In capitals around the world, there is often a handful of elegant and sought-after streets that turn into a little assembly of international embassies. In Buenos Aires, this hub of networking and diplomacy can be found in the leafy Palermo Chico district, clustered around the Museum of Latin American Art.

A former ambassadorial residence in this affluent neighbourhood is the site of the latest project by Kallos Turin, an award-winning transatlantic architectural practice founded by Stephania Kallos and Abigail Turin after the pair met working at David Chipperfield Architects in London. Today, Kallos helms the London office, while Turin is based in LA, and led the Buenos Aires project, working with local architect of record Soledad Llanos.

Unlike their 2023 Filothei House, a newly built concrete family home in Athens, Embassy House involved working with an existing building: a grand residence designed in the 1930s by renowned architect Alejandro Enquin. Although many interior details were lost due to a series of refurbishments, its plaster and sandstone façade and exterior metalwork set the tone for the refurbishment project.

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Spanning 1,400 sq m over five floors, the residence boasts stunning terraces with views toward the city on one side and the Rio de la Plata River on the other. The owners purchased the property nearly a decade ago, and turned to Kallos Turin, who had designed other homes for them, to lead its renovation and update its layout to suit the needs of contemporary family life.

The interior also serves as a canvas for the client’s extensive collection of Latin American art, which he has been acquiring at auctions for over 30 years. Artworks by the likes of Uruguayan painter José Cuneo Perinetti and Argentine visual artist Rubén Santantonín are seamlessly integrated into the scheme, which features burgundy, petrol blue and mustard yellow accents throughout.

‘The scale and layout of the rooms had been patched together over the many renovations and were not conducive to family life or consistent with the original embassy plans,’ explain the architects. ‘Partitions were reintroduced to the open layout to restore the original proportions of the rooms and create a sense of intimacy that had been lost over the years.’

For example, the vast open-space kitchen has been divided into two smaller, more functional rooms, featuring bespoke kitchen cabinetry and a custom table designed by Kallos Turin for Molteni&C. The existing oak boiserie was preserved and extended to create a cohesive flow between spaces, while the custom brass bar, inspired by the geometric library doors at Villa Necchi, Piero Portaluppi’s 1935 villa in Milan, is paired with Martasala stools in Rose Uniacke’s gold hemp fabric.

‘We didn’t initially anticipate the bar becoming such a focal point, but it quickly emerged as the social heart of the house,’ says Turin. ‘It is positioned at the top of the stairs, and creates a small moment of theatre as you arrive. But it also acts as a hinge between the main public spaces. It’s both a gathering spot and a spatial connector – an element that animates the house through the simple idea of people meeting, pausing, and celebrating.’

Other highlights include a 300-year-old tapestry in the living room, which is furnished with Pierre Augustin Rose sofas, a custom travertine coffee table and vintage Swedish lamps; Jorge Pardo’s 2023 colourful glass pendant lights, illuminating a black mirrored dining table and 18th century dining chairs; and a pair of Gio Ponti armchairs, from the Conte Grande cruise liner, in the study.

Upstairs on the roof terrace, a ‘quincho’ (outdoor kitchen or dining area) designed for family gatherings and asado barbecues is complemented by panoramic views, landscaping by Alejandra Dominics, and a lounge with design classics such as Tobia Scarpa’s ‘Africa’ table and chairs and Mario Bellini’s ‘Cameleonda’ sofas.

Throughout the residence is a ‘combination of formal and informal spaces, old and new elements, and the blending of the client’s personal collection with new and vintage pieces’, write the architects, adding that this contrasting layering creates the feeling of ‘several houses inside the house, as if it had been developed over years rather than as part of a single project at a single moment in time’.

kallosturin.com

This Argentinian retreat is, as its name suggests, set idyllically in the middle of a coniferous forest on the coast of Buenos Aires. Forest House, designed by Gonzalo Bardach Architecture, thrives in its inherent openness and strong relationship between indoors and outdoors, which makes the home the perfect escape - immersed, as it becomes, in the region's abundant, native greenery. 

Explore this Argentinian retreat in the forest

The project's lead architect Gonzalo Bardach and his team sought to create a 'shelter', a residence that blends with the landscape discreetly; yet at the same time, can offer a haven for relaxation and protection from the elements when needed, for its residents. 

To help their design integrate with the context seamlessly, the architects worked with flowing organic forms, curves and lots of openings that bring the outside in at every turn. The aim was 'build a space for contemplation and silence, a place to connect with nature,' they say. 

The continue to explain: 'Light plays a fundamental role in the project, contributing to create a unique and changing atmosphere of the space. The architecture becomes a living canvas where light filters through the leaves of the trees, creating shadow patterns that delicately dance on the surfaces. In this refuge in the middle of the forest, sunlight becomes a dynamic element that constantly transforms the perception of the space, inviting us to experience a deeper connection with nature and with ourselves.' 

A material palette composed of mainly stone, wood, iron, and glass lends tactility to the design. At places, however, this human-made structure becomes engulfed in the surrounding foliage, and rendered secondary to the powerful nature around it. This aspect of the design played a key role in the design development. 

'The landscape design has been built on a process of botanical research of the native species of the Buenos Aires coastal eco-region. The result is a three-dimensional, species-rich landscape design, not only for humans but also for other species as support,' the team explains. In this context, biodiversity and adaptability take centre stage in the design, which consists of three semi-buried pavilions.

'The essence of Forest's architecture is born from a dream, the desire to restore the lost connection between nature and human beings. It seeks to revive this ancestral relationship by creating spaces that invite contemplation and introspection. Architecture is not just a physical construction, but an emotional and experiential expression that celebrates the beauty and harmony of the natural environment.'

gonzalobardach.com

It's not every day that a book comes out on a brutalist necropolis; so when 'Chacarita Moderna' appeared in our inbox, we stood up and took notice. The publication, out this month by Building Books, is the brainchild of French architect, researcher, and curator  Léa Namer, who came across the brutalist architecture site of the Sexto Panteón necropolis during a visit to Buenos Aires in Argentina ten years ago. When she found out the author of the scheme within Chacarita cemetery was one of Argentina's first female architects, Ítala Fulvia Villa, her interest was piqued further. The idea of a book on it was soon born.

'Chacarita Moderna': explore the brutalist necropolis of Buenos Aires

Namer recalls of her first visit there: 'In 2014, a French architect friend introduced me to the Sexto Panteón. I was returning to Buenos Aires after having done a university exchange there a few years earlier (2010-2011). I still vividly recall the first time I descended the stairs into that underworld. With images of Greek mythology in my mind, I felt like Orpheus entering the depths of Hell.'

'The experience had a profound impact on me. I was deeply moved by the brutalist funerary aesthetics of the necropolis, the prevailing light and silence in the subterranean world who appeared to me like a modern reinterpretation of the roman catacombs. Leaving the cemetery, I felt shaken. In all my architectural visits and travels, no place had ever evoked such emotion in me. I sensed I had discovered something significant and had the strange intuition that this discovery would change my life.'

Sexto Panteón was built in 1949 in the Argentinian capital, as an underground necropolis containing 150,000 burial plots. Crafted out of textured concrete and stark, sculptural volumes dug out of the earth and set among greenery, this is claimed to be the first and largest experimentation of modernist architecture in its typology - and yet it remains largely unknown.

'What surprised me most about the Sexto Panteón was my belief that I had discovered the most significant piece of modern architecture in Argentina, yet no one seemed to know about it—not even my circle of Argentinian architect friends. The few who did recognize it didn't seem to find it particularly interesting,' says Namer. 

'I began searching for information on the building and its architect, finding only a single publication. I was astonished to discover the name Itala Fulvia Villa, who I later learned was one of Argentina's first female architects and urbanists. It had never crossed my mind that such an incredible building could have been designed by a woman!'

Villa (1913-1991) was a pioneering architect and urban planner from Argentina, who contributed to Le Corbusier’s master plan for Buenos Aires. Through her work, she introduced modernist teachings to her South American context, creating its regional interpretation. The book, which also contains texts by Ana Maria León, and photography by Federico Cairoli, and was supported by a grant from the Graham Foundation for Advanced Study in Fine Art, is a luxurious and information-rich publication on the project, its architect and its historical context.

'As detailed in the chapter "Letter to Itala" of the book, my investigation about the Sexto Panteon and Itala Fulvia Villa has been filled with surprising discoveries over the ten last years. Last year, while the idea of book was already launched, I had the opportunity to explore a new archive in Buenos Aires, the Archivo Alquilino Lopez, which included photographs of the construction site and a sketch of the project I've been looking for years,' Namer adds. 

'Overall, I think the most rewarding aspect of compiling this book has been realizing the international interest it attracted. A French publisher, Building Books, was willing to support me on such a niche topic, and later, the American grant support from the Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts.'

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Hotel Casa Lucía is a new addition to Buenos Aires’ bijou Recoleta neighbourhood and is located in Edificio Mihanovich, once the tallest building in Latin America. The 20-storey building was commissioned in the 1920s by Nicolas Mihanovich, a shipping magnate who wanted an office complex tall enough to watch his own ships departing from Río de la Plata to neighbouring Uruguay.

Seek serenity at Hotel Casa Lucía

French hospitality company Accor acquired the property in 2000, by which point it was an abandoned residential complex, and transformed it into Argentina’s first Sofitel Hotel, which remained open for 14 years. In 2023, Unico Hotels rescued the property from abandonment again by enlisting the help of Torrado Arquitectos and Fernanda Schuch Studios to create Hotel Casa Lucía, drawing inspiration from Argentina’s golden age and catering to a new generation of sophisticated travellers.

Upon arrival, guests are greeted in the lobby lounge by a large-scale mural from local artist Cristina Codern. Between the two towers of the building is the glass-encased internal garden, where potted gomero trees, ficus, olive, various types of palms and other plants offset the space’s accents in linen, leather and wood. Elsewhere on the ground floor are two culinary options: Cantina Restaurant and Le Club Bacan.

The restaurant’s aesthetics offer a playful nod to Argentina’s polo culture, thanks to its elegant earth-toned colour scheme and punchy elements of red and green. Inspired by London clubs, meanwhile, Le Club Bacan mixes gold accents, wood panelling, terracotta-toned corduroy armchairs and handcrafted Argentine ceramics. With local DJs spinning sultry beats on select nights, the club draws a well-heeled crowd of locals and guests, who groove into the small hours while sipping some of the 400 varieties of Argentine wine curated by the sommelier.

