Two-story Loft Suites have 16-foot ceilings and preserved original architectural details, including the Old Post Office’ s historic large windows. Photo credit: Chris Murray served as a place of connection in the heart of the Bend community,” said Mark Keller, principal at Embarcadero Hospitality Group, which is based in Oregon.“ As operators, we saw an opportunity to honor that history while creating experiences that feel authentic to Central Oregon and memorable for today’ s travelers.”
Interior design draws on the historic architecture while creating an elevated hotel experience that is punctuated by memorable visual moments throughout the lobby, bar and guestrooms, Keller noted.
As travelers increasingly seek experiences that feel connected to the places they visit, hospitality designers face an important challenge: How to create a sense of place without relying on obvious themes? At The Westman, restraint became an important part of the design process. Rather than recreating or replicating history, which can itself come off as inauthentic, the design team focused on subtle moments that help guests develop an intuitive connection to Bend, the building and the stories embedded within it.
Minnie’ s pays homage to Minnie Westman, the first female mail carrier west of the Mississippi. Photo credit: Chris Murray
IN DESIGN That philosophy shaped much of the design brief at The Westman. For example, rather than relying on literal references, LRS Architects looked to Central Oregon’ s landscape for inspiration. Deep indigo blues reference the region’ s dark night skies, while juniper greens and muted
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