The Artist: a lodging option on the cusp of the latest trends and with a renewed spirit
The Artist: a lodging option on the cusp of the latest trends and with a renewed spirit
With the “touristic awakening” of Bilbao, something which came with the opening of the Guggenheim 26 years ago, the city needed good hotels to receive the cosmopolitan public that was coming to visit the art gallery. Gran Hotel Domine was a very successful response – not only because it offers the best views of the museum as it sits just a few meters away but also because the establishment knew how to “dress for the occasion”: designers Javier Mariscal and Fernando Salas managed to place their quirky touch on the new lodge.
Always at the forefront of the latest trends and having a clear vocation for continued renovation, the hotel, now called The Artist, has recently been transformed yet again, this time with the help of Foraster Arquitectos, to respond to the needs of today’s traveler without forgetting about their unique identity. The owners of the building trusted this award-winning studio from Bilbao to carry out a comprehensive renovation that would not detract from the establishment’s essence. The new image has come to be through several actions, betting on a neutral color palette that provides the hotel with an elegant and timeless atmosphere while simultaneously emphasizing the Mariscal seal thanks to the use of unique elements in terms of the paintings, furniture, and sculptures.
The 145 rooms, of which 14 are suites, now boast a completely rejuvenated look and stand out for their spaciousness, amount of light, and warm design. The characteristic panels in the bedrooms that combine different types of wood have been respected, and British-style textiles have been incorporated (such as crow’s feet and wheat fabric patterns by Güell Lamadrid and carpets by Bentzon Carpets).
The lobby-bar, called Sixty-One, is now a welcoming and versatile space inspired by the cosmopolitan environments of London and New York, where stainless steel coexists with leather, velvet, and the neutral tones of the upholstery. The walls are wallpapered and covered with cloth, and the ceiling follows a geometric pattern reminiscent of the works of Mondrian. A longitudinal axis distributes the different spaces and marks the way to the bar between a set of columns, leaving a marble table measuring 4.20 meters long in the middle.
In the gastronomic restaurant Beltz (which means “black” in Basque), stone and wood in dark tones intertwine sensually, while the white of the table linens and tableware and the green velvet of the seats shine with their own light amidst the shadows.
Additionally, in the Le Café Bistro, the inspiration of the Foraster Arquitectos studio once again drew off of geometric abstraction, typical of the De Stijl movement with Mondrian at the helm. The acoustic ceiling panels intersect with lines of light, forming a checkerboard of whites, blacks, and grays.
The wellness is another new feature of the establishment. This new space is a cube made of natural oak wood with a granite stone floor that is reminiscent of Japan. It also has large windows overlooking the Guggenheim. Here, there is a nod to Frank Gehry, as guests can relax in the Cross Check chair designed by the Canadian architect and sold by Knoll. As if it were a hammam, a sculptural washbasin by Durian invites you to partake in the corresponding ablutions upon entering. A spacious gym with wooden floors and stone-toned walls has also been opened.
The hotel continues to strengthen ties with contemporary art, expanding its collection of pictorial and sculptural works. For the lobby, they have commissioned the renowned Swedish studio “Humans Since 1982” to custom-make an innovative kinetic installation called “A Million Times 120”. The work plays with time through the synchronization of 120 clocks and the magical choreography of their hands, trapping the viewer until the exact time is formed.
Likewise, the lavish stone cypress at the entrance has gained even greater presence by having a pond of water that reflects its imposing silhouette installed just below. The waterfall has extended its way to the main entrance through channels that flow into another pond, with an impressive olive tree in the center that welcomes customers. The reception area also combines different granite finishes to give a sense of continuity to everything in terms of materials. In this way, the most unique spaces of The Artist –designed as if they were works of art in and of themselves– have now taken on a new life. In the words of the architect himself, José Ramón Foraster Bastida: “The most difficult thing in a hotel is for it to have its own personality so that it doesn’t become a non-place.”
The Artist
Alameda de Mazarredo 61, Bilbao.
Tel.: +34 944 253 300
