Laser-cut Corten steel balcony railings patterned after tangled branches cascade down a white stucco facade draped in climbing vines — it is one of the more quietly persuasive arguments for biophilic design in California Wine Country hospitality. H2Hotel, which opened in 2010 in downtown Healdsburg, was designed by David Baker Architects with interiors by IDS and carries LEED Platinum certification, making it one of the greenest hotels in the country at the time of its opening. The 36-room, four-storey building draws its material language from the surrounding landscape: the undulating Corten roofline mirrors the oak-studded hillsides, while timber brise-soleil screens visible at the pool courtyard filter afternoon light in the manner of a vineyard canopy. Inside, the lobby deploys a Roche Bobois Mah Jong sectional in a riot of mismatched upholstery fabrics against board-formed concrete walls and polished concrete floors — an intentionally eclectic move that keeps the sustainable credentials from tipping into earnest austerity. Guest rooms are quieter and more resolved: dark-stained bamboo floors, sage-green channeled headboards set into walnut-toned wall panels, red-lacquered wardrobe casings with ash-veneer doors, and articulated black reading sconces that suggest mid-century workshop furniture. Plantation shutters filter the Sonoma County light throughout. The pool courtyard, framed by cedar slat screens and those signature branch-patterned railings overhead, anchors the property to its agricultural surroundings without resorting to rustic pastiche.

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Striped bamboo floors, funky Peace Industry rugs and local art give the rooms character without excess fuss. Lush 100% Egyptian Cotton linens and robes have such come-hither appeal they could keep you in bed all day. All rooms have built in desks with ergonomic chairs and extra storage, plus seating areas both outside and in. The understated aesthetic is carried through to the bathrooms with simple lines, Heath ceramic tile and signature bath products crafted from natural ingredients. Feeling parched? Grab your glass carafe and head for the water bar on your floor for your choice of icy cold still or sparkling.