THE SAMARKAND

Ladies' Mirror, Volume I, Issue 11, 1 May 1923, Page 21

THE SAMARKAND

by H. L. MASSEY, a.r.i.b.a., a.m.t.p.i.

America’s Persian Hotel Santa Barbara, California

“Oh/ come to old Khayyam and leave the wise To pander; North and South the Highway lies With Plain and Canon under laughing skies. To Samarkand. his earthly paradise.” ■ —Ferdinand Pinney Earle. Samarkand: TSTELL may the above words be ™ associated with the beautiful modern hotel embodying the spirit and grace of Omar Khayyam, named after his birth-place, it breathes the essence of his philosophy. It is a Persian garden. Opened in January, 1921, “Samarkand” is Santa Barbara’s newest and most beautiful hotel. While being completely equipped on modern hotel lines, it also embodies an idea. Not merely to accommodate the passing traveller to a night’s lodging but to entice him through its open portals into a garden where he may revel in the easy philosophy of the Persian poet and rest awhile from the “burly burly” of business life.

“The Wilderness Were Paradise Enow” —“Omar”

The conception, which is a masterly piece of planning, is the work of Messrs. Ingerson and Dennison, who are artists of international reputation. The hotel is the crowning feature of a hill of some thirty acres of garden land, commanding charming vistas of mountains, foothills, mesa and ocean. A wonderful garden with a riot of colour, set with rose pergolas, lily pools, and cool shady walks with beautiful examples of the potter’s art, suggesting perhaps a scene from “Arabian Nights," or a dream of Maxfield Parish on canvas. The hotel atmosphere is replaced by that of the country residence. In

the Persian theatre and lounge is created an environment that is restful and care-free, with soft music stealing through the arcades and far from recalling any suggestion of jazz. The hotel is completely self-con-tained, and the absence of detached cottages and bungalows, which are now made a feature of country hotels, will be noticed with relief. However, the guests’ rooms are disconnected from the main block, and have access thereto by means of arcaded loggias. All suites have private balconies. Each living room has an open fireplace in addition to steam heating. The bedrooms, arranged as either single or double rooms, have each a bathroom carried out in coloured faience, and complete with excellent fittings. All rooms are tastefully decorated with handtooled furniture, painted by artists. All these rooms enjoy wonderful views, extending over the garden, mesa, and mountains. Guests registering at the hotel automatically become members of the local country club and golf course. Conducted on the American plan, this is the only Persian hotel in America to date.