HAOMA HOTEL

[space] Haoma Hotel

 Concept
 Hospitality Design
 Santa Monica, California
 2022

Concept developed as a spatial translation of the Haoma skincare philosophy.

DESCRIPTION

Haoma Hotel is a boutique hospitality concept developed in partnership with the skincare brand Haoma. Inspired by the elements of the earth, the hotel translates the brand’s philosophy of renewal and care into an immersive spatial experience.

The project reframes aging as a process of growth rather than decline. Through shifting materials, natural light, and planted spaces, the architecture moves guests from moments of enclosure toward openness and reflection—transforming the narrative of aging into one of beauty, individuality, and renewal.

15,790 sq ft • 17 rooms • Lobby, skincare bar, pool, gardens

THE CONCEPT

Haoma Hotel explores aging as a spatial journey. The architecture begins with darker tones and enclosed forms that reference the cultural discomfort surrounding aging. As guests move through the building, spaces gradually open, materials soften, and natural elements become more present.

This progression mirrors the idea that aging is not something to conceal, but something that reveals depth, individuality, and experience. Light, greenery, and reflective surfaces become symbols of growth and renewal throughout the hotel.

THE ARRIVAL

The arrival level serves as the threshold between the city and the restorative environment of the hotel. Guests enter through a narrow passage that compresses space and filters light, gradually removing the noise and pace of the surrounding urban context.

Emerging from the tunnel, visitors arrive at the check-in area set within a planted courtyard. The garden grows upward through the building, visually connecting the arrival level to the floors above. This first encounter establishes the hotel’s narrative of transition—from enclosure to openness, and from city to sanctuary.

THE FIRST FLOOR

The first floor acts as the primary social level of the hotel. After ascending from the arrival space below, guests enter an open indoor–outdoor lobby that connects the skincare bar, lounge seating, pool, and bar.

Natural light, ocean breezes, and greenery shape the atmosphere of the space. Vertical louvers filter sunlight, casting shifting shadows across the floor and walls throughout the day. The floor becomes a place of gathering, relaxation, and reflection before guests retreat to the privacy of their rooms.

ARRIVAL / THE FIRST FLOOR: Floorplans & Elevations

The floorplans and elevations illustrate the spatial relationship between the arrival level and the first floor above. Circulation begins in the compressed entry tunnel before opening into the planted courtyard and check-in area.

Above, the first floor expands into a series of social spaces that overlook gardens, the pool, and views toward the ocean. The drawings highlight how the architecture uses shifting volumes, curved walls, and planted voids to guide movement while bringing light and vegetation deep into the building.

THE GUEST ROOM

Each guestroom is designed as a continuous sequence of spaces that move from openness toward intimacy. Upon entering, guests are drawn toward large curved windows framing views of the ocean and surrounding landscape.

Living, bathing, and sleeping areas flow into one another without rigid separation, allowing the room to feel expansive while maintaining moments of privacy. Soft forms, natural materials, and diffused lighting create an atmosphere intended for rest, reflection, and renewal.

THE GUEST ROOM: Floorplan & Lighting Elevations

Lighting within the guestrooms is designed to reinforce the calm and restorative atmosphere of the hotel. A layered system of fixtures provides both functional illumination and sculptural presence within the space.

Soft, diffused lighting highlights the textures of wood, stone, and fabric, while suspended fixtures create focal moments throughout the room. The balance of brightness
and shadow encourages a slower pace, supporting the hotel’s overarching narrative of reflection and renewal.

NARRATIVE SKETCHES

Narrative sketches were used to explore the experiential sequence of the hotel—from arrival and check-in to moments of rest within the guestroom. Each drawing captures a perspective from the guest’s journey through the building.

These studies allowed the design to develop through atmosphere and movement rather than purely formal considerations. By visualizing the experience of the space, the sketches informed decisions around materiality, lighting, and spatial composition.