro Friedeberg and Ricardo Guevara, to a piece from San Antonio-based contemporary artist Cruz Ortiz. A small lobby shop stocks a thoughtful selection of Mexican-made wares from local artisans and makers, as well as custom Bunkhouse-created pieces. Hotel San Fernando features just 19 guest rooms and suites, and each one is both high on style and coziness. The chosen aesthetic is a nod to Bunkhouse‘s Texas heritage, featuring furnishings from local design studio La Metropolitana which are accentuated with colour blocked walls in a coral, with ivory and gold peppered throughout. The rooms also feature pieces from many local collaborators, including customised bedside lighting and decorative lobby lamps from Oaxaca-based design studio Oax-i-fornia, while the built-in wood millwork by La Metropolitana has been stained in a warm tone.
Three new guest rooms, also known as the Terraza Suites, on the roof level feature brand new furniture designed by Bunkhouse and crafted by local design practice B Collective Studio. Lush plants add a homey touch to all the rooms, and a custom linen programme from Kassatex, alongside signature Bunkhouse custom robes, reference the city’s rich textile heritage. At 385 to 595 sq.ft. (36 to 55 sqm.), the three Ocio Suites are the most spacious on the premises, accommodating up to three guests. The welcoming ground floor lounge comes with outdoor seating and is very much a social hub, albeit one with culinary perks as coffee and pastries are served here during the day, and a selection of small bites, ranging from sandwiches and salads to cheese and charcuterie boards, alongside a selection of natural wines and cocktails in the afternoons and evenings. Needless to say, the setting here is also Art Deco-inspired, featuring arched entryways, stained-glass windows in bold hues, while soft green walls and a bar clad in clay tiles with a marble top complement the unique furniture pieces.
Hotel San Fernando
Calle Iztaccihuatl 54 (Condesa)
06100 Mexico City
Telephone: +52 55 13344653
Publishers Note
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