Meanwhile, the hotel’s 142 rooms and suites boast sleek modern furnishings, wooden panelling and a muted colour palette of creamy greys and whites. Evoking the valleys of the northwest province of Catamarca, lamps by Argentine artist Cristián Mohaded are woven in simbol, a traditional fibrous plant growing in the riverbanks of the region. A standout feature in many rooms is the balconies with river views and plenty of space for sun loungers, dining areas and al fresco showers. A fitness space and spa with a heated swimming pool is set to open later this spring.

Hotel Casa Lucía is located at Arroyo 841, Buenos Aires

hotelcasalucia.com

Argentine designer Cristián Mohaded presents ‘Territorio Híbrido’ (Hybrid Territory), an exhibition at the National Museum of Decorative Art in Buenos Aires (until 6 March 2022) exploring craftsmanship techniques and endemic materials from different regions in Argentina.

More than 20 designs were produced for the exhibition, merging historical and contemporary design approaches throughout a 20-month long process. To put together this body of work, Mohaded travelled across Argentina through the provinces of Buenos Aires, Santa Fe, Córdoba, Catamarca, Santiago Del Estero, Tucumán, Salta, and Jujuy. He worked using a variety of techniques, producing handmade fabrics on a creole loom; creole ropes made from raw cow hide and sewn with fine colt-pelt stitches; carpentry made using native woods like missionary moor cedar or the fallen cardon cactus; baskets woven using simbol (a plant fibre). He also worked with minerals including mica, boreal granite, and white onyx.

The exhibition’s centrepiece is an installation titled Campo de Torres (Field of Towers), featuring large-scale columns made of stacked basket-woven shapes paying tribute to his native Catamarca. The collection includes furniture, objects, textiles, and lighting pieces gathered under the ‘Especies Híbridas’ (Hybrid Species) aegis, and placed in conversation with the museum’s spaces and a series of pieces by Argentine ceramic artist Santiago Lena. The exhibition continues with a modular outdoor installation titled Jardín de Estrellas (Garden of Stars), made of seating shaped as triangular prisms.

Mohaded also worked with local silver masters and invited a series of international designers, from Fernando and Humberto Campana to Roberto Sironi, to create sculptural matés, traditional South American drinking vessels. Titled ‘El Encuentro’ (The Encounter), the collection includes a series of vessels mixing silver and wood. 

‘Mohaded has rekindled the notion of an exclusively Argentine design language at a national level,’ reads a text introducing the exhibition. ‘Through the acknowledgement of cultural diversity and productive capacities of local territories, and at an international scale, he shaped a meaningful image of essential Argentine features from a Latin American perspective integrated into a global market.’

INFORMATION

‘Territorio Híbrido’ is on view at the National Museum of Decorative Art in Buenos Aires until 6 March 2021
cristianmohaded.com

ADDRESS

Av. del Libertador 1902 
C1425 CABA
Argentina

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Estudio Galera Architecture has designed an extension to an existing house in Buenos Aires for a growing family with a penchant for gastronomy. An expanded kitchen – with more space for socialising, storage and seating – was required, and a pavilion in the garden opened up many more creative possibilities. Architect Ariel Galera describes the project as a ‘re-functionalisation’.

Using a bold approach to architectural form, the existing house was elevated into a space with a totally new look and feel. This was partly done by the strong use of long protruding concrete beams that define both the new extension and pavilion design.

For Galera, it was important to build a visual connection between the two – the aim was for the design to not look like an adaptation or a reproduction, yet to have its own identity in its own right. While the structures do not use the same geometry or arrangement, they are echoes of each other converse through scale, shape and materiality.

Located at the back of the site, a short walk from the house and surrounded by aged trees, the concrete pavilion was a chance to be both functional and expressive. The little out-house provides spill-over space for all the activities of the family. It is a sewing room, photography studio, pool house with grilling facilities and sometimes a guest house.

The pavilion entrance is aligned with the openings in the new extension, and it rests on a high point of sand dune that is in fact level to that of the original house. The shifting level of the ground worked to the advantage of the design, opening up an external play area for the children beneath a cantilevering beam of concrete. 

INFORMATION

estudiogalera.com

Located within a quiet and exclusive residential community, yet bordered on one side by a busy road – the Pan-American Highway – Casa MB owes its low profile and massing to its context, say its Argentinian authors, the Buenos Aires-based architecture studio Colle-Croce.

The young and dynamic firm, headed by Sebastían Colle and Rodolfo Croce, examined the area’s masterplan and the residential plot’s relationship to the streets around it, to determine their project's final composition. The resulting design was a low and discreet, L-shaped building that turns its back on its neighbouring structures and completely transforms and unfolds towards the open spaces at its heart.

The design, for a home in this flat lot in the San Carlos neighbourhood of Buenos Aires, maintains a careful balance between open and closed, public and private; it also creates a minimalist platform for contemporary family living.

Spread mostly across a single level, the house contains on its ground floor all the social and entertainment areas, such as dining room, kitchen and lounge. On the opposite end of the plan, is a wing housing a study, a solarium and pool. The whole ground floor spills effortlessly out towards the garden, which is part green and part decked, with a rectangular pond of water. In contrast to this, the top floor is rather compact in comparison, reserved for the family's three bedrooms. The master bedroom in particular is orientated towards long views of the surrounding nature and roofscape.  Large openings and a sequence of indoor and outdoor spaces, such as patios and a partially covered exterior ramp, as well as the sizeable garden, emphasize this house’s strong relationship with its environment. Meanwhile the use of simple, naked concrete inside and out, and the composition's horizontality, further underline the framed views. This is offset and softened by solid blocks of Kiri wood walls in different parts of the design. 

INFORMATION

collecroce.com

Following the success of Santa Teresita Counter, their seaside restaurant in Uruguay’s upscale resort town of José Ignacio, chef Fernando Trocca and restaurateur Martin Pittaluga have teamed up once again for the launch of Orilla, their second outpost in Buenos Aires.

For her first restaurant project, designer Agustina Aguilar has brought a little bit of Uruguay’s laidback beach atmosphere to this urban bolthole by inserting a skylight at one end of the elongated room, which bathes the nature-inspired interiors with natural light.

There are three distinct spaces, which are linked through their bold green hues and circular motifs that appear in details like the mirrors and the pendant lights. The open kitchen area is lined with standout aquamarine butcher tiles while, in contrast, the main dining room is characterised by a plant-filled mural and raw materials including a sleek timber ceiling by local design firm Sticotti.

Next door, bottle green and grey tones are revealed through tactile velvet walls that, together with low-level lighting, create a softer mood to indulge in an array of creative cocktails from Inés De Los Santos, the city’s hottest bartender. They make the perfect starter to enjoy the meat and vegetable dishes – like the charred eggplant topped with tahini – that fly off the Josper grill.

INFORMATION

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ADDRESS

Montañeses 2585

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For his inaugural restaurant venture, entrepreneur Damian Harburguer’s plant-based eatery, located in style conscious Palermo Hollywood, proposes an international approach to vegan food, with a slick menu of seasonal and organic local ingredients, strictly devoid of animal derivatives.

Majia concept studio, worked with Argentinian artisans and carpenters, creating bespoke chairs, native petiribí wooden tables and terrazzo floors made in situ. A makeshift screen of livistona chinensis plants in artisanal ceramic planters divides the custom-made carrara terrazzo bar and reception dining area. A revamped Porteño park bench with a Saltean Aguayo cloth backrest flanks the communal oak table. Order the exceptional fennel gin or a pear pisco at the bar.

Dark blue laser cut out motif screens create a pleasing backdrop to the intimate velvet blue booths in the central dining area. A  global soundtrack mirrors the origin of each dish. Outside, the verdant patio area boasts a huge mural by Eloisa Ballivian.

The sharing options include the wafer thin dosa and stand out palta tikka, aromatic crusted avocado in a velvety smooth curry sauce. Don’t miss the sublime ‘Snickers’ style salted caramel chocolate tart and avocado lime pie, rounded off with an almond milk cortado. Everything is made in house including the fresh coconut water available to go.

INFORMATION

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ADDRESS

Costa Rica 6038
Palermo Hollywood
Buenos Aires

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For its Buenos Aires property, the first outside of Europe, Barcelona-based hotel outfit, Grupo Regina were one step ahead when it smartly tapped Lázaro Rosa-Violán for the interiors, the designer executing a considered cultural piece that is both charming in its subtlety and striking in its modernity.

Taking up residence in a contemporary new-build by architect Guillermo Roitenberg just a short stride from the leafy old-world charm of the city's Recoleta neighbourhood, the hotel has fast become a go-to spot for travellers looking for the best of both worlds. Inside, Rosa-Violán took his cues from the art deco heritage of Argentina's Golden Age, with steel-trimmed modular furniture, mirrors and signature graphic lines that are revealed through a striking aquamarine, cool white and bold black palette.

There is an eighth-floor pool that is best experienced cocktail in hand, during the summer months, while the 13th-floor Sky Bar is ideal for a pre-prandial sundowner before heading downstairs to Boca de Toro, the hotel's new ground floor restaurant, which serves up a mix of European and Argentine dishes to guests and locals alike. 

INFORMATION

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ADDRESS

Maipú 907
Buenos Aires

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Further cementing Villa Devoto as Buenos Aires' new culinary hub is the arrival of Mecha, an all-day steakhouse and bar, from the same group behind other neighbourhood favourites Alicia de Luca and Casa Lucca, just around the corner.

Local studio MMCV - who are also behind the design of the other two restaurants - has this time teamed up with architecture firm NidoLab to assemble a trio of glass an iron-framed cubes anchored by a distinct concrete building, which houses the main dining room.

With the intent to create a diverse space that could be used year-round, the architects say: 'we needed to build closed, temperature-controlled spaces, that could be used as an extension of the covered salon, and that would adapt to the neighbourhood’s lifestyle of group gatherings and family outings.'

White bricks, concrete and terrazzo flooring line the interiors of the main restaurant. This is softened by adark leather banquette that runs the length of the space, simple timber tables and chairs and hanging cage light fittings covered in ivy. A glass wine case meanwhile takes centre stage, encasing the staircase and also linking the ground and mezzanine levels. This provides a visual sense of continuity that is further highlighted by a mirrored backing, creating an infinite repetition of the bottles on display.

