Ultra-modern hotels springing up in Madrid

As in many of the capitals and great cities of the world, a new concept of hotel has appeared in Madrid, Spain, both modern and comfortable, with the latest in technology, design, and decoration.

As in many of the capitals and great cities of the world, a new concept of hotel has appeared in Madrid, Spain, both modern and comfortable, with the latest in technology, design, and decoration. These are hotels at the cutting edge to give flight to the imagination.

Combining Traditional Character and the Avant Garde

With the aim of finding unique buildings for their hotels in every city, the AC hotel chain have converted an early 20th century National Heritage palace into a five star hotel. Located in the Art Triangle formed by the Prado, Reina Sofia and Thyssen Museums, the AC Palacio del Retiro can also boast magnificent views over Retiro Park. Its privileged location is by no means the only attractive feature of this hotel. The classical style of the facade contrasts sharply with the ultra-modern interior design. Entering the hotel, the visitor can contemplate a balance of the very latest in new decorative elements and works of art. Built with concrete, horizontal wrought iron and carved wood, the materials and architectural design of this four story building have been preserved as far as possible from the original. In the words of Lorenzo Marques, the architect in charge of the interior design of the hotel, it was built, with a minimalist design in mind, searching for a balance between a traditional building and the latest decorative tendencies.

A New Concept in Luxury and Design

The Hotel Urban opened in October 2004, in the heart of the political, cultural, financial and shopping district. Designed by the architects Carles Basso and Mariano Martitegui, the building is noteworthy both for its cutting edge architectural design, and the collection of priceless works of modern art it houses.

In the words of interior designer Merce Borrel, working alongside Jordi, โ€œThe hotel originally took its inspiration from the Art Deco movement, combining the spirit of the past with more modern tendenciesโ€. Built with the very best materials (fine woods, marble), the walls have been painted with bright colors in order to give the hotel a bright and luminous air. Borrel is keen to highlight one of the more innovative features, a sophisticated lighting system which gives the client โ€œa variety of options depending on their needs and the time of day within the bedroom.

In addition, the bedrooms, corridors and common areas are a veritable art gallery containing late 19th century and early 20th century works from Papua New Guinea, the Museum of Egyptian Art and various oriental pieces

An Intellectual and Artistic Design

The former Bauza Hotel, now Vincci Somma was inaugurated in 1999 with the aim of introducing new decorative and functional characteristics into the hotel world. Located in the building formerly pertaining to the hotel Pintor Goya, the quality and service of the hotel are characterized by innovation, variety and attention to detail, with the aim of making each guest feel at home, with a reading room with a fireplace, a gymnasium, a sauna and a garage all in the building itself. Its interior decoration combines modernity, comfort, functionality and style.

Its rooms have been designed and equipped with the very latest in technology: a selection of c.d.s and books, a hi-fi system, ADSL Internet connection, fax, a Play Station, satellite television, and spacious, imaginative bathrooms designed to complement the hotelโ€™s tasteful decoration.

An Eclectic Style

On the corner of Calle Goya and Calle Velasquez, we find the Hotel Adler, fully refurbished and equipped with the very latest facilities. Decorated by the renowned interior designer Pascual Ortega (who was also commissioned to deck out the streets in preparation for the Royal Wedding between Prince Felipe and Dona Letizia Ortiz), the hotel has taken on a whole new dimension, without detracting from its 18th century charm.

Ortega points out that the lighting has had an important role to play, โ€œas a means to highlight the contrast between various areas, and bring out certain decorative and architectural features.โ€ In order to give the hotel a distinctive and exclusive touch, the designer has opted for original designs and quality with regards to both the materials used and the furnishings selected.

A Very Contemporary Look Ultra-modern hotels

The Vincci Centrum is among the many buildings in the center of Madrid which have been refurbished in order to house a four-star hotel. The interior design -courtesy of GCA Arquitectes Associats- is intended to give the building an up to date image, combining both modernity and comfort.

With the aim of attracting the attention of passers-by, a steel orange canopy hangs over the original faรงade, as a means to make the entrance stand out. Once inside, comfort and quality are the hallmarks of the common areas, while guests can contemplate old photographs of Madrid in the Buffet area, a reminder of the time when the building was constructed.

The corridors are one of the more noteworthy features of this hotel, with large polyurethane plaques, each with a bright orange number corresponding to the room, to inform guests of their whereabouts. According to the hotel’s interior designer Teresa Calero, “we have tried to do something which breaks the mold in Madrid, with a decoration that is modern, comfortable and welcoming.”

A Legendary Hotel

Finally, Fernando Mateos and Pilar Calleja are the owners of the Acis y Galatea, a charming hotel with a personal touch (there are only 16 rooms), close to Campo de las Naciones and the trade fair center of IFEMA.

The designers Maipi Esteban and Cristina Gabas have given the hotel a cosmopolitan atmosphere, combining the very latest 21st century tendencies with decorative features inspired by the mythological elements of Handelโ€™s opera Acis and Galatea. Esteban explains that this love story from Greek Mythology inspired the theatrical decoration of the hotel. Large black and white photos of Acis and Galatea have been placed over the bedheads in many of the rooms, in order to highlight the contrasts and give an even more theatrical touch to the decoration.

About the author

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Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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