Search
Hotel June, Studio Collective, Pacific Coast Highway

Hotel June & The Spirit of Southern California

Located along Pacific Coast Highway, on the west side of Los Angeles in Westchester, Hotel June reflects the soul of the city. On one hand, the hotel honors its architectural past—something that immediately caught the attention of the team of Venice-based Studio Collective, which spent three years working on the renovation—and on the other, it unveils its new dynamic face with an authentic California feel, especially inside.

By

Share

Set to Make a Splash, Hotel June Combines the Mid-century Architecture of a Historic Building With Coastal Interiors and Poolside Exteriors Designed by Studio Collective

Lead designer Chris Sheffield, designers Yasha Sangam and Tahlia Heffernan, and principals Christian Schulz, Adam Goldstein, and Leslie Kale—all from Studio Collective—reimagined the vertical 14-story concrete structure initially conceived by famed L.A. architect Welton Becket in the mid-to-late-1950s.

“The buildings’ facades have a slight brutalist look and feel, due to the deep window sills and eaves expressed around the punched window openings, adding texture to the exterior but also a fortress-like quality at the same time,” Christian Schulz describes. 

The public spaces primarily occupy the ground floor. Separating the hotel’s restaurant and bar from the main lobby area, the interior screening partitions comprised of steel and woven leather strapping were developed by Studio Collective with a fabricator in Oaxaca, Mexico.

“It is one of the most tactile and beautiful elements,” Christian Schulz says.

“Just across the main entry is a freestanding two-story structure that borders and protects the poolside exterior spaces. Here, the entire second floor is dedicated to an indoor-outdoor bar and dining areas that overlook the poolside below, complete with dedicated bathrooms and a small prep kitchen. The ground level is a primarily back-of-house office, storage, and support spaces. For the most part, these spaces were existing hotel program and amenity spaces that were largely kept intact but got a major top-bottom overhaul for all finishes, fixtures, furniture, and equipment.”

Providing unparalleled views from mid-upper floors out toward the ocean, Downtown Los Angeles., and the surrounding mountains, Hotel June comprises 250 rooms decorated with a calming, neutral palette, reflective of the natural materials used by Studio Collective. Stained white oak and sisal help to create a relaxed feel, as if the hotel were a beach house, and also highlight the California sunlight. The very pale blue paint applied from the floor up to around the 60-inch mark on all the rooms’ walls, and the pale blue bathroom tile are nods to the tones of the nearby Pacific Ocean. More playful pops of color, such as deep green, mustard yellow, orange, and terracotta, among others, and motifs were used in the lobby, restaurant, and poolside exterior areas through the furnishings and artworks. 

“Hotel June has a variety of design influences, but its essence is of a coastal inspiration and a true California spirit, acknowledging adventure and a coastal road trip from Ensenada up the Highway 1 through Big Sur,” Christian Schulz confesses.

“We were inspired by the wonderful outdoor communal gathering spaces commonly found in Tulum and Escondido, Mexico, to the simple and casual beach casitas in northern Baja, to the laid-back oceanfront wood-clad seafront homes up in Cambria, California.” Another reference was the former furniture factory and studio of icons Charles and Ray Eames, just down the road from the hotel.

“Charles and Ray Eames were important influencers in the evolution of the mid-century modern aesthetic and for our creative process,” Christian Schulz says.

“Their use of bold colors and geometric patterns, along with commonplace materials such as plywood and perforated metal, combined with organic textures and the technique of blurring the lines between inside and out, helped propel the mid-century movement. We employed these methods ourselves throughout the property.”

Meanwhile, pieces by local artists adorn the different spaces: a mural by Alex Proba beyond the reception and several painted installations by Stephen Carballo, aka The Los Angeles River, and Otis Alum. 

“Upon hearing news of the renovation, we were fortunate that the original architect’s grand-daughter Alexandra Becket (a Los Angeles textile artist) reached out to us about doing a potential collaboration,” Christian Schulz remembers.

“Our team liked her work and loved her tie into the history of the building, and so we commissioned her to do a custom wallpaper design for the lobby restrooms, which came out beautifully.”

This detail, and every other, from the music to the aroma, helps shape the perfect atmosphere and experience at Hotel June. For Studio Collective, the objective consisted of “designing a hotel that would always feel comfortable, approachable and aspirational.” This they’ve certainly achieved. studio-collective.com

Photographs: Courtesy of the Ingalls

RELATED TAGS

Weave House by The BAD Studio: An Ode to Indian Ikat Patterns

Weave House by The BAD Studio seamlessly blends contemporary design with traditional Indian craftsmanship, creating a harmonious living space inspired by the region's rich textile heritage, the house features an embossed brick and diamond façade reminiscent of Indian ikat patterns. The architecture coexists with the surrounding landscape, offering an organic lifestyle and smooth transitions between indoor and outdoor spaces.
  • November 1, 2023
  • Jenn Thornton

Blurring Boundaries: A Klopf Architecture Mid-Century Modern Marvel

Perched atop a rocky hill in Sonoma, California, Klopf Architecture's latest creation seamlessly marries the essence of mid-century modern design with a contemporary twist. With an astute eye for the indoor-outdoor connection, the architects brought the natural surroundings into the heart of the residence.
  • October 18, 2023
  • Jenn Thornton

A Duplex in the Clouds: Inside Barbara Cartategui’s NYC Transformation

Nestled on the 78th and 79th floors of a Tribeca skyscraper, this New York City duplex boasts breathtaking views of the Statue of Liberty and the city skyline. Transformed by Workshop/APD, the interior is a gallery of contemporary art curated by expert art advisor Barbara Cartategui.
  • September 6, 2023
  • Karine Monié

Walter Gropius & the Enduring Legacy of the Bauhaus

In the early 20th century, architect Walter Gropius aimed to harmonize art, technology, and craftsmanship—a vision that birthed the groundbreaking Bauhaus school in 1919. Gropius's call to unite architecture, sculpture, and painting underpinned the school's ethos. Rejecting tradition, the Bauhaus propelled design and art into a new era, embracing functional forms and interdisciplinary collaboration.
  • August 23, 2023
  • Constance Dunn

The Rebirth of Santa Monica’s Iconic Georgian Hotel

The iconic Georgian Hotel in Santa Monica reopened its doors in April, unveiling a stunning transformation led by Fettle Design. With a rich history that hosted Hollywood legends like Marilyn Monroe, the hotel's restoration, guided by BLVD Hospitality, gracefully balances its storied past with modern hospitality.
  • August 23, 2023
  • Karine Monié

Sterling-Huddleson Architecture’s the Edge Residence in Pebble Beach

The Edge, a stunning contemporary home located in the picturesque community of Pebble Beach, California, is a masterful creation by Sterling-Huddleson Architecture. The result is a breathtaking residence that seamlessly blends advanced building technology and timeless contemporary design.
  • August 23, 2023
  • Jenn Thornton
Sign Up for DIGS Newsletters