PROJECT: Meliá Vichy Catalá Hotel, Golf course PGA to Caldes de Malavella (Girona)

Collaborators: RUIZ NARVAIZA ASSOCIATS S.L.

LOCATION: N-ll, Km 701 Caldes de Malavella.

DATE: April 2006

SPONSOR: GOLF HOTEL MALAVELLA S.L.

BUILDER: ABANTIA CONTRATAS

BUDGET: 15.000.000 €

BUILT SURFACE: 14.500 m2 (+ 20.000 m2 exteriors)

A curved building, which descends from the pine forest adapting to the land. The hotel located in the PGA Golf de Catalunya was one of the projects selected for Comarcas de Girona Architecture awards.

Curving the building allows us to clearly distinguish the access points from the private areas of the hotel, all of which are blessed with being southwards facing. As one approaches the hotel, it appears as a changing element within the landscape. This adaptation to the topography happens both on the ground floor as on the sloping roof that generates a dynamic profile. The simple trick of grouping the galleries and the windows in pairs allows us to reduce the apparent size of the building. The entrance of light in to the hallways and the windows with diagonal views, allow us to regain a connection with the landscape.

In addition to these general decisions, the high quality finishes are a reference to the Mediterranean tradition of modernity. The white building of changeable configuration, which becomes the background of the landscape, the black stone in the skirtings giving us the effect of buoyancy, the wood in large sections to assess its touch of quality, and finally the glass in large panels that allow us to enjoy the landscape and golf course.

The lobby, the real heart of the building, occupies a section of each floor and connects them in a single four storey space. The journey up the lobby staircase is symbolic of the way the hotel connects its interior with the landscape.