The Kimpton Hotel Las Mercedes, located in the Colonial City of Santo Domingo, is a 130-room hotel project that combines respect for historical heritage with contemporary architecture. This unique design seeks to revive the value of colonial architecture while providing guests with a luxurious and sustainable experience in the heart of one of Latin America’s most emblematic historic centers.
At the heart of the project is the central courtyard, part of the original construction, which has been carefully preserved throughout the renovation. The courtyard retains its vegetation, offering a space that connects guests with nature and the colonial era architecture. Surrounding this vital area, the room corridors allow for natural light, cross-ventilation, and a serene, tropical atmosphere. All rooms feature balconies overlooking the inner courtyards, while some have private terraces with jacuzzis, enhancing guest intimacy and comfort.
The hotel’s rooftop terrace includes a spacious solarium with a pool, gym, and other amenities, offering spectacular views of the sea and the historic center of the Colonial City. From this elevated vantage point, visitors can appreciate iconic landmarks like the Archdiocesan Sanctuary of Nuestra Señora de la Altagracia, the Church of Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes, and the Monastery of San Francisco, enjoying a visual connection with the city’s historic surroundings.
To maintain a balance between old and new, the project respects the colonial facades while integrating contemporary multi-story volumes, creating new courtyards and avoiding a massive appearance. This approach provides a sense of openness and transparency throughout the public spaces and a design that respects the urban scale and contributes to the area’s revitalization.
The hotel’s interiors highlight the use of local materials, such as travertine floors, wooden slats in the galleries, and ceramic surfaces on walls, bringing a natural aesthetic to the spaces. Wood is used for its low carbon footprint and its excellent insulating properties. The use of these materials make it a space well-suited to the tropical climate of the Dominican Republic and their selection reinforces the hotel’s commitment to sustainability.
The hotel offers a variety of salons and event spaces, including multiple restaurants, a meeting room, and an event hall perfect for weddings and corporate gatherings. The Kimpton Hotel Las Mercedes thus positions itself as a comprehensive destination in the Colonial City, blending luxury, history, and sustainability in an environment that invites guests to enjoy and connect with the cultural heritage of Santo Domingo.
Team:
Architects: Moneo Brock Studio
Other participants: (collaborators, consultants, etc) Building services engineering: Engineers Assesors (Engass)
Technical Architect: Aparejadores ACC (Anibal Calvo)
Interior design: Pepe Deudero y Linette Nardi
Landscape design: Estudio PWP (Lowell Whipple, Ana Portela y Clara Portela) y Daniel Bonebiel
Structural Engineer: Calter Ingeniería
Contractor: Constructora Aybar
Firm: KIMPTON (IHG)
Operator: Iberostar
Lighting design: CA2L
Electrical consultant: Estel
Photographer: Sergio López
Materials Used:
Woodwork: Alumader
Ceramic: Ladrillerias Mallorquinas
Lighting: LEDS C4
Awnings: Tolder
Sanitaryware: Porcelanosa
