Barcelona-based interior architecture studio Lagranja says that the Chic & Basic Ramblas Hotel was a tricky project to achieve.
Almost four years of execution with a low budget, the uncharming building from the 60′s, located few steps away from the emblematic Barcelona’s Ramblas, had to be re-thought from top to bottom. Instead of going for the mainstream design, they decided to project an experience around the fantastic and fanciful Spanish 60′s. The Chic & Basic Ramblas Hotel is chic indeed, but definitely not so basic ! No doubt that its fun, stylish and whimsical interior design touches that make you smile, will make the place one of the most popular and convivial design hotels of the city. A bit of a “Mama Shelter(y)” feel, don’t you think?
In the lobby we played with iconic objects from those years: a Seat 600 – the first mass produced Spanish car – a huge Peseta – Spanish old currency – used as a table and a panel with very big magnetic key-rings, as used back then in the local hostels.
To give the hotel’s guests the taste of it, we transformed each corridor into a little exhibition on a particular issue of that decade: Culture and Society, Design Icons, Tourism, Mass Consumption, Folklore, Intellectual Jet set… using room’s doors as exhibiting panels.
Graphic design: espluga+associates
Sketches : Lagranja
Photography © Albert Font + Chic & Basic Ramblas Hotel
I so love Barcelona. The Hotel Praktik Rambla is another good one :)