A 30-metre long concrete bar serves as the stage for the open kitchen, which sends out local dishes cooked on an open fire from a menu devised by the late chef Hugo Macchia. Expect deliciously rich sweetbreads served with potato rostis and charred sweetcorn; crispy lamb empanadas; or -for true meat lovers - the extra large, 1,200 gram T-bone steak.

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ADDRESS

Mercedes 3939

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Meaning ‘happiness’ in Spanish, La Feliz is the project of couple Patricio Lix Klett and Celeste Bernardini, who – along with their own collection of furniture and lighting – have curated a standout asssortment of homeware and accessories, from some of Buenos Aires’ best contemporary talent, in what has become the city’s hottest design mecca.

The space itself, housed in typical 19th-century Palermitano house, is set over four rooms and is arranged as a mock home complete with living and dining rooms. Designed by the owners themselves, the store’s Pino Tea wooden floors and muted colour scheme do much to highlight the wares, which include pieces from Buenos Aires-based studios, RIES, Taller Posible, Chalé and Oficios Asociados. Outside, the eye-catching façade is clad with metal tiles that are illuminated by a large knitted lamp that hangs on the narrow sidewalk.

From a landscape photo signed by Matías Lix Klett to minimal copper trays, it’s hard to leave this shop empty handed.

INFORMATION
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ADDRESS

Pasaje Santa Rosa 4932

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Celeste Najt

The good folks behind Ninina Bakery, have strengthened their foothold in Buenos Aires by opening a second outpost in the city. Located off the beaten track, in Barrio Parque Donado Holmberg, an up-an-coming neighbourhood now sprinkled with low-rise residential buildings from top architects including Carlos Ott, Mathias Klotz and Edgardo Minond, the new site, outfitted once again by local firm Estudio Verardo, depicts traces of the flagship café, but with a more industrial look.

As such, white-painted bricks, cement floors, exposed ceiling pipes and oak wall panels create a foundation for leather Chesterfield sofas, old public school-style chairs, recycled Brazilian pine tables and copper lamps that lend a soft glow over the marble counter that displays the brand’s signature cakes and pastry.

The space’s focal point is the Coffee Roastery, where patrons can peer down on the action of trained baristas searching for the best blends of coffees.

The kitchen meanwhile, churns out classic café fare made with 100 per cent natural ingredients. Expect crowd pleasers such as the vegetarian sandwich made from homemade herb bread stuffed with squash, zucchini, eggplant, caramelised fennel and fior di latte; and the fresh shrimp salad with avocado, wild arugula, grapefruit and watercress and tossed with a mango and jalapeño dressing.

INFORMATION

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ADDRESS

Holmberg 2464

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Gustavo Sosa Pinilla

Located in the thrumming Palermo Viejo neighbourhood, Tetuán Brasero Marroquí is the latest addition to the Buenos Aires food circuit from Juan Martín Migueres and Nicolás Wolowelski, the cousins behind the popular Benaim and La Pastronería restaurants.

Occupying a former warehouse, which once housed an Arab kitchen, the space has been beautifully restored, by virtuoso architect Ana Rascovsky, with a Moroccan vibe that makes the most of the seven-metre high ceilings featuring communal and individual tables and potted plants that create a fresh and vibrant feel.

At the entrance, a compact beer bar – a modern take on a traditional kasbah – is a cosy space with walls that are covered in burlap and pendants that hang from the ceiling. The perfect spot for a preprandial cocktail or a craft beer before moving onto the main restaurant to sample chef Nacho García Lucero’s concise menu that focuses on Moroccan street food with simple and tasty dishes such as the perfectly seared rib eye brochette served with baba ganoush. These dishes are meant for sharing, of course, in good company, as one would come to expect in any desert oasis.

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ADDRESS

Dr Emilio Ravignani 1780

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Francisco Iurcovich

Since it opened in 2014 in a leafy Buenos Aires neighbourhood, Casa Cavia has carved out quite a name for itself, drawing an appreciative crowd to its high-ceilinged warren of rooms that are variously staged as restaurant, publishing house, bookstore, florist and perfumery.

Perhaps as a recognition of the economic realities of running a multi-functional space and the margins involved, owner Guadalupe García Mosqueda has increased the food and beverage offerings. Once again, Kallos Turin Architects have been recruited for the job of expanding the F&B spaces, including a larger, bright kitchen, and a courtyard bar framed by the existing square pool, an emerald green living wall and high brass and leather stools.

A more significant change is the appointment of Julieta Caruso as the new head chef. Fresh off nearly a decade long stint with Mugaritz, the native Argentinian’s new menu cleverly riffs off Casa Cavia’s bibliographic bent in which each dish is inspired by a global spread of books and authors. Though the literary lineage is not always immediately obvious, it’s still a fun exercise in interpretive dining when confronted by beef cheeks and vegetables (Emilia Pardo Bazán’s ‘The House of Ulloa’, and chocolate cookies with dulce de leche (Margaret Mitchell’s Gone with the Wind.

Meanwhile, we have William Faulkner to thank for the cocktail of mint, sage, green apple whiskey and cinnamon. We’re already prepping for our next book club meeting.

INFORMATION

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ADDRESS

Cavia 2985
Palermo Chico

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The much anticipated second outpost of popular Buenos Aires café, Naná has finally opened its doors, this time in the tranquil rose garden of the city’s Tres de Febrero Park. 

More precisely located under the railway tracks in one of the historically protected 21 brick arches that now house a selection of hip bars, gym clubs and restaurants, the eatery is suitably imbued with industrial and railway references thanks to architect Alejandro Delisio of local outfit Estudio +3. 

Enhanced by large iron-framed windows, which flooded with natural light, the arcade opens onto a secluded patio and beyond that, the park. Meanwhile, custom wood and iron furnishings, leather train-style banquettes and a cement counter complete the look.’We wanted to convey an industrial, clean aesthetic that tuned with the history of the place but also integrated Naná’s identity, which is feminine, romantic and warm,’ explain Paula and Sofía Reynal, the sisters behind the concept.

Chef Hernán Gipponi churns out easy-to-please dishes such as organic Formosa rice with shrimps, bacon, mushrooms, spinach and leek; or expertly prepared Saturday and Sunday brunch including French Toast with mascarpone and berries, homemade foam of yoghurt with fruits, ginger, granola and honey all served with a glass of Aperol Spritz or sparkling wine.

INFORMATION

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ADDRESS

The Rose Garden
Arco 9
Av Libertador 3887

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Diego Spivacow

Though Palermo Viejo is hardly lacking retail destinations, the encroachment of excess can be felt in the presence of mainstream brands that have pushed out most of the true independents.

Oli Martínez, entrepreneur co-director of Ensayo General, a hip hidden gallery in the area, is aiming to buck that trend with Tokonoma, located on the edge of this buzzy neighbourhood. The two level store, accessed through a metal bridge, is a soothing minimal oasis designed by architect Clara Ortega. Inside, a simple palette of materials including natural woods, micro cement flooring and arty wallpapers, lend the space a soft elegance that allows customers to stumble serendipitously upon Martínez’s thoughtfully curated selection of handmade items including pottery, jewellery, glass and tableware by 22 of the top local artists and designers.

‘The foremost criterion is quality of design, with a clear preference for form over colour or textures,’ says Martínez. ‘I am interested in everyday objects such as tableware designs.’ We were particularly taken by the ornate coffee sets from Carolina Antoniadis and hand painted dining table by Silvana Lacarra.

ADDRESS

Cabrera 5037

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Daniela Mac Adden

Located on a leafy street in Buenos Aires’ residential neighbourhood of Banfield, Broome is the area’s first swish restaurant.

Conceived by debutants Agustina and Mary Amores - with the initial aid of The Wow Factor agency in the making of the mood board - this fresh outpost has instantly become a firm favourite for locals and visitors alike. ‘We wanted to create a classic yet cosy atmosphere with modern touches. Relaxed, elegant and laid back,’say duo.

With a prevailing palette of blues with accents of grey, white and gold, the furnishings include Tom Dixon lightings, a comfortable capitone sofa, high-backed chairs upholstered with velvet and a Petiribi wood library filled with a curated selection of small home & fashion accessories.The courtyard, with a subway tile bar and vintage hanging lamps contains Tolyx chairs and wooden couches.

Iván Vera, a Mexican chef cum architect and photographer has created a menu including typical Argentine food with a Latino touch while Mary Amores is the pastry chef offering French and American style minicakes. We recommend plumping for the bife de chorizo with creamy chimichurri and for dessert, three mousses including milk chocolate, chocolate with orange and passion fruit all washed down with a glass of Malbec, of course.

INFORMATION

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ADDRESS

Leandro N. Alem 901

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Gabriel Brenner, the man behind Argentine fashion brands such as María Cher and A.Y. Not Dead, has now unveiled Editor Market, a chic concept store housed in a Rationalist building in downtown Buenos Aires.

Under the leadership of creative director and interior designer, Coty Larguía, the outlet has fast become the city’s hippest lifestyle hub, offering la crème de la crème of Argentine talent. Brenner enlisted mother and daughter duo, architects Irene Joselevich and Ana Rascovsky, to transform the eight-floor building into a series of light-filled rooms, each with an individual appearance. ‘We want our customers to meander around and be able to discover something new in every corner,’ says Larguía, who was influenced by major players such as Dover Street Market and Paris’ Merci.

Larguía’s carefully curated brands include lighting by Federico Churba, bicycles from Monochrome and Fueguía’s perfumes and candles, while the fashion, jewellery, shoes and accessories were strictly the domain of art director Silvana Grosso, who chose a mix of top labels such as Ramírez and Tramando to sit alongside lesser known local names from Boerr- Yarde Buller to Manto.

NFORMATION
Website

ADDRESS

San Martín y Corrientes

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FoLa is the latest addition to the blooming Buenos Aires arts scene, offering a multifaceted platform for the appreciation of Latin American photography. Owner Gaston Deleau has over a decade of experience working within the local photographic scene, as co-founder of the Buenos Aires Photo fair that he co-launched, sowing the seed for FoLa, which opened 12 years later.

'FoLa is not an art gallery; rather, [it's] a place to exhibit and reflect on photography, which provides a space to generate dialogue for the community, and a home for Argentine photographers,' he explains. It already boasts a private collection of over 250 Latin American works.

