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Project Name: Inn at the Mission San Juan Capistrano, an Autograph Hotel 

Location: California 

Date Completed: 2020 

Architect: AO 

Interior Designer: Kay Lang & Associates 

Hotel Group/Developer: Marriott / Mission Commercial Property 

Construction Company: R.D. Olson Construction 

Located in picturesque coastal town of San Juan Capistrano, The Inn at the Mission San Juan Capistrano overlooks the historic 240-year old Mission San Juan Capistrano and represents the cultural destination through carefully curated architecture, timeless design and storytelling. Fully embracing its context and community, this four-star Autograph Collection Hotel delivers understated elegance while showcasing the history of the land and significance of the adjacent Mission. 

The key design and planning concepts behind the hotel were aimed at elevating and preserving the unique history and sense of place – a magic that can only be appreciated through experience. The design team first visited the project site in 2015 and were immediately inspired by the vista overlooking the Mission and ruins of the Great Stone Church. They set about planning a hotel that would feel like a natural extension of the Mission experience, expressing the spirituality and reverence for the land. The resulting architecture is expressed through California Mission and Monterey styles. Inspired by San Juan Capistrano’s charming patchwork of architectural design, the main hotel building features stucco detailing, adobe-inspired bricks, and clay roof tiles in the Mission vernacular, while the spa and ballroom  building showcases wood detailing, a double-sloped roof, balconies and exterior overhangs giving the sense that the buildings grew organically over time.  

The design takes advantage of the coastal California climate with large operable windows and expanding doorways that highlight the indoor/outdoor lifestyle. An ideal wedding and meeting venue, The Inn offers over 40,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space, a full-service spa with relaxing steam room and private lounges, a sophisticated East Lawn, and grand patio overlooking the historic basilica. Special attention was paid to the pedestrian pathway connecting the Mission to the event space at the Inn, orchestrating a procession for weddings and guests that delivers a natural and seamless experience. The property features a series of meandering courtyards and lush landscaping inspired by Old California haciendas.