My first recollection of the value of art in a hotel was during a slow roadtrip in the South of France – a lifetime before I had words like ‘hotel design narrative’ and ‘immersive experiences’ whirling around my head on a daily basis, and social media, well that wasn’t even a glimmer on the collective horizon. Having done my research instead through the well-thumbed and bookmarked pages of my trusty travel-guide, the Hotel des Templiers in Collioure was firmly on our itinerary to ensure that I could sit at the bar, alongside the memories of artists like Matisse and Picasso, while scouring the walls for their works – which apparently paid for their wine back in the day. Alas, no one wanted a doodle from me to pay for my local rosé, but it was worth every immersively experiential sip.
Moving swiftly on to 2025 – art in hotel design has become the rule rather than the exception, with luxury brands and boutique hotels all jostling for space with art galleries, giving the most avid art collector a serious run for their money. Art in hotel design has, in many cases, become the narrative. It’s voice. It’s attitude. It’s what takes a hotel from a comfortable place to stay while on vacation, to a living, breathing cultural experience. Done right, art can make a guest feel like they’ve walked into a story — one that’s too interesting to put down, and hopefully one that entices the reader to return.
Boutique hotel Borneta, is a case in point, having used art to add both personality and a sense of place – situated in the vibrant El Born neighbourhood, the hotel has successfully blended a modern design vocabulary with local Catalan charm. The design team worked with Art Story, who commissioned a number of artists for key locations in the project.
A great solo travel tip spotted this week on Hotel Designs.
