History Happening Now
Ameswell Hotel Entrance ( Courtesy Ameswell Hotel )
New Ameswell Hotel Takes Its Inspiration from the Past
By Pamela Baird MVHA President
The recently opened Ameswell Hotel takes its inspiration from the local history of Moffett Field , NASA , and Mountain View itself . The name is a combination of “ Ames ” and “ wellness .” The local Ames Research Center is named in honor of Joseph Sweetman Ames , a physicist and one of the founding members of NACA ( the precursor of NASA ). Wellness is a primary focus of the design and operation of the hotel .
Speaking with Philip Maritz , managing director with the developer Broadreach Capital Partners , I wanted to learn more about the choices made in the references to local history and how those decisions were made . Philip , a history major in college , spoke about his concern that “ history is being lost ” and there being “ no shortage of inspiration ” in the development and detailing of the hotel .
Broadreach originally considered engaging a hotel brand franchise , but when a larger property could be developed , they decided to create a unique independent hotel property . The development team worked with the San Francisco interior design firm of BAMO . Their focus was to create a “ local sense of place ” for the hotel . After selecting Ames and NASA as a design theme , the team created the “ A ” logo , which is in the shape of the iconic Hangar One at Moffett Field .
Asked what resources were used for research , Philip replied that it was “ easy and fun . So much information is available online .” Images of blimps from the 1930s , P-3 Orion airplanes , and all manner of flight provided inspiration , some of which are used throughout the hotel .
In August , my husband and I ( with other community members ) were lucky to have a private tour conducted by Keith Battaglia , director of Sales and Marketing for the Ameswell . Many fascinating notes and details of the hotel were explained . The restaurant bar is named Roger ( for the radio communication affirmation ) and the coffee shop is called Flyby .
The Library focuses on all sorts and types of flight . Decorative objects included are photos of Amelia Earhart , an astronaut
Ameswell Hotel Library ( Courtesy Ameswell Hotel )
on the moon , and the Akron blimp tethered to the ground at Moffett Field . A stuffed pheasant is placed on a shelf above a futuristic-looking aircraft . Other items refer to NASA and aerospace . According to Philip , the Library was designed as a place to “ escape , relax , and stimulate your mind .”
Artwork curated by Art Advisory Service for the public spaces includes artistic images taken from the Hubble deep space telescope and other interactive pieces inspired by nature . QR codes will be placed by each piece to name the artist and explain the creation of the artwork .
When asked if visitors will notice the local inspiration for the hotel , Philip replied “ there will be people who won ’ t notice , 60 % will be moderately interested , and 20 % will be fascinated .” The hotel aims to be a local community resource , not just a place for people from out of town to stay . Currently the hotel hosts live music on Thursday evenings and plans to offer numerous events and opportunities for local residents to enjoy .
Hangar One Photo Artwork displayed at the Ameswell Hotel ( Courtesy Ameswell Hotel )
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