Historic Texas hotel combines the past with the future
The Albert Hotel is a landmark of Texas hill country in historic Downtown Fredricksburg located on Main Street. Built on the site of and retaining the Keidel family pharmacy and homestead founded 175 years ago, the Albert Hotel is being renovated and expanded in a sustainable update designed by Clayton Korte in partnership with New Waterloo.
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The two-acre property features three quiet restaurants and two bars, plus a private dining room. Outdoors, a sunken limestone pool and lounge will offer guests a respite from the Texas heat. Landscaping incorporates native Texas grasses and tree species.
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Furthermore, the design blends the historic elements of the site with a contemporary new hotel. For instance, the historic Keidel family home built in 1860 after the family patriarch arrived in 1847 to serve as town doctor and judge. It sits alongside the Brockmann-Kiehne House built in 1870 and the Keidel Pharmacy built in 1906. Plus, the White Elephant Saloon built in 1888. The new Albert Hotel preserves the original streetscape, with the new hotel tucked behind to create a peaceful escape beyond the main drag.
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The Albert rooms range from bunkrooms and suites to a private house, all with custom furniture. The hotel includes a fitness center and 2,000 square-foot full-service spa. The hotel will open in the winter of 2022 to 2023. It aims to retain the best of the past while looking forward to modern amenities of the future for guests and tourists.
“The design embraces the fabric of the city and celebrates the hard-won character and patina of the historic structures. The new elements are quiet partners, complementing without overshadowing what’s already there,” noted Principal Architect Paul Clayton of Clayton Korte.
Additionally, the materials of the new building draw inspiration from the surrounding hill country. Traditional wood siding is paired with custom raked stucco, designed to reflect the changing sunlight through the day. An undulating façade paired with generous roof overhangs protect interior spaces and walkways from summer sun.
The interior reflects Albert Keidel’s global sensibilities with eclectic material-driven, layered design that is warm but simple. Native trees on site include live oaks and mesquites. Reclaimed and repurposed materials from the original site were used to create gardens and pathways that wind through the property among the historic buildings.