Cotati Hotel, Sonoma County

In 2021 DBRDS was invited to provide a conceptual exterior redesign for an approved hotel development in the city of Cotati in Sonoma County. The approved development consisted of two structures, an agricultural architecture inspired Market Hall and an art-deco hotel building. The two architectural styles clashed in an abrupt manner being in such close proximity and as the site is considered a gateway development at the northern entrance to this small town, we were invited to redesign the hotel building, taking inspiration from the agricultural architecture of the region.

A fake water tower was also part of the original approval, which we proposed to redefine as an iconic story-telling sculptural piece. We intentionally left this item as a simple concept to be developed with community engagement, with this design intention…

DESIGN NARRATIVE:

Part of Sonoma County, the City of Cotati links the Bay Area to Wine Country. A city that celebrates community & authenticity, interwoven with a rich musical history including performances by the Grateful Dead, Neil Young, Janis Joplin, and many others. The City also has a unique story. From the civilization of the Coast Miwok tribe to the hexagonal town center design introduced in the late 1,800s, the City of Cotati has defined its own path.

The Cotati Hotel & Market Hall project is designed to join that conversation; designed to celebrate this community & expand on the history of experiences & authenticity, celebrated by a new iconic sculpture designed to tell the story of Cotati through engagement with its community. Through a combination of visual & audio story-telling, this sculptural tower element defines the north end of the project plaza, inviting pedestrians to a celebratory moment.

With that intention, the proposed sculptural element is designed in concept only, a placeholder inviting the community to engage and participate in this important storytelling opportunity. To define what form, what materials, imagery, sounds, colors & textures tell the story of Cotati. The process of design should engage the community so the result is authentic to this place.