The Historic Hotel Renovation Pitch
A hospitality group was bidding to renovate a landmark hotel on Nob Hill. The competition was fierce. They had a bold vision to modernize the guest experience while preserving the 1920s architecture, but their static mood boards felt flat. They needed to walk the hotel owners through the new guest journey, from the moment the valet opens the door to the moment the guest collapses onto the bed in the renovated suite. They needed to sell the atmosphere, not just the furniture.
We created a continuous-shot walkthrough animation based on their design concepts. The camera acted as the guest. We started at the porte-cochère, moved through the grand lobby where we animated the restoration of the historic ceiling, and then floated up the elevator into the model suite. We focused heavily on material transitions, showing how the original marble floors transitioned into modern custom carpets. The animation included subtle details like the flickering of the fireplace and the movement of sheer curtains in the breeze. The presentation stunned the board, securing the contract for the design team.
Client Name
Noble Hospitality Group
Client Type
Hotel Operator
Location
Nob Hill, San Francisco
Project focus
Design competition and investor pitch
Color Palette
Gold Leaf, Velvet Red, Marble White, Onyx
Services Provided
Interior Walkthrough, Architectural Animation
Budget
$28,000
Duration
6 Weeks
Thoughtfully designed spaces for life
Strategic Design Interventions
We use cinematic storytelling to create emotional buy-in.
1
The Continuous Shot
We avoided jump cuts. By keeping the camera moving in one fluid motion, we demonstrated the connectivity of the spaces. This proved that the operational flow of the hotel would be seamless for both guests and staff.
Material Tactility
In video, you can see how light interacts with materials. We animated the specular highlights on the brass fixtures and the softness of the velvet upholstery. This communicated the level of luxury far better than a flat material sample board ever could.
2
3
Focal Point Direction
We used depth of field (blurring the background) to guide the viewer eye. We forced the investors to look exactly where we wanted them to look, at the restored architectural details, ensuring they understood the value of the preservation efforts.
