Le Méridien Ra Beach Hotel & Spa is a beautiful former Sanatorium set along the Catalan coast south of Barcelona. We were initially invited by the hotel to work with them to create a destination cocktail bar within the hotel. We worked through a variety of options to bring a new experience internally as a way of helping to extend their opening season, and the potential of the site.
The initial arrival to the hotel is based on a strong linear axis from the earth and gardens, through the former chapel, where the new bar is located, out to the sea. We wanted our design to embody this journey – from the earth to the sea.
Taking our cues from our experiences of the local area and geology, we have rooted our design for the bar and lounge in the local landscape, bringing a warm and palette of earth tones to the design – using rich marble and custom locally sourced terrazzo colours to create a new feature cocktail bar, along with pigmented natural plaster. The fabrics are textured and tactile, with two of the patterns chosen a subtle nod to the local vineyards seen from the air.
The new bar offers a sense of elevated luxury building on the hotel’s expertise in creating an environment of relaxation, renewal and revival. These new spaces are perfect for relaxing in front of the fire in the middle of winter, as well as a cool respite from the sun in the middle of summer. They help the transition from day to night within the hotel, and provide a focal and natural meeting point for guests.
