BLESS Collection Hotels is a new contemporary luxury hotel brand from Palladium Hotel Group.  The first property will open in Madrid in January 2019, followed by Ibiza next Summer, with further international roll-out planned.

BLESS Hotel Madrid will be located on Calle de Velázquez in the heart of the city’s exclusive Salamanca district, offering 111 rooms, rooftop pool, bowling alley, barber shop, spa and gym, gourmet destination restaurant, three bars and conference spaces.  The hotel’s gastronomic offering and destination restaurant, Etxeco, will be headed up by world famous Basque chef, Martin Berasategui, holder of eight Michelin stars.

The property’s interiors have been designed by renowned Spanish designer Lázaro Rosa-Violán.  Rosa-Violán is recognised as a global leader in restaurant, hotel and retail design.  His designs include restaurants across the world such Boca Grande and Toto in Barcelona, Iberica in London and El Mercado in Bogotá.  Some of his most notable hotel projects include Soho House Barcelona, Hotel Cotton House in Barcelona, Hotel Cortin Palma de Mallorca and Les Chouettes in Paris. 

Rosa-Violán opened his Contemporain studio in Barcelona in 2002, bridging a background of painting in to the new realm of design. Rosa-Violán’s work is characterised by the luxurious drama of his designs, the historical references in his architecture and an acute use of space.  In 2013 he was honoured by Architectural Digest Spain as the Top Interior Designer in Europe. Violan says: “my philosophy has always been based on accessible design.  The experience should be greater than the space.”

For further information on Rosa-Violán - lazarorosaviolan.com/en

BLESS Hotel Madrid will occupy the home of one of Madrid’s most iconic hotels, Gran Hotel Velazquez.  Built in 1946, in its heyday the hotel played host to Madrid’s high society and was an important meeting point for the people of Madrid.  As such BLESS Madrid aims to play homage to the building’s heritage and embody the culture and people of Madrid.

In terms of the hotel’s design, the vision is to create a quintessentially Madrilenian character with a contemporary slant:-

• The bedrooms take their inspiration from the traditional "high standing houses" in the Salamanca district of Madrid.  A classic style with references to 19th Century Madrid is seen in details such as bed headboards showing hunting scenes and country landscapes on the walls.  A sense of quality is felt in oak wood screens, fireplaces and tall closets covered with wood panels and mirror.  This classic style is combined with discordant elements such as works of art or a modern chair to give a contemporary touch. 

• Moving into the main hotel many of the property’s original features are pulled out as hero details, such as the marble on the walls throughout the main staircase and original Murano glass panels which have been re-located.

• Rosa-Violán feels it important to play homage to the heritage of the hotel.  The main bar was originally called Ruleta so Rosa-Violán has created a large-scale roulette wheel feature as a nod to the history of the bar (where cocktails such as gin fizz will be served, reminiscent of the drinks originally enjoyed in the space). 

• In the restaurant, the atmosphere of an typical Madrid tavern is recreated on a grand scale, reinterpreting some of the most typical visual motifs of Spain.  For example the colour palette draws on the yellow and deep reds found in the bullring, brocade curtains are reminiscent of a traditional crochet, and features such as ceramic tiles, amber textured crystals and cast iron lamps are utilised.

• One of the special spaces is MUSE, an elegant boulevard area which will become an exclusive retail and entertainment destination for Madrid residents as well as hotel guests.  The space will include cafes, artisanal shops and will feature a variety of pop-up art exhibitions and music events.  The space will become a destination in Madrid and has designed to be flexible to different uses.

• The rooftop pool and bar area will utilize vegetation with mosaic floor, brick walls and warm colours inspired by Muslim and Spanish architecture.

• The high-tech gym has been built in the original Spanish wine cellar.

For further information on BLESS Collection Hotels - www.blesscollectionhotels.com/en/