The Institute of Classical Architecture & Art Northern California Chapter’s Julia Morgan Awards are named for nationally renowned Bay Area architect and classicist, Julia Morgan. ICAA Northern California established these awards to honor architects, designers, artisans, students, builders, and patrons who practice and value the enduring excellence, appeal, and importance of the classical vernacular in design and, in turn, build on the enduring legacy of the great Julia Morgan.

BAMO was first honored by the ICAA Julia Morgan Awards in 2016, for our work on the Grand Hotel a Villa Feltrinelli, and we are thrilled to be the recipients of a second honor this year for our work on the Four Seasons Hotel Madrid.

Located in Madrid’s Centro Canalejas, the Four Seasons Hotel is an exquisite link between past and present; a symbol of a city that continually adapts to the passing of time, with history tied beautifully to present.

In reviving this historic destination, seven buildings (dating from the 19th century to the 1940’s) have been carefully restored and connected to create a common identity while preserving the varied architectural styles. The Palacio de La Equitativa, designed by José Grases Riera, with its dramatic rotunda, clock, and bell has been a familiar landmark for Madrileños for over a century and now houses most of the hotel. The building was completely hollowed except for the façade and initial structure. Over 16,000 historic elements were catalogued and restored, with approximately 3,700 incorporated into the design.

The criterion governing the project was to respect everything of historical or artistic value and complement with contemporary elegance that melds with the historic. As we designed new furnishings or details, we kept in mind the line of a chairback or leg with classical reference. These innate, subliminal references are what allow a contemporary chair to feel at home next to a Spanish antiquity.

One expertly preserved area is the former Banco Español de Crédito, now the hotel lobby, complete with original stained-glass windows and the green marble pillars with gilded capitals that once adorned the main bank’s hall. Given the abundance of history present, our new design incorporates bold movements to strike a chord of relevance for today. The sinuous oval staircase rises three stories, passing by one of the hotel’s striking art installations, Starry Night, by Eduardo Pérez-Cabrero (formed by star constellations representing human virtues). In fact, many of the modern touches in the hotel come from the art program, made up of 2,500 pieces selected from a competition designed by our team to engage emerging Spanish artists.

Where the lobby has a defined line between past and present, we made a quieter contrast at the function level. The ballrooms and meeting rooms visually flow with the architectural elements, without trying to mimic or fool the eye. The design is sympathetic to the historic elements, with a mostly quiet and neutral palette bringing cohesion to disparate spaces.

The luxury suites are all individually designed with the feel of a grand Madrid apartment. The striking Royal Suite was the private office of the bank’s presidents since the early 1900s, and has retained many original features including the fireplace, ceiling mold-ing and Juliet balconies. In the guestrooms a calm design sensibility, combined with quality Spanish manufacturers and artisans, allowed for highly customized pieces to fit within the countless conditions the historic site unveiled.

From the beginning of this project, we embraced the history – the surprises and nuances that presented at every turn. Responding to and respecting the past, the attitude was simply to find joy in incorporating these discoveries into the design. The resulting ambi-ance is classical and well-appointed, with modern Spanish sophistication.

Click below to view our award-winning submission
Four Seasons Madrid – ICAA Julia Morgan Award