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Mandarin Oriental BCN Phase II

Patricia Urquiola

By Brian Gallagher 07.04.14

When the world renowned hotel group Mandarin Oriental decided on Barcelona to create their largest and most luxurious hotel in southern Europe they choose Spanish architect Patricia Urquiola to design the interior architecture. She produced an overall concept which reflects both her own work as well as the open and cosmopolitan character of one of the Mediterranean’s most important urban centres.

Five years later and Mandarin Oriental has become a reference in Barcelona, phase two of the project is now ready to be unveiled this spring; an expansion to accommodate 17 new suites and 5 exclusive rooms, making for a total capacity of 120 rooms and suites. Urquiola's new concept is an extension of the existing Presidential Suite or Penthouse Suite, which carries on her personal investigations into combining European avant-garde and Oriental tradition; as well as introducing elements that reinterpret Catalan modernism, such as its hydraulic mosaics or the exclusive artworks created especially for Mandarin Oriental Barcelona featuring urban aspects of the city.

  • Mandarin Oriental Barcelona
  • Mandarin Oriental Barcelona

    Suite with terrace, Mandarin Oriental, Barcelona

    Two factors stand out in the design of the new suites: spaciousness (the suites range from 55 sq.m to 124 sq.m. for the Junior Suites and the Premier) and the unusually high ceilings and abundant natural light with double aspect for all of the rooms: which look out over Passeig de Gràcia or the inner courtyard. The palette of colours and materials includes bronze, heat-treated oak floors, solid timber and quality finishes together with light coloured carpets and occasional furniture; floor to ceiling windows combined with light and dark wall surfaces juxtaposed with matching cabinetry.

    Refined luxury that stands out for its subtlety, most of the furniture in fact including the bedside tables and boards, dressing tables, cabinets and writing desks are bespoke designs which play on the same palette of materials used for the refurbishment. The bathrooms and dressing areas are simple but functional while the living/lounge areas and bedrooms are connected in a fluid use of space using floor to ceiling sliding doors.