Palmira and GCA Architects presented a hotel room design at Interihotel Barcelona 2025 that celebrates simplicity, honesty, and sensory experience. Under the concept "Praise of the Essential," the project redefines luxury as calm, functional, and emotionally engaging, emphasising authentic materials and understated design.
© Javier Márquez
The hotel room uses oak, metal, natural fabrics, and warm, intentional lighting to create a space that invites rest, reflection, and human connection. Light serves as the main compositional tool, guiding visitors through intimate moments rather than segmented spaces, while noble materials and craftsmanship convey a sense of warmth and authenticity.
The project also highlights collaborations with local brands and artisans, including Maderas de Autor via Distiplas (flooring), Bang & Olufsen via Zentrum (audio), Vergés Design (furniture), Santa & Cole (lighting), Teixidors (textiles), Shon Mott (clothing), Alicia Gimeno via Obra Art (art), Anas Rifi-Zinati (ceramics), and Byredo (fragrance). This integration enhances the room's sensory narrative, combining design, functionality, and emotion.
"We wanted to create a room that doesn't seek to impress but to welcome," says Andrea Navarro, partner at GCA Architects. "It's an honest space, generating calm and introspection even amidst the energy of a fair."
© Javier Márquez
Clàudia Ferrer, Marketing Manager at Palmira, adds:
"True luxury lies in the essential. This collaboration allowed us to explore simplicity as a source of pleasure, demonstrating how design can enhance well-being, beauty, and comfort."
All furniture in the room was manufactured by Palmira, reflecting the brand's ability to deliver turnkey solutions that combine technical precision with material sensitivity. The project marks Palmira's second Interihotel participation and GCA Architects' debut, standing as a manifesto of simplicity, authenticity, and human-centred design.
About Palmira: With over 50 years of experience, Palmira is a benchmark in contract furniture, offering versatile, high-quality solutions that balance aesthetics, comfort, and durability.
About GCA Architects: An international studio of designers, architects, and engineers, GCA Architects integrates design, quality, and respect for place, emphasising artisanal elements and creative freedom across every project stage.
About Interihotel
Interihotel Barcelona, held October 21–23, 2025, is a leading event for hotel and restaurant design, bringing together brands, architects, and hoteliers to explore innovation, inspiration, and industry trends.
More information:
Palmira
[email protected]
www.palmira.furniture
GCA Architects
gcaarchitects.com
