With innovative design and contemporary interiors, Hotel Arts Barcelona is an iconic property that has a private art collection as a part of the interior design, and also promotes art through various initiatives
Designed by the distinguished architect Bruce Graham of Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, the Hotel Arts is part of Barcelona’s cultural renaissance, and as modern as the city itself. Built to coincide with the Olympic Games in 1992, this luxury hotel is a landmark – 44 stories of blue glass and exposed steel soaring high above the seafront. Inside, hard edges and materials give way to an environment of elegance and refinement, filled with luxurious spaces to explore and discover at leisure. It is the tallest building in Spain and a prominent feature of Barcelona’s skyline. With innovative design and contemporary interiors, the hotel showcases a 20th century collection of exclusively commissioned works by contemporary Catalan and Spanish artists.
Each of the 455 guests rooms offer panoramic views of Barcelona’s city skyline as well as the Mediterranean Sea. For families travelling together, the hotel features 75 connecting rooms. Four Deluxe guestrooms are specifically designed to meet the special needs of disabled guests. With one, two or three bedroom options, the duplex luxury apartments are located on the top ten floors of the hotel, affording stunning views of the sea and city. Each apartment is comprised of a lounge and dining area as well as a kitchen. The powerful architecture by Bruce Graham is accented by the warm and elegant décor designed by Antoni Puig and Jose Juanpere, and created by Jaime Tresserra.
Located just a short stroll from the Museu Picasso is Hotel Arts Barcelona that has a long-standing reputation for its relationship with art. It was one of the first luxury hotels to introduce a private art collection as a part of the interior design, it is also framed by a world-renowned sculpture by Frank Gehry.
Art promotion
Recently over 80 rarely loaned works by two of the world’s most acclaimed artists, Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dalí, were presented side by side at the Museu Picasso, Barcelona. The art works on show came together from over 20 international art museums and private collections with a focus on paintings, featuring drawings, prints and sculpture. The Picasso/ Dalí, Dalí/ Picasso exhibition demonstrated how these two artists were shaped by the currents of their time.
The story of Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dalí is one of influence, rivalry, and artistic appreciation. In celebration of the exhibition Hotel Arts Barcelona offered its guests a ‘Picasso/ Dalí’ experience. Taking inspiration from both artists, Frank’s Bar created an innovative ‘Picasso/ Dalí’ cocktail menu to reflect the two artists.
The team of mixologists took inspiration from some of Dalí’s favourite foods including watermelons and pomegranates to create the Watermeloska cocktail made from vodka, lemon, watermelon, mint, sugar and soda, and the Salty Dog cocktail created using gin and pomegranate presented in a salted rimmed glass. The ‘Inspiration’ cocktail was born out of Picasso’s love of the Mediterranean, from the French Provence to the coast of Barcelona.
The hotel boasts a unique location on the waterfront within 300 feet of the beach, in the heart of the city’s Olympic Village area. Located seven miles from Barcelona International Airport, the hotel is within a short distance of the main railway stations and motorways serving the city. The historic city centre of Barcelona, featuring fashionable bars, restaurants and shopping avenues is conveniently located, walking distance from the property.