Located in the heart of Palermo, the 1,200 sq m hub is divided into three exhibition spaces, with an auditorium, offices, storerooms and a backroom. Housed in a vast converted warehouse and designed by Kelly Lestard Maldonado, white washed walls and polished concrete floors run throughout with industrial detailing such as the curved metal girders overhead.

A specialised bookshop located at the entrance stocks in-house publications, special editions and artist portfolios in limited numbers. In addition to the regular exhibitions that run throughout the year, the FARFOCO (The Annual Forum for Reflection on Contemporary Photography) programme will commence in March 2016, alongside a portfolio revision initiative, offering a residency programme for international artists.

INFORMATION

For more information, visit FoLa’s website

Photography courtesy FoLa Gallery

ADDRESS

FoLa
Godoy Cruz 2620/2626
Distrito Arcos (Palermo)
Buenos Aires

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Tostado Café Club is the latest addition to a growing number of Buenos Aires restaurants keen to redefine traditional lunchtime fare such as pasta, steak and empanadas, with revamped takes on the classic Argentine tostado.

Interiors, by architects Hitzig Militello and industry consultants The Brand Bean, have been created for both time-poor work types as well as passersby looking for a spot to take a breather. Downstairs, soft lighting, slate grey tiles and whitewashed wood panelling initiates a cosy atmosphere further enhanced by custom made chesterfield and cushioned armchairs by local furniture outfit, Casa Fad.

Meanwhile, upstairs, a window counter with reproduction Bertoia wire bar stools is the perfect position for solo diners to people watch, while munching on grilled vegetable, cheese and Parma ham toasted sandwiches.

INFORMATION
Website

ADDRESS

Avenida Cordoba 1510

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The latest restaurant to launch in Beunos Aires’ Palermo Viejo neighbourhood is a bar and restaurant on the ground floor of Dazzler Hotel. Interiors – by local architect Sergio Oliva Gerli – took cues from London’s East End and the St. Germain des Prés area in Paris. ‘Just like writer Jorge Luis Borges said, our city is a cosmopolitan melting pot of world styles and I’d like to believe that’s the essence of Snatch,’ says Gerli. A smooth Peteribi wood panelled bar with a metal counter top is highlighted with an iron bookshelf packed with vintage radio and mini TV sets from the 1930s to 60s, while a mixture of velvet chairs and Chesterfield-style sofas impart a subtle touch of elegance to the cool vintage-industrial vibe that dominates the scene. A selection of seductive cocktails is on offer, with a menu created by local celebrity bartender Federico Cuco. For the full experience, we suggest the Porteño Cooler with vodka, grapefruit, Fernet syrup and pop soda, accompanied with chef Gonzalo Villahoz’s braised veal with truffle mashed potatoes.

INFORMATION
Website

ADDRESS

Humboldt 1654
Palermo Viejo

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PHOTOGRAPHY

Celeste Najt

With the gentrification of Buenos Aires' tourist-trodden Palermo Viejo in full swing, the onetime bohemian neighborhood welcomes another serious gastronomical addition. Sexto is a Mediterranean meets Porteño brasserie, located on the ground floor of the brand new Casa Sur Palermo hotel. The sixth outpost from lauded chef and restaurateur Tomás Waisman, his honest formula combines substantial portions made from the city’s best seasonal produce and served by well-trained old time waiters. The cosy interiors – by young architect Giselle Chalu – is a mix of modern and traditional, with white brick-walls and relaxed furnishings such as Chester leather couches, Thonet chairs and Lapacho and iron tables. The menu – an enticing all-day affair – caters not only to the neighborhood’s residents but also to the demands of international travellers alike, with a selection of seafood and beef grilled over coal, peppered with apple wood chips. We suggest tucking into the roasted shrimp with tabbouleh and grilled caramelized fennel, followed by braised pineapple and vanilla ice cream.

INFORMATION
Website

ADDRESS

Costa Rica 6038
Palermo Viejo

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With boutique hotels continuing to launch at a steady rate in the Buenos Aires’ neighbourhood of Palermo Viejo, competition for distinction is key. The latest opening - the third outpost from Argentine group CasaSur Collection – is a 61-room property that includes a spa, gym, outdoor pool and a 235 sq metre rooftop bar, nestled on the hotel’s eighth floor. ‘The terrace is the star of the place...It’s totally unexpected and unique, with unforgettable views of the city,’ says the architect Gieselle Chalu, whose debut into the hotel industry brings a touch of New York, London and Berlin to Buenos Aires. Her signature interiors reveal cosy, yet elegant public spaces and clean, functionally designed rooms with geometric wallpaper, Acapulco chairs and Petiribi wood fixtures. Understated earthy hues set the tone for the entrance lobby with an eclectic mix of wood, cotton, glass and a bold five metre high bookshelf, which sits behind a marble reception.

INFORMATION

Website

ADDRESS

Costa Rica 6032
Palermo Viejo

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Located among the medley of baroque churches, colonial houses, art museums and old glam cafés in Buenos Aires’ San Telmo district, Lemon Apartments is the latest offering from boutique hostel brand Puerto Limón. Interiors - by local architecture firm Grin - pay special emphasis to the property’s social spaces, in particular the bar and the lounge, which furnished with mid-century classics, is dressed in a smooth mix of velvet and linen fabrics, rustic wood and stone panelled walls, creating a light and cosy atmosphere. ‘I was inspired by this glorious and shabby barrio. As a counterpart, I wanted to create a casual, warm and elegant setting but with a homey feeling, bringing in very comfortable furniture,’ explains designer Adriana Grin. In each of the eight 36 sq m apartments – which either look out onto the swimming pool or the old-style street outside – there is a fully equipped kitchen-living room, bedroom and bathroom. Here, hand-woven wool rugs and pine headboards are further enhanced with Eero Saarinen tables and BKF leather chairs.

INFORMATION

ADDRESS

Chacabuco 1072
San Telmo

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PHOTOGRAPHY

Celeste Najt

When Argentine chef Sebastian Daniel Levy opened Miranda 11 years ago in Buenos Aires, he quickly cemented his reputation for serving tasty, extra large portions of beef at decent prices. Now, Levy has ventured into the culinary delights of Asia and Peru, with new restaurant and café Brandon, located in the city’s bustling Palermo Viejo neighbourhood. After a long hiatus in the food industry, local architecture firm PAC have returned to the dining scene with a lofty space, featurng smooth white marble counters, exposed brick walls, soft refurbished oak floorings, an open kitchen and a patio with a vertical garden. ‘As architects we are always confronted with limitations,’ says the firm.  ‘But within these limits, we favoured neutral, solid and long lasting materials.’ The menu skates a culinary journey through East Asia and Peruvian street food with signature dishes such as Panko and coconut langoustines with mayonnaise siracha, mini tacos stuffed with barbecue pulled pork, onion and cilantro and homemade pumpkin ravioli with a creamy mushroom sauce.

INFORMATION

Website

ADDRESS

Fitz Roy 1722
Palermo Viejo

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PHOTOGRAPHY

Celeste Najt

Located on Plaza Dorrego, one of Buenos Aires’ most emblematic squares, Anselmo Hotel is a chic addition to the vibrant San Telmo neighbourhood. Designed by architect Alberto Smud with décor at the hands of designer Gabriela Faena, the clean aesthetic is adorned with pieces by contemporary artist Manuel Ameztoy throughout. Spread over three levels, each of the 50 guest rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the internal courtyard, while brushed concrete ceilings and walls, contrast with the parquet floors and preserved wooden balcony doors, in keeping with the colonial architecture of the area. On the ground floor, two restaurants flank the open-air courtyard: the white-themed bistro –which serves contemporary local fare and revamped classics - is decked out in ceramic tiles and Bertoia and Eames DSW side chairs and the Lounge takes over the evening service with a hand-crafted chef’s table for private dining. Munch on citrus infused flan with dulce de leche, before visiting the hotel gallery, which showcases the work of promising Argentine artists.

INFORMATION

Website

ADDRESS

Anselmo Aieta 1069

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Dutch design duo Studio Job are set to bring a carnival atmosphere to the Faena Art Center in Buenos Aires this summer, when they open a new immersive exhibition, full of music, colour and light. 

Called 'Futopia: Faena by Studio Job', the exhibition marks four years of collaboration between the Faena Group, headed by Argentine hotelier and real estate developer Alan Faena, and the Antwerp- and Amsterdam-based studio, whose work will be displayed across FAC's monumental Sala Molinos exhibition space. Never-before-seen process drawings, renderings, sculptural models and iconography will be on show alongside site-specific interventions such as a series of stained glass panels – a hallmark of the studio's oeuvre – that will adorn the space's triple-height, cathedral-style windows. Using the studio's distinctive symbolism, the stained glass designs will chronicle the evolution of Faena while bathing the entire space in multicoloured light. 

Perpetuating a tradition started just last year, the space will also play host to a site-specific roller disco installation (last year saw artist collective Assume Vivid Astro Focus create a similar neo-disco rink), where skaters can dance in the kaleidoscopic reflections to a soundtrack provided by DJ, singer and producer Henri, known for her original productions and work with psychedelic krautrock band Thrillionaire.

In recent years, Studio Job has been hard at work creating custom symbology to appear on pavements, fences, wallpapers, sculptures, printed material and banners throughout Faena's ambitious new district in Miami Beach, which, after years of construction, is set to open in November. Bringing a flavour of the development to Buenos Aires, the exhibition showcases models of two polished bronze, gilded and hand-painted sculptures completed by the artists for permanent exhibition in the new Floridian district.

'Working with Faena is not working,' says the Dutch duo of the ongoing partnership. 'Playing with Faena is intellectual fun and the upcoming, multi-faceted exhibition at Faena Art Center showcases how our longstanding collaboration with [them] has been an incredible series of inspiring experimentations.'

ADDRESS

Faena Art Center 
Aimé Painé
1169, C1107CFA 
Buenos Aires
Argentina

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The former Central Post Office headquarters in Buenos Aires – a colossal Beaux Art building that heralded Argentina´s Belle Époque times – is one of the Argentine capital’s most beautiful landmarks, and now one of the most dynamic, too.

Local architects B4FS and Becker-Ferrari have been working tirelessly for the past six years to make it so. They beat off 39 other firms in an international contest for the project to transform it into Latin America’s biggest cultural centre, the controversially named Centro Cultural Kirchner, in honour of the former president who passed away five years ago.

