Alma Barcelona | Habitan Architecture

In 2005, Alma Hotels buys the former headquarters of Solvay Iberica on a privileged location in Barcelona: the encounter between Calle Mallorca with Paseo de Gracia. The building is typical Eixample style of the late nineteenth century, with a large garden in the courtyard. The rehabilitation of the building is inherent to the project and includes the replacement of the load-bearing wall structure by metal pillars and the construction of two new facades.
The part of the building with a classical facade communicating with Calle Mallorca is rehabilitated using the original language to reinforce the classic Eixample atmosphere. However, the new facade interrelating with the inner garden of the block is designed with a contemporary language, yet playing with the same traditional elements.
The concept of this hotel is to leave behind the typical hotel design in which the client is part of a decor created to impress visitors. The idea is that in this hotel guests feel “at home”, focusing on primary qualities as comfort, spaciousness and authenticity. The restoration is carried out with noble materials (wood, stone, leather, steel) applied au naturel and with simple and pure detailing.