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Barcelona
Carles Díaz
Eduard Permanyer
Susana Pavón and María Roger
Enric Torrent and Jesús Jiménez
Designing a building that housed the restaurant from the 1929 Universal Exhibition –an edification of relative interest, of which only the deteriorated facade remained– and doing so when the new construction needed to be much larger than the original was not easy. To grant the old facade a degree of dignity, the new building is stepped back, forming wide terraces in front of the rooms and giving all the prominence to the old building. For the same reason, the extension is stuccoed in a camouflage green.
The original way of accessing the building was through the Miramar gardens, located in front of the old facade. Currently, these gardens are pedestrianized, and as a result, vehicular access to the hotel is through the new rear facade.
The interior is organized around the central atrium, a monumental full-height lobby that encompasses the grand staircase and becomes the heart of the hotel. In a three-story public building, a worthy staircase is appreciated –one that can be used comfortably, frequently, and with a certain sense of aesthetic pleasure.
Photographs by Eva Blanch y OTB