Originally designed by French architect Norbert-Auguste Maillart, the building dates back to 1889 and sits comfortably downtown, a mere stone’s  throw away from the iconic Plaza de Mayo and the Pink House.  Although it is now open, it continues very much to be a work in progress. Finishing touches are due to be completed by September. 

By any standard - local or international - this has been an ambitious undertaking. A historic building with nine floors and three sublevels, 100,000m of floor place, 44 exhibition halls, six multimedia auditoriums, 14 auditioning rooms, two public squares, three restaurants and endless office space, all of which needed restoring and reconfiguring.

‘We had to stick to a very demanding and restrictive program of use and conservation,’ explains architect Daniel Becker. ‘[But] we wanted people to move around freely, despite the intimidating size of the building,’ he told Wallpaper*. And so they have. All the interventions respect the neoclassical style; marrying audacious incorporations with meticulous restoration work instead.

The most significant addition, named The Blue Whale, is a symphony hall and will house the Argentine National Symphony Orchestra. The 1,750-seat hall itself is suspended within the old building, a wooden-panelled interior and a mobile stage stitching it all together.

Connecting the new interventions are common materials, paths that lead all the way to the terrace and the impressive dome high above. Here, French tiles have been replaced by glass-illuminated with LED lights. The terrace meanwhile, employs the cityscape as a backdrop, offering a stunning view of the river Plate and the neighbourhood of Puerto Madero.

ADDRESS

Bouchard 350, 1106
Buenos Aires, Argentina

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The latest addition to the vibrant neighbourhood of Palermo Viejo, in Argentina’s capital city, is a new restaurant-deli-market that serves up simple, seasonal fare from local chef Luciano Combi. Designed by Bueno Aires-based graphics and interiors specialist Horacio Gallo - mastermind of such upscale restaurants as Sudestata, Standard and Piso Tres - Fifi Almacén can be found in a vast 160sq m warehouse with seven-metre-high ceilings. Classic Thonet chairs and black linoleum-topped bistro tables are offset by a striking white-painted corrugated-zinc wall that makes up one side of the room. Shelves are fashioned from iron and untreated eucalyptus wood, and a collection of wooden fruit and vegetable crates are used to display the deli’s wares.

INFORMATION

Website

ADDRESS

Gorriti 4812
Buenos Aires
Argentina

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Jessica Trosman, one of Argentina’s illustrious fashion exports, has recently opened a new JT boutique in the burgeoning Villa Crespo area of Buenos Aires. The designer garnered both local and international acclaim in the early 2000s with partner Martin Churba for their pioneering label TrosmanChurba, which was stocked at London’s Browns, Paris’ L'Eclaireur and Barney's New York.

After parting company, Trosman continued to evolve her style, launching the eponymous label Trosman and then JT last November. The vast Villa Crespo warehouse was revamped by local architects NET with input from JT creative director Sebastian Kaufmann. Its concrete floors and whitewashed walls contrast with flashes of glitter, greenery and abstract pattern. The changing room at the centre is a mirrored house redolent of the work of artist Ekkehard Altenburger. Meanwhile, a two-tiered glass façade separates the store from the design studio, allowing a rare glimpse into the creative process.

Address

JT
Humboldt 291, Villa Crespo
Buenos Aires, Argentina

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The new Buenos Aires City Hall, located in the Argentinian capital's Parque Patricios neighbourhood, is the latest project to be unveiled by Foster + Partners in South America. Combining a cleverly functional interior with an environmentally sensitive approach, the design aims to provide the perfect home for the Mayor's office, as well as the 1,500 employees working there, while making a positive contribution to the surrounding landscape and the wider area's ongoing redevelopment.

The project presented a special challenge: it was originally commissioned as the headquarters of Banco Ciudad, the municipal Buenos Aires bank. When the end-user - and consequently the brief - changed however, the scheme was easily adapted, thanks to the building's 'inherently flexible design'. The workspaces span four storeys, featuring staggered terraces and a visible open plan desk area that promotes communication and interaction between employees. The building's full height glazing not only makes the most of natural light, but also takes advantage of its picturesque parkside location. The latter is mirrored in the interior design through the presence of leafy landscaped courtyards and elegant sheltered walkways dotted across the layout.

The exterior is defined by the building's distinctive flowing roof canopy, supported by giant pillars. A deep overhang provides shelter for the entrance plaza and protects the glass facades from the elements. Internally, the temperature is regulated with the help of the roof's concrete soffits and a chilled beam system, maintaining a cool environment even in high summer. Louvres fitted to the western and eastern façades lending a helping hand.

The City Hall building covers an entire block within a previously industrialised area, south of the city centre. While designed as a workspace, the structure was also meant to become an active part of the area's urban fabric. Apart from the office areas, it includes a cafe and a 300-seat wood-panelled auditorium, planned to house public events that will help stimulate relationships with the local community. 

An eclectic two-storey house desgined by Norwegian architect Alejandro Christophesen in 1927 has been transformed into a chic cultural destination to include a restaurant, publishing house, bookstore, flowershop and perfumery. Located in the leafy Buenos Aires neighbourhood of Palermo Chico, the concept is the brainchild of local entrepreneur Guadalupe Garcia Mosqueda, who enlisted the skills of London and San Francisco-based outfit Kallos Turin Architects to restore the property and design the interiors. The result sees the firm’s affinity for sleek, clean lines, plush materials and minimal accessories. As such, a moss green and grey palette surfaces through marbles, brass, leather and velvet, embellishing the already graceful high ceilings and original ornate detailing. With a series of influential names from perfumer Julián Bedel to florist Silvana Grosso and publisher Ana Mosqueda bolstering Casa Cavia’s credibility, the concept was always going to be a success; not least in the restaurant, headed by chef Pablo Massey, who brings his wholesome cooking from the still-popular eatery La Panaderia de Pablo, one of Mosqueda’s original ventures.

INFORMATION

Website

ADDRESS

Cavia 2985
Palermo Chico
Buenos Aires
Argentina

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Located off the beaten track in the leafy, residential neighbourhood of Villa Devoto in Buenos Aires, the stark concrete edifice that houses the area’s new restaurant is causing quite a stir. Designed by architects Sergio Mizraji and Jacqueline Ciccinelli of local firm MMCV, the pared-down, minimalist exterior is skilfully balanced on the inside by local architects Florencia Ordoñez, Lucia Villareal and Sol Garcia del Rio of Nidolab Arquitectura, who installed blonde petiribi wood floors, wall-to-wall bookcases and Carrara marble black tiles. The salon is also peppered with copper fixtures and classic furniture by local brand Net, while outside sits an airy patio enhanced by wood and white lacquer furniture. The food is a reinterpretation of Mediterranean classics and features dishes such as veal carpaccio with wasabi mayonnaise and tomato marmalade. We recommend the Chilean salmon with vegetable risotto and saffron clam cream.

ADDRESS

5 Asuncion 4102
Villa Devoto
Buenos Aires

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Paris-based Argentine Marcelo Joulia says this is a retreat for all ages, but the young will better appreciate the mod musical cons at Vibes, the latest concept hotel to hit Buenos Aires's vibrant Palermo neighbourhood. Vibes' resident DJ Luciano broadcasts in the main-floor lounge, tapas restaurant and cocktail bar, decorated in contemporary palettes that bring to mind a visual equivalent to electronic music. There's a recording studio upstairs called the Rec Room and the rooftop terrace, called Echo - open to the public as well as guests in the hotel's 32 rooms - is outfitted like a Rio club. The project was long in the works for Joulia, whose practice Naço ('intuition' in the indigenous South American language Guarani) designed the city's popular Unico bar and Unik restaurant.

INFORMATION

Website

ADDRESS

Republica Eslovenia 1867
Buenos Aires
Argentina

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Once just another soulless shell in the bustling Buenos Aires neighbourhood of Retiro, a 1980s concrete high-rise has been transformed into a chic hotel by design duo Cecilia Nigro and Mariana Rapoport (of local agency The Wow Factor) and architects Miguel Florio and Dolores Biocca. Set over 10-storeys, the 77-room, family-owned property - now in the hands of second generation filmmaker Javier Nir and his sister Fabiana - is a soft, cosy and calmly utilitarian haven dotted with bespoke pieces by up-and-coming Argentine artists and fitted with a mixture of modern classics and furnishings by the hippest porteño designers. The chinaberry-panelled guestrooms have custom-made zig zag wool carpets and Acapulco chairs, while the lobby is a flexible continuum of café, breakfast room and working area, highlighted by a 10 x 4 metre tropical mural painted by artist Eloisa Ballivian over a period of two months.

INFORMATION

Website

ADDRESS

Arroyo Hotel
Suipacha 1359
Buenos Aires

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Off the beaten track, in a sleepy Buenos Aires neighbourhood, a new culinary hub comprises a restaurant, delicatessen, grocery store and winery. With interiors by local designer Horacio Gallo (the man behind such favourites as Tegui, Piso 3 and Fifi Almacén), the space brings back the traditional porteño canteen with a contemporary, laidback twist. The white-tile exterior leads to a ground floor, which houses the grocery-deli and restaurant. Separated by a glass divider, the space is warm and inviting with its untreated wood flooring, upholstered toffee leather seating and classic Thonet chairs. A raw-concrete staircase - a nod to an obsessive rationalist style - leads to the wine cellar and private dining room, in which 500 wisely chosen bottles are nestled in floor-to-ceiling shelving. The third floor comprises an open-air rooftop space, appointed with lush greenery and commanding a view of the neighbourhood. Food is a mix of modern, classic porteño dishes made from fresh, locally sourced produce.

ADDRESS

11 de Septiembre 4152
Buenos Aires
Argentina

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Gritti Palace, Venice, Italy

One of Venice's most celebrated hotels has now reopened after a complete refurbishment, which included restoring the palace's hundreds of paintings, mirrors, chandeliers, and priceless pieces of antique furniture. It also meant working around Italy's strict laws to demolish and reconfigure the space to create 82 rooms, down from the original 91. It has now become an intimate and refined version of its iconic self.

Opening date: February 2013; Rates: From €425

Address: Campo Santa Maria del Giglio 2467; tel: 39.04 1794 611; www.hotelgrittipalacevenice.com

Four Seasons, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Located in the historic La Recoleta neighbourhood, the Four Seasons Buenos Aires has undergone a complete renovation of its rooms and suites, lobby, grounds, spa, and dining and meeting spaces thanks to the joint effort of design groups WA International, EDG and 40NORTH. A new outdoor venue called Nuestro Secreto is also set to open on the rooftop garden, where alfresco dining will be available as well as traditional Argentinian asados (open fire barbecues).

