il Bracco is an Italian restaurant at the intersection of San Felipe and Post Oak in Houston, TX.

This project was worked on while at Michael Hsu Office of Architecture.

Photography by Chase Daniel.

https://hsuoffice.com/project/il-bracco/

https://www.ilbraccorestaurant.com/post-oak/

The Post Oak Hotel gets its design inspiration from the Post Oak tree, since it is native to the area. To make each guest feel as if they were entering an oasis in the middle of an urban jungle, natural patterns and motifs were brought into the space. This design language is seen throughout the hotel’s podium amenity areas.

The lobby features a custom hand-blown Czech crystal chandelier, one-of-a-kind rug inspired by geographical topography, and custom furniture pieces arranged in an organic layout to provide for an assortment of conversation styles.

The grand ballroom is comprised of twelve custom crystal prism chandeliers representing tree rings, a custom wool Axminister carpet derived from the pattern of falling leaves, elegant wood portals with back-lit crystal panels above, and silk moiré wallcovering.

Bloom & Bee, introduces a vibrant, rich palette of bright magentas and saturated blush tones to transport guests into a secret garden. There, they can enjoy fresh local cuisine under a canopy of colored glass flowers.

Work done at Gensler.

The concept for Star Cinema was based on Alfred Hitchcock’s Strangers on a Train - a perfect example of film noir.

Upon entering the cinema, guests travel down a long hallway flanked with velvet seats and brass screens, reminiscent of walking down an elegant passenger train car. The wooden walls are staggered to create a sense of arrival, but also to hide the check-in kiosks. The smoky carpet alludes to the steam coming out of an train engine, as well as the dramatic fog that appears in most film noir.

After guests purchase their tickets, they arrive at a U-shaped bar framed by 3 mirrors with curved corners. All of the shapes were derived from the profile of a section cut through a train car. The shape of the bar also helps divide the space into smaller zones for conversing. Banquettes anchor the corners of the bar and create intimate group settings within the outermost arches, while lounge seating groups and dining tables fill in the center.

Clever wall graphics were used to playfully locate the restrooms in dark theater hallways, as well as to further tell our story throughout the space.

Work done at Gensler. All photos and renderings by Gensler.

Aspire Post Oak is a luxury high-rise apartment located in the heart of Houston’s galleria area. It is 40 stories high with around 50,000 square feet in resident amenities. Its interiors are clean and contemporary but remain warm, inviting and livable.

https://www.aspirepostoak.com/

Work done at Gensler. All photos and renderings by Gensler.

Work done at Gensler.

For this office space, we were most inspired by the beautiful, almost panoramic views, so we used the concept of horizon as a starting point for the entire design. Not only does the break room and lounge utilize this complete stretch of glass, it also has a louver-like ceiling to elongate the space and draw your eye out towards the breath-taking view. The palette was based on the colors you might see on the horizon at twilight. Rich blues, warm grays, and soft coppers can be found in the materials and furniture throughout the space. We also incorporated reflective finishes, like the glass backsplash at the break room, and the navy mirror at the stairs. These materials bring natural light deeper into the space, reflect the beautiful view beyond, and allude to a reflection of accomplishments, future goals, and what’s new on the horizon.

Renderings done using Revit and Enscape.

Work done at Gensler.

Work done at Gensler.

Mission Valley II is a multi-family project located just outside San Diego. Its target demographic is the cost conscious millennial who doesn’t want to sacrifice on style or amenities, but finds better value outside the city. This residential property features plenty of areas to entertain, work, play and stay healthy. The concept for the space was inspired by a “Modern Ranch” aesthetic. It provides the atmosphere of a California ranch retreat while including practical, everyday necessities.

Work done at Gensler.

The Houston Racquet Club clubhouse renovation began with reconfiguring the original space to create two separate dining areas, one for families and one for adults. Then we focused on providing appropriately-sized locker rooms for both the men and women. To appeal to a wide variety of stylistic preferences, we chose a clean, transitional palette. All of the decisions were made with the renovation committee involved. Our collaboration with them helped bring the most effective and fitting design solutions forward.

Work done at Gensler. All photos by Gensler.