Four Seasons Madrid Honored by Prestigious ICAA Julia Morgan Award
The Institute of Classical Architecture & Art Northern California Chapter’s Julia Morgan Awards honor the legacy of Julia Morgan, the pioneering Bay Area architect and classicist. Established to recognize architects, designers, artisans, students, builders, and patrons, the awards celebrate those who advance the enduring relevance and rigor of classical design. BAMO was first recognized by the ICAA Julia Morgan Awards in 2016 for Grand Hotel a Villa Feltrinelli. This year, we are honored once again for our work on the Four Seasons Hotel Madrid.
Located within Madrid’s Centro Canalejas, the hotel connects past and present through a layered architectural narrative. The project brings together seven historic buildings, spanning the 19th century through the 1940s, unified into a cohesive identity while preserving their distinct character. At its center is the Palacio de La Equitativa, designed by José Grases Riera, whose rotunda, clock, and bell have long defined the skyline for Madrileños. The structure was carefully hollowed, preserving the façade and primary framework, while more than 16,000 historic elements were cataloged and restored, with approximately 3,700 reintroduced into the design.
The guiding principle was to honor what carried historical and artistic significance while introducing a contemporary language that feels both natural and precise. New furnishings reference classical proportions in subtle ways, allowing contemporary pieces to sit comfortably alongside Spanish antiquities without imitation.
The former Banco Español de Crédito, now the hotel lobby, remains one of the most intact historic spaces. Original stained glass and green marble columns with gilded capitals anchor the room, while new interventions bring clarity and movement. A sculptural oval staircase rises through the space, leading the eye past Starry Night by Eduardo Pérez-Cabrero, an installation composed of constellations representing human virtues. The broader art program, comprising more than 2,500 works, was developed to engage emerging Spanish artists and introduce a contemporary cultural layer throughout the hotel.
In contrast, the function spaces adopt a quieter approach. Ballrooms and meeting rooms align with the architectural language without mimicry, using a restrained palette to unify varied conditions and maintain a sense of continuity.
Each suite is conceived as a distinct Madrid residence. The Royal Suite, once the private office of the bank’s presidents, retains original features including its fireplace, ceiling detailing, and Juliet balconies. Throughout the guestrooms, a calm material palette and collaboration with Spanish artisans allowed for highly tailored solutions that respond to the complexities of the historic fabric.
From the outset, the design embraced the building’s history, including its unexpected discoveries. The process became one of careful response rather than imposition, allowing each intervention to build on what was already there. The result is an environment that feels grounded in history while expressing a distinctly contemporary Spanish sensibility.
View the Final Design of the Four Seasons Hotel Madrid.
View our award-winning submission: Four Seasons Madrid – ICAA Julia Morgan Award.