Opening date: September 2013; Rates: From $525

Posadas 1086/88; tel: 54.11 4321 1200; www.fourseasons.com

Copacabana Palace, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

One of Rio's most iconic landmarks, this palace first opened in 1923. This is the hotel's second renovation project, with the main alterations being made to the lobby (which has been extended to double its original size) and all of the rooms on the first and second floors. The interiors, however, have remained consistent with the hotel's history.

Opening date: December 2012; Rates: From £345

Avenida Atlântica 1702; tel: 55.21 2548 7070; www.copacabanapalace.com

Hotel d'angleterre, Copenhagen, Denmark

A Copenhagen icon, Hotel d'Angleterre has just completed the most ambitious hotel restoration in Danish history, undergoing a complete renovation to include all of its rooms, including the Royal suite, which is now the largest hotel room in the city. First opened in 1755, it is located on Kongens Nytorv, in the heart of Copenhagen, minutes away from the Royal Theatre, Nyhavn Canal and the pedestrian shopping street Strøget.

Opening date: May 2013; Rates: From DKK3,500

34 Kongens Nytorv; tel: 45.33 12 00 95; www.dangleterre.com

Metropol Palace, Belgrade, Serbia

Designed by famous Serbian architect Dragiša Brašovan and originally opened in 1957 next to the city's Tasmajdan Park, the Metropol Palace has always been the most luxurious hotel in Belgrade. Now the interiors of the modernist building have been completely renovated by London studio MKV Design in a manner that celebrates its glamorous heyday as the haunt of famous movie stars and powerful statesmen.

Opening date: September 2012; Rates: From €130

Bulevar Kralja Aleksandra 69; tel: 381.11 3333 100; www.metropolpalace.com

QT Sydney, Sydney, Australia

Located in the heart of the central business and retail district, only a short walk away from Sydney's landmark Opera House, QT Sydney occupies the former Gowings department store and State Theatre buildings, both completed in the 1920s. Many of the two buildings' gothic, art deco and Italianate features have been restored, but the quirky new interiors by Nic Graham, Shelley Indyk and Anna Roberts also feature an extensive contemporary and digital art collection.

Opening date: September 2012; Rates: From A$380

49 Market Street; tel: 61.2 8262 0000; www.qtsydney.com.au

Mandarin Oriental Pudong, Shanghai, China

Home to one of the most extensive collection of Chinese contemporary art in Shanghai (4,000 original artworks are displayed in the hotel's public areas and guest rooms), the Mandarin Oriental is located on the banks of the Huangpu River in the new Harbour City district, a mixed-used development on the site of the city's old docklands. The glitzy, glamorous interiors are by Bernardo Fort-Brescia of Arquitectonica.

Opening date: April 2013; Rates: From RMB3,600

111 Pudong Road, Harbour City District; tel: 86.21 2082 9888; www.mandarinoriental.com

Twelve at Hengshan, Shanghai, China

Located in Shanghai's historic French Quarter, an area known for its shops, bars and restaurants, Twelve at Hengshan is housed in a striking new terracotta building designed by Swiss architect Mario Botta (whose previous projects include the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art). Its interiors, by Yabu Pushelberg, feature soft, natural colours and contemporary furnishings, as well as hand-painted screens, silk lanterns and latticework.

Opening date: November 2012; Rates: From RMB1,500

12 Hengshan Road, French quarter; tel: 86.21 3338 3888; www.twelveathengshan.com

Twelve at Hengshan, Shanghai, China

Located in Shanghai's historic French Quarter, an area known for its shops, bars and restaurants, Twelve at Hengshan is housed in a striking new terracotta building designed by Swiss architect Mario Botta (whose previous projects include the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art). Its interiors, by Yabu Pushelberg, feature soft, natural colours and contemporary furnishings, as well as hand-painted screens, silk lanterns and latticework.

Opening date: November 2012; Rates: From RMB1,500

12 Hengshan Road, French quarter; tel: 86.21 3338 3888; www.twelveathengshan.com

W Guangzhou, Guangzhou, China

The asymmetrical W Guangzhou building was designed by architect Rocco Yim, also responsible for the LHT tower in Hong Kong and the Guangdong Museum in Guangzhou. The hotel's interior design is the collective effort of Yabu Pushelberg, Toronto's Glyph, Hong Kong's André Fu, Tokyo's AND and Kuala Lumpur's Design Wilkes. The hotel is located on the Pearl River in the lively Pearl River New Town district.

Opening date: April 2013; Rates: From RMB2,013

26 xian Cun Road, Pearl River new town; tel: 86.20 6628 6628; www.wguangzhou.com

V Wanchai2, Hong Kong, Hong Kong

This hotel is conveniently located in Wan Chai, formerly a prosperous fishing village and now one of Hong Kong's busiest business and entertainment neighbourhoods. It is within walking distance of the HK Convention and Exhibition Centre, Happy Valley racecourse and harbour. Designed by local practice Edge Design Institute, the V Wanchai 2 building features a striking lattice façade inspired by traditional abacuses, a gold and silver palette, and a mix of contemporary and traditional furniture.

Opening date: March 2013; Rates: From HK$1,688

139 thomson Road, Wan Chai; tel: 852.3602 2388; www.thevhotels.com

V Wanchai2, Hong Kong, Hong Kong

This hotel is conveniently located in Wan Chai, formerly a prosperous fishing village and now one of Hong Kong's busiest business and entertainment neighbourhoods. It is within walking distance of the HK Convention and Exhibition Centre, Happy Valley racecourse and harbour. Designed by local practice Edge Design Institute, the V Wanchai 2 building features a striking lattice façade inspired by traditional abacuses, a gold and silver palette, and a mix of contemporary and traditional furniture.

Opening date: March 2013; Rates: From HK$1,688

139 thomson Road, Wan Chai; tel: 852.3602 2388; www.thevhotels.com

Leela Palace, Chennai, India

The only Chennai city hotel with sea views, the Leela Palace Chennai - the eighth Leela property in India - is set in five acres overlooking the Bay of Bengal and the Adyar River. Both the 11-storey new structure (by SRSS) and opulent interiors (by Design Wilkes) are inspired by the ornate architecture of the Chettinad dynasty.

Opening date: December 2012; Rates: From inR9,000

Adyar Seaface, MRC nagar; tel: 91.44 3366 1234; www.theleela.com

Shangri-la, Mumbai, India

The Shangri-La Mumbai is located above the upmarket Palladium shopping mall in High Street Phoenix, Mumbai's largest retail and entertainment district. It is the second luxury hotel to open in the area, conveniently located between the Nariman Point and Bandra Kurla business districts. The lavish interiors, by Singapore's Wilson Associates, include a sumptuous lobby adorned with Rajasthani tikri work, a palette of creams, browns and ochres, and more minimalist guest rooms.

Opening date: December 2012; Rates: From inR10,900

462 Senapati Bapat Marg, lower Parel; tel: 91.22 6162 8000; www.shangri-la.com

Alma, Tel Aviv, Israel

Located in Tel Aviv's White City district, surrounded by beaches, bars and galleries, the Alma building was originally designed as a private residence by architect Dov Tchendovski in 1925. It has been restored and turned into a boutique hotel by design team Shaltiel- Kastiel, along with mosaic and glass artist Lauri Recanati.

Opening date: November 2012; Rates: From ILS1,300

23 Yavne Street; tel: 972.3 630 8777; www.almahotel.co.il

Alma, Tel Aviv, Israel

Located in Tel Aviv's White City district, surrounded by beaches, bars and galleries, the Alma building was originally designed as a private residence by architect Dov Tchendovski in 1925. It has been restored and turned into a boutique hotel by design team Shaltiel- Kastiel, along with mosaic and glass artist Lauri Recanati.

Opening date: November 2012; Rates: From ILS1,300

23 Yavne Street; tel: 972.3 630 8777; www.almahotel.co.il

Delano, Marrakech, Morocco

Located in Hivernage, an increasingly buzzy part of the new town, the latest Delano hotel in the Morgans hotel group has been designed by French interior designer Jacques Garcia. With its soaring white atrium that riffs on the traditional riad, it strikes a dramatic note from the moment you enter the lobby.

Opening date: October 2012; Rates: From MAD2,600

Avenue Echouhada/ Rue des Temples; tel: 212.524 42 42 42; www.delanomarrakech.com

Marti, Istanbul, Turkey

Located in the cultural hotspot of Taksim, close to theatres and ancient bazaars, the Marti has been designed by Zeynep Fadillioglu, who was the first woman in Turkey to design and build a mosque. Works by Turkish artists Devrim Erbil and Kutluğ Ataman (a Carnegie Prize winner) are also displayed around the hotel.

Opening date: July 2012; Rates: From TRY205

Abdülhak Hamit Cad 25B; tel: 90.212 987 4000; www.martiistanbulhotel.com

Oberoi, Dubai, UAE

The Oberoi is located at The Oberoi Centre, next to the tallest building in the world - the Burj Khalifa. It is also close to downtown Dubai and the Dubai Mall.

Opening date: June 2013; Rates: From AED2,900

The Oberoi Centre, Business Bay; tel: 971.44 441 444; www.oberoihotels.com

Oberoi, Dubai, UAE

The Oberoi is located at The Oberoi Centre, next to the tallest building in the world - the Burj Khalifa. It is also close to downtown Dubai and the Dubai Mall.

Opening date: June 2013; Rates: From AED2,900

The Oberoi Centre, Business Bay; tel: 971.44 441 444; www.oberoihotels.com

Park Royal On Pickering, Singapore

Located close to Raffles Place, this hotel is a lush example of green architecture: tiers inspired by rice paddies dominate the lower levels of the 16-storey tower, and foliage spills out at regular intervals from ever-higher terraces. Architects WOHA and landscape specialists Tierra Design have continued the natural theme inside, too: the lobby features a vertical garden, while pale green hues and wood dominate the guest rooms. Apart from enchanting visitors, the thick vegetation acts as insulation and shade, and allows natural ventilation.

