The reopening of METT Barcelona marks the transformation of the historic Gran Hotel La Florida, a landmark perched on Tibidabo Hill overlooking the city. Led by Kokaistudios, the interior renovation reinterprets the building’s architectural heritage through a contemporary lens, balancing careful preservation with a refined and modern hospitality language.
Originally conceived in a classic architectural style defined by grace and monumentality, the hotel has long been a secluded retreat for discerning travelers, offering luxury and tranquility removed from the urban intensity below. Over the decades, it welcomed numerous dignitaries and cultural figures, consolidating its reputation as one of Barcelona’s most iconic hotels. Successive changes in ownership and management, however, led to alternating periods of decline and renewal, gradually diluting the coherence of its original identity.
In 2024, Sunset Group—building on an established collaboration with Kokaistudios across multiple F&B projects in the Middle East and Southeast Asia—partnered with ATOM, the new owner, to reposition the property. Kokaistudios was commissioned to lead the interior renovation, with the objective of aligning the hotel’s historic character with the distinctive Mediterranean identity of the METT brand.
The intervention preserves the building’s original structure and iconic presence while reconfiguring interior spaces to improve natural light, spatial continuity, and visual connections to the surrounding views and landscape. A restrained material palette and carefully calibrated contrasts allow historic elements and contemporary insertions to coexist without hierarchy.
Within the public areas, the project retains original decorative ceilings and wrought-iron balustrades. Existing ornamental wooden elements were selectively lacquered in white to re-establish unity and spatial clarity within the historic fabric. Set against this calibrated background, a contemporary system of wood-and-fabric boiserie is introduced to frame entrances and articulate thresholds between public spaces, establishing a measured dialogue between the original architecture and the new intervention.
In the entrance lobby, two groups of contemporary lounge seating are arranged facing the preserved original fireplaces, flanked by bespoke wooden bookcases. Adjacent to this, the new check-in area—clad in wood shelves and fabric panels—introduces a sense of quite refinement, reinforcing the lobby’s role as a welcoming and composed threshold between the exterior, the historic building, and the contemporary hospitality experience.
The architectural geometries of the central lobby were reconfigured to reinforce the spatial symmetry in relation to the octagonal atrium that connects to the guestroom floors. Facing the preserved marble grand staircase, Kokaistudios introduced a compact retail space—now occupied by Lladró—carefully integrated into the historic setting as a contemporary insertion.
Three juxtaposed wooden portals define the thresholds leading to the lift lobby, the restaurant area, and the garden lounge. The latter, enriched with chandeliers and decorative objects by Lladró, opens onto a bright inner courtyard. A corduroy-lined ceiling and integrated bookcases add warmth and refinement to the space, while comfortable, colorful lounge seating fosters an inviting hospitality atmosphere. The area is complemented by a compact bar and pastries counter, reinforcing its role as an informal yet elegant social setting.
Within the indoor pool area, Kokaistudios redefined the vertical circulation by introducing a new staircase connecting the first guestroom level with the lower-ground floor, where the gym and spa facilities are located. This intervention consolidates the entire sequence—including the changing rooms equipped with sauna and steam rooms—into a coherent wellness zone, now operated by Valmont Spa.
The elongated indoor pool extends seamlessly into the heated outdoor pool, from which expansive views open toward the center of Barcelona and the Mediterranean Sea. Kokaistudios redesigned the surrounding terraces and the restaurant canopies, introducing an outdoor bar to support evening gatherings and reinforcing the terraces as key social spaces overlooking the city.
Ascending to the guestroom floors, corridors and shared public areas are designed with a language of calm, understated elegance. Wood-and-fabric boiserie is used to subtly articulate the lift lobbies, providing continuity with the public spaces below while reinforcing a refined and intimate atmosphere.
Kokaistudios carefully redesigned and customized the layouts of all 70 guestrooms and suites, placing particular emphasis on framing views toward the surrounding hills and the city. Throughout the rooms, preserved ceilings, floors, and bathroom finishes are juxtaposed with new, distinctive METT elements: spacious, exceptionally comfortable beds with wooden headboards, bespoke minibars, integrated lounge furniture systems for relaxation or in-room dining, and large-format TV screens seamlessly incorporated into the overall design language.
The lighting system was also fully redesigned, featuring integrated headboard lamps, floor lamps, and linear lighting discreetly embedded within the room’s framing, creating a layered and refined illumination that enhances both comfort and atmosphere.
Through this careful balance of preservation and contemporary design, METT Barcelona emerges as a seamless dialogue between history and modern hospitality—a place where grace, comfort, and the natural beauty of Tibidabo Hill come together to create a uniquely memorable guest experience.
Project Information:
Project Name: METT Barcelona
Client: ATOM HOTELES SOCIMI SA
Site: Barcelona, Spain
Service Scope: Interior Renovation, Public Space and Rooms Interior Design
Grand Opening: Sep, 2025
Design Area: 5,219 sqm
Design Company: Kokaistudios
Chief Architects: Andrea Destefanis, Filippo Gabbiani
Interior Design Director: Ian Yu
Interior Design Team: Ada Sun, Fiona Zhang, Wenwen Wang, Amber Cao, Vivian Fang, Shiyu Chen
Photographers: Grégoire Gardette (©METT), Eugeni Pons
Media Contact: [email protected]
Partners:
CMV Architects: Project Management and Architecture
Astet studio: F&B Interior Design
