Following hot on the heels of the Wes Anderson-designed cafe that was opened at the Fondazione Prada earlier this year, another new hospitality venture, this time over in Barcelona, has tipped its hat to the acclaimed director’s iconic oeuvre.
Called Margot House, the new boutique hotel takes its name from Margot Tenenbaum - the aloof character portrayed by Gwyneth Paltrow in Anderson’s 2002 film The Royal Tenenbaums. ’Margot, is a deep woman with a hidden side to her, giving off a glamorous and almost elusive feel,’ explain the hotel’s founders, father and daughter team Sandra and Sergio Durany, who wanted to instil Margot’s refined personality into the design of their inaugural hotel project.
Centrally located on Barcelona’s bustling Passeig de Gràcia, a lack of signage makes the Margot a suitably discreet destination for discerning travellers. Inside, nine guest rooms, an open kitchen, honesty bar, lobby, and lounge area are completed in a restful, neutral colour palette with raw concrete surfaces, light wood furniture, cashmere blankets and white washed walls - a mix of Japanese and Scandinavian design sensibilities that reflect the owners’ backgrounds in the lifestyle, fashion and interiors sectors (Sergio owns a chain of eco-friendly lifestyle stores called Natura while Sandra owns fashion and accessories stores BE).
Accommodating just 18 guests at any one time, Margot House prides itself on the thoughtful details of which there are many; Egyptian cotton linens, homemade pastries, fresh juices, a Brompton Bicycle hire scheme, a curated library of design journals and the delicate fig aroma that fills the air in the mornings are just a few of our favourite touches.
