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.

Project data

Archi­tect

A2 Arqui­tectos Juan Manz­anares Suárez Cris­tian Santandreu Uter­mark

Team

Promo­tora los Rosa­litos S.L. Regina García Borrás. Melchor Mascaró. Frei­x­anet sauna­sport S.L.

Client

Hotel Castell dels Hams

Opening

1967, 2011, 2014

Author

Johannes Bühl­be­cker More Sports Media

Address

Hotel Castell dels Hams Crta. Manacor Porto Cristo Km. 10 Porto Cristo Mallorca, Spain

Aerial view

Thank you, Google!

Pgoto­graph

Laura Torres Roa Antonio Benito Amen­gual.

Pictures of pool and spa

Pictures of “Smile”

Plans

Videos

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