Puro is an iconic 22 room boutique hotel designed by architecture firm OHLAB in the heart of La Lonja, in the historical center of Palma de Mallorca. Adapting itself to the different existing buildings, the hotel has an irregular configuration. The refurbishment project by OHLAB takes advantage of that complexity as a potential tool to generate unexpected and unique spaces where each room is different from each other.
The selection of natural and local materials emphasizing the Mediterranean essence has been very important. Another important focus has been the conception of the bathrooms as spaces for pleasure, spacious and integrated with the bedrooms, with generous, sculptural and freestanding bathtubs placed in the bedrooms just as another piece of furniture.
The artist Pedro Oliver worked closely with OHLAB producing a special pictorial work for this project, a series of unique custom made mural paintings strategically placed in each room.
Puro is defined as an urban oasis, cosmopolitan and contemporary but with local roots that make it unique. A simple palette of natural materials is a constant throughout the project: oak wood, cement sinks and bathroom walls, recovered mares-stone walls – the traditional limestone used in traditional majorcan architecture-, natural hemp ropes, stainless steel switches and fittings, aged leather, linen, cotton, fabrics designed by OHLAB and produced on ancient majorcan looms for upholstery, cushions and plaids, raffia carpets and wicker baskets produced locally. Also, the solid wooden mandala doors, hallmark of the hotel since its origins, have been recovered.
The majority of the furniture has been specifically designed by OHLAB for the hotel. Beds, headboards, benches, pure and simple lines are integrated in the room creating a relaxed and lounge atmosphere. Out of this furniture designed is worth highlighting a series of aged bronze pieces inspired on traditional metal carts that bellboys use for carrying the luggage, which replace the old cabinets, desks, minibars and support furniture.
The new maxi bar cart, included within this series, includes the more ludic items of the room and works like a fragment of a real bar with all the tools required to perform the best cocktails inside the room.
all images © José Hevia