Creating a Biophilic Retreat at The Junto Boutique Hotel
The Junto at a glance
- Industry: Boutique Hotel
- Location: Historic downtown district of Columbus, Ohio.
- About: The Junto opened in summer of 2023. It boasts sleek contemporary design and houses 198 rooms, a restaurant and several bars.
- Challenge: Bring a natural aesthetic into the boutique hotel, aligning it to the chic vibe.
Results:
Oakland Green Interiors successfully transformed The Junto Boutique Hotel into a biophilically conscious space that resonates with natural beauty and durability. By addressing the challenges with a strategic and thoughtful approach, we created a space where guests and staff can enjoy the benefits of nature seamlessly integrated into their environment.
A Journey to a Biophilically Conscious Space
In February 2023, Oakland Green Interiors embarked on an exciting project with the Junto Boutique Hotel, a new establishment in Columbus, Ohio. The hotel, named after Benjamin Franklin’s club for mutual improvement, wanted to anchor the redevelopment of a neighborhood close to downtown Columbus with a warm, convivial, and well-designed, plant-filled space. The challenge was clear: create a truly natural experience with live plants that could withstand high-traffic areas and complement the hotel’s biophilic design materials of wood, stone, brick, and earth-toned colors.
The Challenge
The ownership and interior design team at the Junto Boutique Hotel had a clear vision but faced multiple challenges:
Natural Aesthetic: They wanted a natural experience with live products to complement their biophilically conscious design materials.
Plant Durability: The plants had to be robust enough to withstand high foot traffic in areas such as bars, lobbies, and lounges.
Distinct Locations: The hotel required greenery in various distinct locations, including a large lobby with a bar/lounge and library/workspace, a first-floor restaurant, a second-floor event space/ballroom, a private apartment, and a rooftop bar/lounge.
The Solution
Oakland Green Interiors approached these challenges with a tailored strategy, focusing on three main solutions:
Texturized and Curated Aesthetic: To achieve a lived-in yet modern look, we embraced texturized surfaces, selecting containers that could be mixed and matched together in a curated but casual-looking fashion. This approach allowed the plants to seamlessly blend with the interior design choices, creating a harmonious and inviting environment.
Strategic Plant Placement: We quickly realized that the large jade plants, which the client loved, needed to be placed closer to windows and away from pathways and gathering areas to avoid damage. With over 100 plants scattered throughout the hotel (initially starting with 81 plants), managing their grouping and placement was crucial. We pre-staged the plants and containers at our facility to minimize on-site rearranging, ensuring no two identical plants and containers were next to each other.
Maintenance-Friendly Design: All containers were designed and selected to use sub-irrigation, facilitating easy maintenance. We took great care in understanding the lighting levels before selecting and installing the plants, ensuring their longevity and health in the various distinct locations within the hotel.
The Outcome
The project has been met with enthusiasm and gratitude from the client. The execution of their vision for a vibrant yet cozy space filled with life and nature was successful. The plants and containers perfectly reflect the interior design choices, creating a seamless look and a beautiful retreat for hotel guests and staff.
Elevate Your Space with Oakland Green Interiors
Oakland Green Interiors’ expertise in plant wall installations and innovative plant staging solutions makes us a trusted partner for transforming any space. Whether it’s a commercial development like the Junto Boutique Hotel or a smaller residential project, our team is dedicated to bringing the beauty and benefits of plants to your surroundings.
If you are looking to enhance your space with natural and unique plant designs, contact us today to request a proposal and see how we can bring your vision to life.
