CASA DE LAS ARTES, MADRID, SPAIN

Posted in Projects on 15 December, 2024

Adriana Sans of ASAH reveals how four historic buildings were united as one spectacular hotel.

A celebration of the arts, Melia Collection’s new hotel in the literary heart of Madrid sets out to blend the cultural splendour of the past with the creative voices of today. Casa de las Artes invites guests to engage with culture through an array of workshops, temporary exhibitions and film series.

The hotel’s interior design and décor were created by architect Álvaro Sans and interior designer Adriana Sans from ASAH in collaboration with Meliá Hotels International. Their work sought inspiration from Miguel de Cervantes, who shaped the aesthetic vision of this hidden gem, nestled in the charming streets of Barrio de las Letras. Revered as Spain’s greatest novelist, poet and playwright, Cervantes remains the neighbourhood’s most illustrious resident and serves as the guiding force behind Casa de las Artes.

Lobby. Photographs courtesy of  Meliá Hotels International.

Among its cultural spaces, the hotel’s private cinema room is a standout, inspired by the classic Hollywood screening rooms of the 1950s. Literary lovers can retreat to the library to unwind amid the bookshelves in a cosy and peaceful atmosphere. The hotel also boasts a number of leisure spaces including a thermal pool and a fitness centre. The fitness centre has a ballet barre, paying homage to the elegant art of dance.

Library.

“Meliá commissioned us to transform a 3-star TRYP hotel into a Meliá Collection hotel, which was a significant change,” says Adriana Sans of ASAH. “Before starting any design, we always study the country, city and neighbourhood where the project is located. The architecture, museums and artists who have lived there… all of this serves as the foundation for starting the design and giving the project a true sense of place.”

The project took three years to complete because it was carried out in phases that minimised closure to only eight months. It was a complex endeavour that it involved merging four protected historic buildings. One of these buildings was a mansion from the early 20th century that once served as the headquarters of the Spanish Association of Railway Workers.

Adriana explains: “To achieve this, we created a gallery that connected Atocha Street with Moratin Street, crossing the four buildings and linking them through a series of spectacular spaces that bring both meaning and functionality to the project. From the reception and its waiting lounge, passing through the indoor pool, the architecture room, the meeting hall, and arriving at the library, discovery centre and the cinema. The gallery also provides access via the mansion’s staircase to the former theatre, which we have transformed into a multifunctional restaurant and lounge, with the stage becoming a bar and the fly system turned into a winter garden lounge with four fireplaces and trees. We sought to maximize natural light throughout the spaces, which was one of the biggest challenges when combining the four buildings.”

Restaurant.

Set in the former Spanish Railways Association building, the restaurant offers a unique fusion of culinary delights and live entertainment. Stained-glass windows and lofty ceilings create a stunning backdrop for a theatrical dining experience.

The colour palette was chosen to highlight the architectural features and mouldings of the historic building. The terracotta colour selected for the hotel draws inspiration from the world’s leading art museums, which often showcase this tone in their most prestigious galleries. This colour choice reflects the hotel’s commitment to blending historic elegance with contemporary design, creating a sophisticated and welcoming atmosphere.

Left: Lobby. Right: Restaurant.

“The printing house next to the hotel, where the first edition of Cervantes’ Don Quixote was printed, inspired a century of writers, making the neighbourhood of Barrio de las Letras a unique place in the world. For this reason, we dedicate the hotel to Cervantes and his brilliant work, featuring illustrations by Dalí in the noble areas and by Gustave Doré in all the rooms. The discovery centre encapsulates the history of the neighbourhood, transforming the hotel into a cultural hub that supports the cultural renaissance of the area,” says Adriana, whose research involved exploring the historical context of the buildings and their surroundings, including the literary heritage of the neighbourhood. This research guided the integration of Cervantes-themed art and the preservation of architectural details.

The Artist Junior Suite and Thermal Pool.

The main materials used in the design include natural elements such as walnut wood and black and white Marquina marble. The 137 guestrooms feature these materials to create a warm and luxurious atmosphere, while the public spaces blend original fixtures with contemporary lighting and furnishings. The contrast between the opulent public spaces and the tranquil rooms is intentional. The public spaces are designed to reflect the grandeur of the building’s history, while the rooms provide a serene and comfortable atmosphere, emphasizing relaxation and privacy.

Left: The Fine Arts Suite with Terrace. Right: Moratin Stairs.

Adriana concludes: “We believe we have succeeded in uniting the four buildings in an elegant and functional way, with the gallery as the key element that gives meaning to the whole. We also really like the change of use from the theatre to a multifunctional space. The most important thing is that it is not just another hotel; its design, open to the city and the Literary Quarter, reflects a clear intention to create a hotel-cultural centre that supports all cultural initiatives, offering a new perspective on what a hotel can be.”

melia.com

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