Nineteen of the world's most prestigious architects and design studios were each invited to create a floor within the twelve level, 340 bedroom Hotel Puerta America in Madrid owned by the Silken Group, which opened last June. This original approach involved the skills of such international stars as Jean Nouvel, who was also responsible for the colourful facade, David Chipperfield, Ron Arad, Norman Foster and others. The resulting rooms, numbering 30 to each floor plus a reception area, are as might be expected cool, modern and high-tech, with lighting by Arnold Chan of Isometrix that is often the stuff of science fiction. Though uniformly avant-garde, rooms - a number of which are illustrated here - are still differentiated by the culture of each designer and by his or her chosen materials. These are primarily leather, wood, glass, methacrylate, metal, stone and LG Hi-Macs (a non-porous acrylic surface material). Textiles include cotton, linen, velvet and Alcantara. Colours are predominantly white, neutrals, black, grey, chocolate and lacquer red, and designers variously selected furniture from Capellini, Kartell, Vitra, Nani Marquina, Magis and other sources. While the concept is likely to be unique, the finished project though exciting for some could be unsettlingly kaleidoscopic for others.
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