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The unique 2005 building on Diagonal has been completely renovated as a very open space, integrated into the neighborhood and with unique service characteristics in the city
with dropper, Barcelona keep adding hotel premieres in peripheral areas where new licenses have not been prohibited, or relieving existing accommodation. But in both cases the bets tend to differentiation, to mark personality and try to capture not only travelers but also the local public for the rest of your services. And in this latest trend The Hoxtons It is called to be the opening of the year not only because of the integral interior reform that they have made of the building of diagonal 205 –work of the architect Juli Capella inaugurated in 2005 whose exterior recalls the keys of a pianoattached to the Agbar tower–, but because of the philosophy of the thriving London chain, of total integration in the neighbourhoods. Poble Nou in this case.
What was initially a hotel of the Silken group begins a new stage this Monday becoming The Hoxton’s seventh establishment in Europe (three in London), and with another four in the US. With the one in Barcelona, in ownership and management, they set foot in Spain for the first time and already make their signs of identity clear as soon as they cross the main door.
Thus, one does not run into a reception but rather a large bar (cafeteria with nearby producer during the day, drinks in the afternoon-night) and a display of armchairs and corners where one can sit without being hosted and even using your wifi (without password or identification) freely and freely. “It is the most vibrant space, we have a ‘lobby’ culture, where things always happen, he points out Laia Badia, commercial directorwho details that they have a barrage of reservations thanks to the loyalty professed by customers of this unconventional brand.
The local public that tries the services of common areas will be surprised because the chain breaks molds with popular prices and not the usual hotel ones: in its Italian-American restaurant (Detroit and Mediterranean-style pizzas) you eat for little money, on its rooftop terrace all cocktails cost less than 10 euros, and the Four Corners has a little shop of local product (organic food and wines) and partially Italian with supermarket cost. Its exterior terrace to the street is called to be a place of vermouth on weekendsas a small oasis of the mutating Plaza de les Glòries, which will soon mark a new centrality in Barcelona.
Shop ‘made in Barcelona’
On the other hand, the reception is small and is to one side, in front of which they display their little shop The Best in Barcelona. For each destination, they choose unique and locally produced items, so that any guest can find pieces ‘made in’ Poblenou or in Barcelona. They are offered at real prices set by the creator (a clothing brand with a workshop in the neighborhood that has also made their uniforms, Barcelona sunglasses, organic cosmetics…) so that it is easy to make a genuine purchase, he details Alex Trilla, Brand Manager.
More spaces for possible citizen use in this 4-star hotel (renovated from top to bottom for a year and a half) that flees from formal labels and corsets: Apartment, a separate space on the ground floor that has several rooms that can be opened into each other and an island – “at home you always end up gathered around the kitchen”, says Badia – as a focal point. There so much is mounted a private birthday celebration with all the services included as a corporate meeting of worked, with audiovisual area and separate entrance as well. For larger and more formal events, the basement has more than 430 square meters that repeat the warm interior design (from its own team) of the entire building, here with illustrations by the artist Sandra Modrego.
A nine storeys high is the other ace that will undoubtedly win unconditional supporters in the neighborhood, the panoramic terrace. Without exaggeration, it can be said that it has the best views to contemplate the Holy Family andn a frame that also fits the architectural contrast of the Agbar Tower. It will be a rooftop of Mexican flavors, Stop, where they intend to display the best margaritas. On the other side, the entire marine ‘skyline’ appears.
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Along the hall and hallways, too piecework art to connect with galleries and artists in the area who can show their work, among many more examples.
And what only the guests will see will be the 240 rooms, of three kinds, and great views from the keys of that piano exterior profile. In the Homeys there is even a mini-kitchen “so that one can go to the market and feel at home & rdquor ;. But they all share a very Mediterranean look, with terracotta floors and tapestries on the beds inspired by the factory architecture of Poblenou and made in the neighborhood. The basics of the minibar are free, and the rest of the whims are sold “at super prices & rdquor; at the reception, a novelty, as surprising as its Flexy Time policy that allows open check-in and check-out times without supplements (if booked on their website). Or traveling with dogs. And another rarity: breakfasts where you only pay for what you consume or they prepare them for you to take away.