London-based brand The Hoxton is bringing its European open-house style to the United States, opening four properties in key American markets. The second of them to open is The Hoxton, Portland, a welcoming property in an over-100-year-old historic building in the city’s Old Town Chinatown district. Modern and chic, the hotel has 119 rooms, three restaurants, and a finished rooftop. The Apartment, a main gathering space that hosts the brand’s cultural events program, highlights the property’s Portland elements, and provides meeting and event space.

Guestrooms were designed by Ennismore Design Studio, and are all inspired by the Northwest Modernism movement that was popular on the West Coast in the 1960s. Each guestroom has a bookshelf curated by Hox Friends, a program developed by the brand to welcome locals, with books curated by local artists and small business owners. These “Hox Friends” choose their top 10 books, and each room has a different selection.

The lobby is welcoming, ensuring that those entering the hotel feel comfortable and at home. Charlie North, design director for Ennismore Design Studio, says, “It’s important that the lobby space is bright and inviting by day, but also sensitively lit at night to create a relaxing destination. A Hoxton lobby is always an open plan without physical barriers between the bar, the restaurants, and the check-in area, creating a welcoming environment.”

OPEN HOUSE
The Hoxton brand focuses on an open house concept, wanting guests to feel as though they’re at home, and make locals feel comfortable enough to stop in. “Our goal with the lobby space in The Hoxton, Portland was to be able to create that sense of warmth while still reflecting the surroundings and the heritage of the building,” North says.

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LOCAL FEATURES
In keeping with the hotel’s local theme, “Our artwork is selected by local gallery Upfor, and it is tailored to our space,” North says. “The collection features local artists, and the artwork is all pieces that fit our aesthetic. We’re really happy we get to work with such talented, local people.”

LIT UP
“We have a mixture of light fixtures throughout the lobby—some vintage and some vintage-inspired,” North says, adding that chandeliers and lighting fixtures are “focal points that ground the space, providing symmetry and balance to the room. They help create that warm, cozy feeling.”

RETAINED AUTHENTICITY 
The Hoxton, Portland has retained as many original components from the building’s historic past as possible. North says, “The old section of the building shows off the original timber columns, while the new section is designed in a more contemporary way but with an industrial approach, with exposed brickwork and a cement board.”

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Robin McLaughlin is digital editor of LODGING.