The new Hotel Valldemossa has just opened in Mallorca, where nature and history come together in a house in the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, where Frédéric Chopin and George Sand gave free rein to their creativity, and where the 12-room historic house is filled with art and mid-century objects. We spoke to Miguel Conde, the owner of IT Mallorca.
IRMA: How did you come up with the idea of creating a hotel that combines nature, art and design, and what role did the historical surroundings play in this?
MIGUEL CONDE: It Mallorca was born from the careful restoration of old buildings of great historical value, from ancient palaces to aristocratic mansions. The journey began outside Palma with Can Aulí and the opportunity to bring our vision to a hotel as emblematic as Hotel Valldemossa, a hotel with over 20 years of history in a natural setting such as the Serra de Tramuntana, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Our passion for art and design is reflected and present in all our spaces.
IRMA: Hotel Valldemossa combines local materials with contemporary art. How have you combined these two elements to create a unique atmosphere?
MIGUEL CONDE: This is part of It Mallorca’s DNA and we like to combine elements that are part of the history of the spaces we renovate with contemporary furniture and materials that bring modernity and our own style to each of our hotels.
IRMA: To what extent is the avant-garde character of the hotel reflected in the design? What were the challenges in combining tradition and modernity?
MIGUEL CONDE: In our renovations, we combine original furniture linked to the history of the place with pieces by Charlotte Perriand, Le Corbusier and Miguel Milà. We are also developing special contemporary art projects for some of the hotel’s rooms. We work with local artists such as Jordi Alcaraz, Aythamy Armas and Antonia Ferrer to bring modernity to our hotels.
IRMA: The hotel has 12 different rooms, each with its own charm and style. How did you manage to preserve the individuality of each room while creating a coherent overall experience for guests?
MIGUEL CONDE: We have elements that can be found in all the rooms that unite the style and atmosphere of all the rooms and common areas. There is a thread that runs through all the hotels and if you look closely, you will find works by the same artists that are found in all our hotels, but created specifically for each one, which helps to give each of our hotels that are part of It Mallorca a unique personality.
IRMA: What is Hotel Valldemossa’s role in terms of sustainability and respect for the environment? How do you integrate these values into the concept of a hotel so closely linked to nature?
MIGUEL CONDE: Nature is the thread that runs through all the hotel’s areas and services. We want our guests to connect with nature and enjoy the gardens that make up the exterior of Hotel Valldemossa, listening to the birds and the sounds of nature. In the outdoor areas, we have combined native Mallorcan plants such as olive trees, rosemary and lavender, which use very little water, with organic fruit orchards, which will provide the ingredients for our menu at “De Tokio a Lima“.
