In this talk, Álvaro Mesonero-Romanos will share his creative process when designing hotels—from the initial idea to the guest’s real-life experience. The architect will explore how to transform a concept into an atmosphere that evokes emotion, without compromising functionality, operations, and sustainability. In a good hotel, the guest should feel both surprised and at home. That’s why it’s essential to create emotional and sensory architecture, where details, lighting, materials, and proportions awaken lasting sensations. But this emotional connection with the space must also be practical and functional. This is the paradox of hotel design: how to create unique spaces that are both efficient and soulful, yet not alienating. Designing to both inspire and function is not merely a matter of style, but of method, sensitivity, and strategic vision. The goal is clear: to create spaces that are lived in, felt, and remembered.
