MUSICAL HOTEL
Located in Jurmala, Latvia, this 4-star hotel aims to express the values of the musical heritage of this resort town on the Baltic Sea coast. Taking advantage of the old hotel structure on site, a composition of wavy balconies represents the sound waves. The building floors were designed with inspiration in the form of overlapping guitars. More than that, the high-tech architecture marked by chromatic sobriety, use of glass and metals, will be an attraction to composers, singers and musicians who want a quiet, inspiring and creative environment. Each floor of the hotel will have a “musical space” where guests can enjoy musical instruments, CDs, DVDs and books. Spaces such as the lobby, bar, restaurant and hallways will also be immersed in the world of music through the sound boxes placed in the whole building.
CURVES, SOBRIETY AND TRANSPARENCY
The Hotel Liesma design is marked by these three aspects. The curves express the frequency of the sound waves. The music is present in every space of the hotel, so its facades must be the result of what happens inside, the sound, the music, the melodies.
The chromatic sobriety is one of the most important aspects of this proposal. The light gray finishes and transparent glasses on black metallic frame are the basis of an architectural language that presents itself in many ways, with different aspects, from the semi-spherical dome at the top of the central atrium and the aerodynamic roof of the swimming pool, to the room’s balconies, which express the variation of musical rhythm through the intervals between opaque and transparent, stating the reality that “architecture is frozen music.”
Transparency is provided by the abundant use of glass throughout the building. Transparency that allows rooftop pool users to enjoy blue sky and maritime landscape. Transparency that enables the contemplation of a beautiful reflecting pool in the bar or restaurant. Transparency that surrounds the panoramic lifts, the musical spaces on each floor of the hotel, and which crowns the atrium with a steel and glass dome. All this without taking away the privacy required in the service areas and guest rooms.
SUSTAINABILITY
The main sustainability aspects of the project are related to energy efficiency and rational use of water. In the rooftop, photovoltaic panels capture solar energy and convert it into electric power. Solar collectors use solar energy for water heating, an important aspect in this cold climate. Systems for collecting rainwater can also be deployed, and together with the gray water purification, they can compose a water reuse system to meet the daily necessities. In addition, even the simple design decisions were guided by the sensitivity of using natural light and ventilation.
FUTURE EXPANSION
The project presents a conceptual idea of a potential future expansion of the hotel. In all, there are 36 new rooms totaling an expansion of 1,248 m². The expansion uses the same architectural language of the first stage, taking advantage of the north facade potential with views overlooking the Baltic Sea. The new volume integrates perfectly with the building set and does not interfere in the sunshine and ventilation available at the rooms built in the first stage.