How were you commissioned?
We have done another Hotel for the same client previously in Salamanca.
What was the brief from the client and how much were they involved?:
The client wanted a Mediterranean, warm, elegant, comfortable, fun, and chic Hotel. Durable materials. They had quite a few specifications based on their experience with other Hotels in their chain, including 2 previous Hotels in Malaga, in regards to quality, but were quite open to design suggestions.
How did the brief affect the materials and design choices?
The fact that the facades of the 2 buildings were to be kept standing conditioned the final look. They are classic and we wanted a hotel that would not be too much of a contrast with the outside.
How did your previous experience help you with this project?
When working on a Hotel project, one has to remember not only the Hotel's requirements, but also how you feel as a client of a Hotel, what makes you feel comfortable and luxurious but also what surprises you. There are also safety and durability issues that have to be taken into consideration. We learnt to work around and with these constraints.
Can you explain the layout of the project ?
2 side by side 5 story buildings. Pool, terrace and bar in the terrace overlooking the Port of Malaga. 3 floors with rooms and Corner Suites up to a total of 61 rooms. Ground floor has the Lobby, 2 courtyards and a future Restaurant. Basement has Breakfast Room, courtyard, Gym, 2 Meeting Rooms and Kitchen.
What problems or challenges did you face?
A restoration is always more difficult than building new. You run into all sorts of technical issues that appear as work progresses, so you have to be ready for Plan B. The fact that the 2 buildings were not exactly the same height made building almost like assembling a puzzle, although the result is more interesting. The challenges are usually the same: trying to please the client, the architect, the local authorities and yourself!
What do you feel were the most unusual design elements of the project?
Our revised traditional Andalusian courtyards with black pebbled floors (installed by artisans from Cordoba) with giant yellow glazed pots, and the vinyl wallpaper we designed for the corridors inspired by leaves from the Botanical gardens of Malaga (Monstera and Strelitzia). We brought a bit of outdoors inside.
How do you think this project is pushing design forward? What makes it special?
We are trying to REVISE and use traditional Spanish materials such as leather, wrought iron, hand painted tiles, glazed pots , the pebble floors in patios in a more modern way but with the same quality. Because of the importance of the Parks and gardens in Malaga, we wanted to remember them in our design and bring them also indoors. Finally the view unto the Mediterranean called for fresh and bold stripes in the colours of the sea.....
