Año
2021-2022
Hotel Monegal
Localización
Barcelona
Superficie
2.552 m2
Hotel Monegal renovation and spatial layout in Barcelona
Situated in a central area of Barcelona stands a building that is a true reflection of the city’s living history. Built in the late 19th century and extended in the early 20th century with the addition of two further storeys, the property has a unique appearance that combines wooden-beamed floors on the lower storeys with metal beams on the upper ones. This unique blend of historical and architectural features has earned it a place on Barcelona’s list of architectural heritage sites.
The major challenge of the project stemmed from the owners’ desire to reverse the current state of chaos and neglect, unifying and extending the hotel operations to the entire building through a partial change of use that would transform it into a five-star hotel. Obtaining the final planning permission became a complex architectural and administrative balancing act, where the strict requirements regarding fire evacuation, accessibility, structures and installations—as stipulated by building regulations—clashed with the conservation criteria of the City Council’s technical departments and the client’s legitimate wishes.
The work on the ground floor involved removing the small shop that occupied the entrance hall to restore its original spaciousness and splendour. With the aim of preserving the visual clarity of the space and highlighting its heritage features, such as the marble firebacks and ornate plaster ceilings, it was decided to relocate the reception to the main floor.
Heritage restoration and transformation into a luxury Hotel
Thus, the main floor became the heart of the hotel, housing the reception, dining rooms, lounge areas, kitchen facilities and toilets, laid out with suchvprecision that it even left space for a few guest rooms. From there, the buildingvis entirely dedicated to relaxation, comprising a total of forty-eight rooms, all ofvwhich face outwards, ensuring enviable natural light.
Guest Room Design: classic architecture and contemporary comfort
To respond to the building’s varied geometries, the project incorporates four distinct room types. Each of these variants has been meticulously designed to maintain a classic aesthetic that respects the nineteenth-century spirit of the property, whilst interpreting it through a contemporary lens. The main objective has been to blend this stately character with the highest standards of comfort required of a first-class residential space and, in particular, the ultra-luxury hospitality sector.
One of the common features of all these rooms, beyond the elegance of their finishes, is the spectacular influx of natural light; an abundant and vibrant brightness that floods the spaces through the majestic original bay windows, whose imposing three-metre heights frame the urban pulse of the city.
Room type 1
Room type 2
Room type 3
Room type 4
Hotel Interior Design: fine materials and the revival of traditional craftsmanship
Beyond simply meeting the formal requirements, the five-star rating was achieved through authenticity, prioritising the quality of the spaces, the fine materials, the exquisite furnishings and the revival of traditional crafts from the era in which the building was conceived.
This journey of regeneration culminates on the roof terrace, where the technical clutter of the past has given way to a spectacular terrace with a solarium, an outdoor seating area and a small swimming pool offering unrivalled views over Las Ramblas and Plaça de Catalunya.
The ultimate success of this project lies in the creativity that went into restoring a 150-year-old building to the status and proportions it had in its early days.
A collective professional achievement that successfully integrated the demands of the 21st century within 19th-century walls, reviving the building’s original dignity so that Barcelona can once again admire it just as it was originally conceived.