Always the sun

Hotel Castell dels Hams, Mallorca

History

In 1967, a small hotel called Hotel Castell dels Hams was established on the island of Mallorca, amid the Mediterranean vegetation. Over time, and through subtle improvements and extensions, it has become one of the most distinctive hotels on the eastern part of the island. The last of the alterations, meant to celebrate the Mediterranean light and the location’s idyllic bond with nature, turned the hotel into much more than just a holiday destination.

What’s new?

The project centred on replacing the covering and enclosure of the existing heated pool and to create an adjacent spa to supplement it. During development, the project was split into two independent zones, each designed to suit its own specific purpose. The main pool area is adorned with a series of square openings for windows in the roof that allow the light to flood into the area. The spa, intended for skin treatments and relaxation, is located to give the visitors the best views of the surrounding landscape and is also filled with light in all rooms where light is needed. The placement of the two zones makes them meet at a single point where one faces the other, so that they are interlinked. This gives access to both through the hotel lobby, which is connected to the main pool area.

Always the sun

The pool was originally connected to what once was considered the back of the hotel, where it was confined to a space that was clearly being wasted. The challenge of the project was not only to prevent the new areas from being used as secondary features, but to ensure they were used to highlight the hotel’s sunniest facade. Now completed, the roof is dotted with windows. This interplay of window areas in the roof creates a beautiful dance of light reflections inside the building. In the spa area, the space is sculpted and colourful showers of light flow through the roof windows. This makes the building itself being a part of the treatment by offering the feeling of well-being created by nature.

„Smile“

In 2014, the recreational areas and activities were extended and a further entertainment for the young guests from the hotel Castell dels Hams was created. The vision of this new focus, a big “smile”, focuses his perception from differents viewpoints and different scales, either at the level of the foot, from the terraces of the hotel or including the aerial and satellite view of Google Maps. A2arquitectos opted for a concentric circular organization of the elements, where the children’s pool is the centre. This yellow circle has 12 meters of diameter and clearly differs from the other pools in form and color. Orbiting around it, they are differents areas with water games for children, showers, solarium… Using a colorful live in this system, unlike the rest of the hotel, they give it a natural place outside the existing original forms. With great intention this colourful fun corner differs clearly from the elegant rest of the hotel. The question of which area you like better now may only depend on your age.