The Dome: Earth, light & memories
The Concept Room takes Tunisia as its starting point, understood not as a single image, but as a territory of encounters and overlapping memories. Carthage, Rome, the Arab world, Ottoman heritage and Mediterranean influence coexist in a landscape where earth, light and history have gradually shaped a deeply layered identity.
From this reading comes The Dome, a contemporary retreat that translates the Tunisian character without reproducing it literally. Its enveloping geometry evokes vernacular architectures that emerge from the earth, the intimacy of medina interiors and spaces designed to provide shelter from the sun and a sense of calm. The dome organises the room as a small inner universe, while the skylight transforms light into a living material that changes throughout the day, shaping the volumes and creating an ongoing dialogue between brightness, shadow and half-light.
The space is designed for a traveller seeking to reconnect with themselves through rest, discovery and shared moments. The room combines intimate settings with places to pause, talk or contemplate, articulated through curved forms and furniture with an almost architectural character.
The material palette draws from Tunisia’s landscape and craft traditions. Terracotta, sand and earthy tones evoke the land; textured surfaces and woven fibres add depth and a sensory dimension; oak introduces warmth; and burgundy-toned stone acts as a mineral accent. Blue details recall the connection with the Mediterranean and the presence of colour in doors, ceramics and handcrafted objects. The result is a serene and sensory retreat, rooted in its location, where memory is transformed into a contemporary hospitality experience.
Materiality
A colour palette inspired by the surrounding landscape and Tunisia’s multi-layered identity.
The moodboard is the first material map of the Earth, Light and Memory narrative. More than a selection of finishes, it brings together the textures, colours and traces that begin to shape the atmosphere of The Dome.
Earth emerges through terracotta, sand and burgundy tones, mineral surfaces and finishes with a handcrafted appearance. Light is expressed through materials that respond to it in different ways: rough coverings that absorb shadows, fabrics that filter light, metals that create subtle reflections and pale surfaces that amplify its presence. Memory is introduced through braided fibres, graphic textiles, handcrafted details and blue accents that evoke Tunisian doors, mosaics and material culture.
Oak, stone, textiles and wall finishes come together to create a warm, tactile and layered composition. Each material retains its own identity while contributing to a balanced whole between the earthy and the luminous, the ancestral and the contemporary. The moodboard thus establishes the starting point for the project: a room that seems to have emerged from the landscape, shaped by light and enriched by layers of memory.
Project author
Marta Palazuelo (HBA Madrid's Principal Director)
HBA Spain is a boutique architecture and interior design studio specialising in the creation of high-impact hospitality spaces. Based in Madrid and led by a senior team with extensive experience, it combines international reach with local sensitivity to develop creative, viable and commercially sound projects.
Its methodology integrates architecture and interior design into a single process, from research, brand positioning and the initial narrative through to execution. Spatial planning, furniture, visual identity and construction details are coordinated to preserve the design intent while ensuring that timelines and budgets are met.
One of its key differentiators is the integration of artificial intelligence into the design process, enabling the team to explore alternatives, anticipate risks, optimise scenarios and improve coordination, while keeping creativity and human judgement at the core.
From Madrid, HBA Spain creates distinctive spaces that are rooted in their context and operationally efficient, acting as a creative bridge between Europe, the Middle East and Latin America.
The studio is led by Marta Palazuelo, an architect and designer specialising in hospitality and high-end residential projects. As Director of HBA Madrid, she leads its creative and strategic vision and international growth, following leadership positions at Rockwell Group and Foster + Partners.
Inspired by
Canfranc Estación Hotel (Award to the Best Hotel Design at interihotel BCN23)
Barceló Hotel Group is a family-owned company founded in Mallorca in 1931 and one of the leading names in Spanish and international hospitality. Present in more than 30 countries, the company operates an extensive portfolio of 4- and 5-star hotels distinguished by their prime locations, thoughtful design and a hospitality offering rooted in authenticity and a connection with their surroundings.
The group combines innovation, creativity and a deep dialogue with the identity and heritage of each destination to offer unique experiences to its guests. Its commitment to excellence, sustainability and distinctive architecture has positioned it as Spain’s second-largest hotel group and one of the most prominent in the world.
Participating brands