Opening date: January 2013; Rates: From S$278

3 Upper Pickering St; tel: 65.6809 8888; www.parkroyalhotels.com

Park Royal On Pickering, Singapore

Located close to Raffles Place, this hotel is a lush example of green architecture: tiers inspired by rice paddies dominate the lower levels of the 16-storey tower, and foliage spills out at regular intervals from ever-higher terraces. Architects WOHA and landscape specialists Tierra Design have continued the natural theme inside, too: the lobby features a vertical garden, while pale green hues and wood dominate the guest rooms. Apart from enchanting visitors, the thick vegetation acts as insulation and shade, and allows natural ventilation.

Opening date: January 2013; Rates: From S$278

3 Upper Pickering St; tel: 65.6809 8888; www.parkroyalhotels.com

Sans Souci, Vienna, Austria

A former inn dating from 1872 has received a vigorous makeover by Philippe Starck and John Hitchcox's London-based Yoo Studio along with Archer Humphryes Architects. Sans Souci is located in the central, bohemian district of Spittelberg, a pedestrianised neighbourhood next to the capital's MuseumQuartier area. The boutique hotel comes with lavish interiors featuring marble flooring, silver and gold details, and crystal chandeliers hanging above the swimming pool. Art and design features throughout, with original artworks by the likes of Allen Jones and Steve Kaufman, antique furniture, and modern pieces by Arne Jacobsen.

Opening date: December 2012; Rates: From €219

2 Burggasse; tel: 43.1 522 2520; www.sanssouci-wien.com

Sense Hotel, Sofia, Bulgaria

Surrounded by historic buildings such as the National Art Gallery and the golden-domed Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Sense Hotel cuts a striking figure on Sofia's famous yellow paved road, the Boulevard Tsar Osvoboditel. The first upscale design hotel in the Bulgarian capital, the contemporary glass structure by Rome-based practice Lazzarini Pickering Architetti is innovative, yet sits sympathetically within its grand surroundings. The immaculate guest rooms all boast floor-to-ceiling windows with great views over the city.

Opening date: March 2013; Rates: From €108

16 Tsar Osvoboditel Boulevard; tel: 359.700 20670; www.sensehotel.com

Hôtel de nell, Paris, France

Nestled in a quiet corner of the otherwise lively 9th arrondissement, the Hôtel de Nell is a short walk away from the department stores of the Grands Boulevards. The boutique hotel was designed by renowned Parisian architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte, who took care of every detail, from the ergonomic door handles to the retro Artemide lampshades. The establishment dubs itself a 'hôtel bistronome', letting its chic ground-floor brasserie La Régalade Conservatoire take centre stage.

Opening date: February 2013; Rates: From €300

7-9 rue du Conservatoire; tel: 33.1 44 83 83 60; www.hoteldenell.com

Hôtel Paradis, Paris, France

Once one of Paris' many hotels in need of some TLC, the former two-star Hôtel Paradis has been transformed into a boutique hotel by French designer Dorothée Meilichzon. It now features a reception desk fashioned out of old travel trunks, original padded headboards and banquettes, and individually designed rooms. Located near the Gare du Nord and Porte Saint-Denis, the hotel is housed in one of Paris' typical Haussmannian buildings and has beautiful attic rooms overlooking the rooftops of the city and the Eiffel Tower.

Opening date: November 2012; Rates: From €102

41 rue des Petites-Écuries; tel: 33.1 45 23 08 22; www.hotelparadisparis.com

Hôtel Paradis, Paris, France

Once one of Paris' many hotels in need of some TLC, the former two-star Hôtel Paradis has been transformed into a boutique hotel by French designer Dorothée Meilichzon. It now features a reception desk fashioned out of old travel trunks, original padded headboards and banquettes, and individually designed rooms. Located near the Gare du Nord and Porte Saint-Denis, the hotel is housed in one of Paris' typical Haussmannian buildings and has beautiful attic rooms overlooking the rooftops of the city and the Eiffel Tower.

Opening date: November 2012; Rates: From €102

41 rue des Petites-Écuries; tel: 33.1 45 23 08 22; www.hotelparadisparis.com

InterContinental, Marseille - Hotel Dieu, Marseille, France,

The third French property of global hotel group InterContinental is housed in a magnificent 18th- century building overlooking the Old Port and located next to the historic district of Le Panier. A former hospital with a long and varied history dating back to 1166, the building is blessed with sweeping staircases, grand arched windows and elegant vaulted ceilings. Its features have now been lovingly restored (the €100m renovation took three years to complete) by Parisian architect Anthony Bechu, with interiors by Jean-Philippe Nuel.

Opening date: April 2013; Rates: From €175

1 Place Daviel; tel: 33.4 13 42 42 42; www.intercontinental.com

Das Stue, Berlin, Germany

The Das Stue hotel is housed in what was formerly the Royal Danish Embassy building, built in the 1930s and designed by Johann Emil Schaudt. Axthelm Architekten has added a new wing, LVG Arquitectura has redesigned the rooms, and Patricia Urquiola was in charge of the décor of all the hotel's public spaces, including the lobby, cocktail bar and restaurants. The hotel is located next to Tiergarten Park and the Berlin Zoo, and is also close to the Berlin Philharmonic and the New National Gallery designed by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe.

Opening date: December 2012; Rates: From €200

Drakestraße 1; tel: 49.30 311 7220; www.das-stue.com

Aman Canal Grande, Venice, Italy

Located in one of the city's oldest quarters, San Polo, the Canal Grande is Aman Resorts' fifth and most sumptuous Mediterranean property. The restoration of the imposing 16th-century Palazzo Papadopoli took 18 months, with the interior design by long-time Aman collaborator Denniston, and the structural engineering and architecture by Claudio Rebeschini and the Dottor Group. Highlights include the property's neo-renaissance and rococo flourishes, historic frescoes and peaceful gardens.

Opening date: June 2013; Rates: From €1,000

Palazzo Papadopoli, Calle Tiepolo 1364; tel: 39.04 1270 7333; www.amanresorts.com

Sir Albert, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Housed in a striking 19th-century industrial building formerly known as the Van Moppes diamond factory, Sir Albert is located in Amsterdam's bohemian De Pijp neighbourhood, a stone's throw from Museumplein and the city's busiest street market, the Albert Cuyp Market. Sir Albert's interiors are by Tel Aviv-based designers Irene Kronenberg and Alon Baranowitz of BK Architecture, who have also included pieces by Achille Castiglioni, Piet Hein Eek and Nika Zupanc.

Opening date: February 2013 rates: From €159

Albert Cuypstraat 2-6; tel: 31.20 305 3020; www.siralberthotel.com

The Thief, Oslo, Norway

The Thief is a nine-storey hotel in the Norwegian capital's new waterfront district of Tjuvholmen, known as Thief Island because of its former role as a prison. Created by hotelier Petter A Stordalen and built by Mellbye Architects, it comes with interiors by Anemone Wille Våge and features designs by the likes of Antonio Citterio, pieces by young local designers such as Magnus Pettersen and Anne Haavind, and unique artworks handpicked by the hotel's very own art curator.

Opening date: January 2013; Rates: From NOK1,690

Landgangen 1; tel: 47.24 00 40 00; www.thethief.com

Hotel Nikol'Skaya Kempinski, Moscow, Russia

The second Moscow property from the Kempinski group, this hotel is located in the heart of the capital, in a historical building - the former residence of Count Orlov-Davydov - dating back to the 1870s. The original façade, swirling staircases, stained glass dome and turn-of-the-century mosaic floors have been renovated, while the new interiors - a plush mix of gold, cream and dark furniture - are by Kempinski stalwarts Leo International Design Group. The hotel is located minutes away from the Bolshoi Theatre, the Duma and the famous GUM department store.

Opening date: May 2013; Rates: From RUB9,900

St Nikolskaya 12; tel: 7.495 967 7776; www.kempinski.com

Mercer Hotel, Barcelona, Spain

The hotel, located on Calle dels Lledó in Barcelona's Gothic Quarter, is built on part of the walls of the ancient Roman city of Barcino. The renovation of the hotel was carried out by Pritzker Prize-winning Spanish architect Rafael Moneo and interior design is by Madrid-based firm Gastón y Daniela. The property's highlights include artworks by local painter Agustí Puig, a peaceful indoor patio with orange trees, a rooftop pool, and an atmospheric dining room in a meticulously restored Roman defence tower.

Opening date: September 2012; Rates: From €200

7 Calle dels Lledó; tel: 34.93 310 7480; www.mercerbarcelona.com

Café Royal, London, UK

Café Royal is one of only two hotels of The Set, a group founded in 2012. Opened on the site of a famous café frequented over the years by the likes of Oscar Wilde, Virginia Woolf and Rudyard Kipling, the hotel is situated on Regent Street, within walking distance of attractions such as the Royal Academy, the National Gallery and the Royal Opera House. The 1860s and 1920s rooms of the hotel have been restored by David Chipperfield Architects in collaboration with Historic Building Architects and Donald Insall Associates.

Opening date: December 2012; Rates: From £300

68 Regent Street; tel: 44.20 7406 3333; www.hotelcaferoyal.com

Click Clack, Bogotá, Colombia

The debut hotel from local entrepreneurs Juan Felipe Cruz and Tomas Beltran, Click Clack is one the city's few urban resorts that truly breaks ranks with Colombia's painfully corporate hotel scene. The façade of the 11-storey building, designed by Felipe Mesa of Plan B Arquitectura, features a road map of Bogotá fashioned from black laminated steel, while the interiors feature Scandinavian pieces by the likes of Hay and Bo Concept. Other highlights include a 500 sq m vertical garden, two display spaces for art installations, and bedrooms with jutting floor-to-ceiling windows.

Opening date: August 2013; Rates: From US$120

Carrera 11 No. 93-77; tel: 57.1 743 0404; www.clickclackhotel.com

Waldorf Astoria Panama, Panama City, Panama

The work of Miami-based interior designers Ba-haus/KNF, the Waldorf Astoria Panama is located in the fashionable Calle Uruguay district, close to the Panama Canal and Cinta Costera - one of Latin America's best running and walking trails, by the Pacific Ocean. The first foray of the Waldorf Astoria brand into Latin America, the hotel features high ceilings, exotic wood details, elegant public spaces and multiple dining options.

