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HOTEL OMM BARCELONA, SPAIN |
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ARCHITECTURE / INTERIOR DESIGN |
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Juli Capella
Isabel López
Sandra Tarruella |
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Within Barcelona’s fashionable Passeig de Gràcia district, Hotel Omm is the function-driven creation of architect Juli Capella and interior designers Sandra Tarruella and Isabel López.
Sections of the unusual limestone façade teasingly peel back like pages of a book about to reveal the rooms inside. Yet what seems like decorative fantasy is actually functional: The façade design puts windows at particular angles to the outside, thereby shielding guests from unwanted views into their rooms and, at the same time, allowing direct sunlight to flood in while also fending off disturbing noise from the street. Giving a high priority to spaciousness, the lobby is devoid of any boutiques, stairwells or even counters and the furnishings that have been placed there are kept at a uniform height. Individual art works are found in public areas, such as Hotel Omm's restaurant Moo. There, diners’ attention is drawn to the individual under plate designs by Spanish artists and designers such as Frederic Amat, Mario Eskenazi and Antonio Miró.
The interior concept by Tarruella and López is based on simple lines, a fine balance of colours and volumes as well as the use of natural materials without extravagant adornments. In this case, functionality doesn’t necessarily preclude elements of surprise. Yes, the black rubber-lined corridors absorb sound, but, with two tubes of light spanning their length, they also create a very futuristic, spacey atmosphere. Standing in the dark hallways and then entering the light-filled rooms adds to the experience: doors open directly into the guestrooms’ wide-open space unrestricted by an intermediary corridor. Furnishings are limited to modular pieces and only a lightweight metal wardrobe and an entertainment unit separates the bedroom from the bathroom – again avoiding the superfluous without forfeiting comfort in any way. An extension including 24 more luxury rooms and a sumptuous health, beauty and relaxation centre were created by the design-duo Sandra Tarruella and Isabel López. |
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