TOURISTS

Hotel and Event Space

Client: The Beyond Group LLC

RH Team: Doug Reed, Chris Moyles, Jeremy Martin

My Role: Project Designer 2016 - 2019

The first projected implemented as part of The Blackinton Framework Plan is Tourists, a 48-room hotel located on the site of a former dilapidated 1950’s motel. Re-shaped topography and plantings set a main courtyard and event lawn at a lower level within the riparian character of the river. What had once been a plateau of junk fill overlooking a stagnant mire, is now a series of lawn glades, swales, and rehabilitated wetlands. At the upper level, a domestic frontage of hedges and apple trees sets the rooms away from the busy street and a network of garden beds shape a meandering circulation of woodland and lawn paths leading to a suspension bridge across the Hoosic and the rest of the 72-acre property.

I was involved in the project from the outset, working closely with the project team to design from concept to completion across two separate phases of work. I conducted eight site visits with the project manager throughout construction to review decks, boardwalks, grading, paving, pool installation, and direct the composition and installation of trees, shrubs, and groundcovers in the garden beds.

PARKING SWALES

CATENARY LIGHTING

LODGE

1813 FARMHOUSE

HOTEL ROOMS

LODGE DECK OVERLOOK

WOODLAND GARDENS

SUNKEN EVENT LAWN

EXISTING RIVER BLUFF

RESTORED RIVER BLUFF

POOL

WETLAND SWALE

REHABILITATED WETLAND

WETLAND BOARDWALK

Boardwalks, Decks, and Overlooks

White Oak is the project’s defining material. Wood decks signify primary areas for gathering and circulation. I coordinated extensively with a structural engineer to detail all deck elements on the project including footings, piers, framing, decking, guardrails, and hardware for the lodge deck, pool deck, wetland boardwalk, and river overlook.