Such Great Heights

Such Great Heights

April 29, 2009

By Tara Mastrelli
Photography courtesy of ME Barcelona

"Barcelona is 100 percent the inspiration," says renowned French architect Dominique Perrault of his design for the new 390-foot building that houses ME Barcelona. Since the Catalonian capital's skyline was mostly one level, Perrault created a stacked design of two rectangular pieces—the grounded piece reaches up level to the skyline, while the extended piece gives the illusion that the building is moving up the sky. "The cantilever on top serves as a symbol for modernity; for communication and technology," says Perrault. "I was trying to pay homage to Barcelona while at the same time being contemporary."

Once inside the 37-floor hotel the contemporary design continues with interiors by local firm Corada Figueras Arquitectos. "The most challenging part was how to work in consonance with such a strong architecture but at the time achieve a high level comfort," says principal Virginia Figueras, noting that working hand-in-hand with Perrault was at the same time a challenging and enriching process.

The ground floor lobby/lounge is divided into three main areas: one an all black lounge, the next stark white, complete with a glowing white reception desk, and the third, which is the SKY Food Bar, features a rainbow palette of floor-to-ceiling glass panels. "The result is a very flexible and fluid space," says Figueras. "The transparency of the glass allows the perception of unity of space, yet the different colors on their own or superimposed play with lights and reflections." To both warm up the sleek design and control sound reverb, Figueras used tinted cement on the floors, covered the walls in natural felt, and used a microperforated ceiling.

And throughout the 259 guestrooms, the designer continued to both play with transparency and reflections, and warm up the space with natural materials. "The main idea in the design of the bedrooms was to use the reflections inside/outside," says Figueras, "that is to try and get the fantastic views of Barcelona right inside the room and through to the bathroom." And to contrast glass and mirror reflections as well as the shiny, white floors, Figueras selected a brightly colored area rug handmade in Nepal, a lacquered red desk, and a bed upholstered in dark violet velvet.

And Figueras wasn't the only one who loved to play with reflections and light. Perrault says his favorite part of the building is the mirrored exterior. "The reflection of the light is constantly changing and gives a feel of uniqueness to each moment. The way the sun, the moon, and the lights of the city bounce off the property is always new."

www.perraultarchitecte.com; www.me-barcelona.com

ME Barcelona
Owner: Sol Meliá
Architecture Firm: Dominique Perrault, France
Development and Construction: Salazar Navarro Architecture Studio, Barcelona
Interior Design: Corada Figueras Arquitectos

Guestroom
Bin: Kartell
Telephones: Jabob Jansen
Bedside Lights: Flos
Desk Light: Pedraza
Bed Eggs Lights: Designed by Virginia Figueras for Transforma
Lamp: Flos
Headboard/Bedside Table/Red Desk: Special fabrication by Viccarbe
Chaise Lounge: Special fabrication by Viccarbe

Suite
Lighting: Flos
Lamps and Table Lighting: Artemide
Central Table and Red Cupboard: Special fabrication by Viccarbe
Sofa Bed and Sofa Chairs: Flex Form

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