Opening date: May 2013; Rates: From US$179

47th Street and Uruguay Street; tel: 507.294 8000; www.waldorfastoriapanama.com

Hotel B, Lima, Peru

Hotel B is housed in a former seaside retreat built in 1914 in the Belle Époque style by French architect Claude Sahut, who also designed many of Lima's main avenues, parks and theatres. Located in the capital's bohemian Barranco district, the mansion has been carefully restored by master carpenters and sculptors from Lima's Fine Arts Academy, and now comes with a new wing, and classic interiors with a French twist.

Opening date: June 2013; Rates: From US$450

San Martín 301, barranco; tel: 51.1 206 0800; www.hotelb.pe

Hotel B, Lima, Peru

Hotel B is housed in a former seaside retreat built in 1914 in the Belle Époque style by French architect Claude Sahut, who also designed many of Lima's main avenues, parks and theatres. Located in the capital's bohemian Barranco district, the mansion has been carefully restored by master carpenters and sculptors from Lima's Fine Arts Academy, and now comes with a new wing, and classic interiors with a French twist.

Opening date: June 2013; Rates: From US$450

San Martín 301, barranco; tel: 51.1 206 0800; www.hotelb.pe

Hotel B, Lima, Peru

Hotel B is housed in a former seaside retreat built in 1914 in the Belle Époque style by French architect Claude Sahut, who also designed many of Lima's main avenues, parks and theatres. Located in the capital's bohemian Barranco district, the mansion has been carefully restored by master carpenters and sculptors from Lima's Fine Arts Academy, and now comes with a new wing, and classic interiors with a French twist.

Opening date: June 2013; Rates: From US$450

San Martín 301, barranco; tel: 51.1 206 0800; www.hotelb.pe

Sofitel, Montevideo, Uruguay

Built in 1921 in the style of a French palace by architects Gaston Mallet and Jacques Dunant, Montevideo's listed Hotel Casino Carrasco has just reopened as the Sofitel Montevideo. A US$75m restoration has helped bring the grand Belle Époque interiors and formal gardens back to their former glory. Located in one of the smartest neighbourhoods of the Uruguayan capital, the hotel overlooks the Rio de la Plata.

Opening date: June 2013 rates: US$272

Rambla república de México 6451; tel: 598.2 604 6060; www.sofitel.com

Sofitel, Montevideo, Uruguay

Built in 1921 in the style of a French palace by architects Gaston Mallet and Jacques Dunant, Montevideo's listed Hotel Casino Carrasco has just reopened as the Sofitel Montevideo. A US$75m restoration has helped bring the grand Belle Époque interiors and formal gardens back to their former glory. Located in one of the smartest neighbourhoods of the Uruguayan capital, the hotel overlooks the Rio de la Plata.

Opening date: June 2013 rates: US$272

Rambla república de México 6451; tel: 598.2 604 6060; www.sofitel.com

Shangri-La, Toronto, Canada

Designed by Vancouver-based architect James Cheng, the Shangri-La is located in the centre of Toronto, just a stone's throw from the city's theatre district and vibrant waterfront area, and the Art Gallery of Ontario. The sophisticated interiors are a joint effort by B+H CHIL Design, in charge of the guest rooms and health club, and Office of McFarlane and Biggar, responsible for the lobby and Bosk restaurant.

Opening date: September 2012; Rates: From CA$355

188 University Avenue; tel: 1.647 788 8888; www.shangri-la.com

HoteL Zetta, San Francisco, USA

Located within walking distance of the Union Square, SoMa and Mid-Market districts, Hotel Zetta - the newest property in the Viceroy Group's Urban Retreat collection - occupies the neo-classic shell of the century-old Hotel Milano. Revamped by Seattle-based Dawson Design Associates, it now features eclectic interiors with repurposed materials, such as a striking lobby chandelier made of recycled sunglasses.

Opening date: February 2013; Rates: From $245

55 5th Street; tel: 1.415 543 8555; www.viceroyhotelgroup.com

The Langham, Chicago, USA

The Langham Chicago occupies the first 13 floors of Ludwig Mies van der Rohe's iconic, 52-storey IBM building. The 40-year-old office tower has been sensitively transformed into a luxurious hotel with 20ft windows and white travertine marble walls, in keeping with Mies van der Rohe's aesthetic. Designed by his grandson, architect Dirk Lohan, the hotel's lobby features two never-produced sofas that the modernist architect designed for his daughter Waltraud.

Opening date: July 2013; Rates: From $480

330 North Wabash Avenue; tel: 1.312 923 9988; www.langhamhotels.com

Refinery Hotel, New York, USA

Once a millinery factory with a swish tea salon attached, the new Refinery Hotel has brought a touch of nostalgic elegance back to New York's oft- neglected Garment District. The 12-storey, 1912 building's original neo-gothic arches and windows have all been preserved, while inside, the space has been decked out in an industrial style by Stonehill & Taylor, the design firm behind hip favourites the NoMad and Ace hotels. The site's fashion heritage is picked up in small details, such as carpets with scissors motifs.

Opening date: May 2013; Rates: From $350

63 W 38th Street Tel: 1.646 664 0310; www.refineryhotelnewyork.com

Refinery Hotel, New York, USA

Once a millinery factory with a swish tea salon attached, the new Refinery Hotel has brought a touch of nostalgic elegance back to New York's oft- neglected Garment District. The 12-storey, 1912 building's original neo-gothic arches and windows have all been preserved, while inside, the space has been decked out in an industrial style by Stonehill & Taylor, the design firm behind hip favourites the NoMad and Ace hotels. The site's fashion heritage is picked up in small details, such as carpets with scissors motifs.

Opening date: May 2013; Rates: From $350

63 W 38th Street Tel: 1.646 664 0310; www.refineryhotelnewyork.com

The Jade Hotel, New York, USA

A stone's throw from New York's Union Square, The Jade Hotel, designed by local firm Andres Escobar & Associates, features an entrance that comes complete with burning gas lamps and opens into a sunken lobby with a library. Each room boasts retro details, including ebony desks, rotary dial telephones and subway-tiled bathrooms. The best-kept secrets, however, are the second-floor rooms that come with individual garden terraces, concealed by leafy trellises.

Opening date: March 2013 rates: From $399

52 West 13th Street, greenwich village; tel: 1.212 375 1300; www.thejadenyc.com

The James Royal Palm, Miami Beach, USA

The James Royal Palm is located in one of Miami South Beach's art deco gems, a striking building which originally opened in 1939, but has since been extended and restored many times since. Celebrated US architect Lauren Rottet, in charge of the interiors, describes the ocean-front boutique hotel's style, a contemporary twist on art deco elegance, as 'Virginia Woolf and Jean-Michel Basquiat meet on the beach'.

Opening date: January 2013 rates: From $350

1545 Collins Avenue; tel: 1.305 604 5700; www.jameshotels.com

The Quin, New York, USA

Opening this autumn in Manhattan's Midtown, The Quin is located on the corner of 6th Avenue, right next to Central Park, and is only a few blocks away from landmarks such as MoMA and Carnegie Hall. Housed in a 17-storey pre-war building, the property (formerly known as the Buckingham Hotel) has been updated by design firm Perkins Eastman and now boasts slick public spaces with textured walls, blown-glass chandeliers and floral detailing - the latter in homage to famous Buckingham Hotel guest, artist Georgia O'Keeffe.

Opening date: October 2013; Rates: From $350

101 West 57th Street at 6th Avenue; tel: 1.212 245 7846; www.thequinhotel.com

For all their intellectual heft, Pavel Pepperstein’s drawings and watercolours are curiously naive and romantic. His annotations draw on cultural theory and linguistics and their take on Russia and the world, yet his constructivism, and that of his art group Inspection Medical Hermeneutics, is often delivered in the sweet language of children’s books. It is the artworks that are exhibited internationally, but at home his films, rap poetry and novels have also made him famous.

There is undoubtedly a surrealistic quality to the artist’s oatmeal recipe: his inclusion of a stick of chewing gum would mightily confuse your average Scottish granny. Inspection Medical Hermeneutic’s installation ‘The Pipe or The Alley of Longevity’ is on display until 31 October at Regina Gallery in Moscow.

Method
Prepare a bowl of oatmeal
Add a stick of US chewing gum
Add cinnamon to taste
Add lemon zest to taste
Add a dessert spoon of condensed milk (make sure that it is a silver spoon)
Add a pinch of salt on a knife tip
Add cane sugar to taste

Argentinean entrepreneur Alan Faena - the visionary behind the Faena Arts District - has once again put Buenos Aires on the world map, launching a cultural and artistic mega-project that's a far cry from a traditional museum. The Faena Arts Center is located in Puerto Madero, the city's hot new district, a chunk of which Faena purchased at the turn of the century when it was neglected and decaying. Over the next decade he set about founding a neighbourhood within the neighbourhood, building an individual brand for each of his endeavours, from the Phillippe Stark-designed Faena Hotel & Universe to the upcoming Aleph, Norman Foster's first project in Latin America, as well as various residential projects.

The building hosting the new Faena Arts Center in Dam 3 was formerly a busy flourmill producing up to a thousand tonnes of ground wheat a day during the 1900s. It was already abandoned when Faena bought it, but today it still retains the basic elements of its early 20th-century industrial architecture.

Local architect Mike McCormack was entrusted with remodelling the building, including the façade. He has configured a space that adapts to the demands of all forms of contemporary art in an intelligent way. Faena Arts Center is not a traditional museum whose aim is to house a historically significant collection or lend legitimacy to artists. It is not a museum mall nor it is an art gallery. It is an ongoing project based on the exchange of ideas, experimentation and cultural research.

A new exhibition space, located in the old engine room of this iconic building and covering 4,000sq m, has been renovated by McCormack Asociados, who have respected the building's original style: high ceilings, period details, bay windows and semicircular arches - all common elements of industrial architecture in 1900.

For the first exhibition in this new centre, which he runs together with Ximena Caminos, Faena called upon Brazilian artist Ernesto Neto. Curated by Tate Modern's Jessica Morgan, Neto designed a hanging sculpture titled 'Crazy Hyperculture in the Vertigo of the World', made of crochet-woven fabric stuffed with thousands of plastic balls, which takes up most of the main exhibition room. This space has the proportions of a cathedral, with a T-shaped floor and an asymmetric central apse on Aimé Paine Street.

The building plan and façade have succeeded in intelligently adapting a space defined by the architectural characteristics of the past to harmoniously house the daring, versatile and demanding expressions of contemporary art.

ADDRESS

Faena Art Center
Azucena Villaflor 460
Faena Art District
Buenos Aires

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