Alila Marea Beach Resort is a beautiful hotel with an outdoor restaurant and a pre-function terrace space located on the border between Encinitas and Carlsbad in San Diego’s North County. Nestled into the coastal bluff overlooking Ponto State Beach and Batiquitos Lagoon, the Alila Marea's design is inspired by Encinitas’ natural landscape as well as its vibrant surf and beach culture.
JWDA Architects and interior designer Mark Zeff designed the hotel to take inspiration from the unspoiled beauty of the coastline, using natural materials like stone and driftwood to craft an understated design. The arrival experience is mannered by a sense of discovery, with the main entry adorned using striated wood, steel, and glazing articulated over an organic concrete form. As the hotel structure meanders gently along the coastal bluff, the building articulation provides interest and shadow relief along its form, following the contours of the site that allows for a seamless blend between building and the natural landscape. Substantial feature overhangs break up the elongated building façade, while private and public indoor / outdoor spaces focus on framing the extraordinary views of the coast.
The interior design complements the exterior architecture where exposed concrete and warm woods are used throughout. The main feature stair is dramatic in its form and appearance, providing an inviting path from the lobby to the meeting and restaurant spaces above. Apart from sophisticated accents and pops of color, the design concept is generally understated, with the objective to create an artistic and distinctive luxury coastal resort in a stunning setting that offers comfortable elegance and a unique sense of place.
The Alila Marea welcomes visitors and local residents to quiet coastal California, while also serving as a public benefit in the form of community gathering and coastal access. Locals are invited to utilize the public walkways to access Ponto Beach as well as the commanding views from the bluff overlook. The coastal highway 101 biking community is able to take a break at the resort’s street side café, while the community at large can book an appointment at Spa Alila or to VAGA restaurant, equipped with an exhibition kitchen.
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