Sofia de la Cruz is the Travel Editor at Wallpaper*. She was born in Madrid, Spain but moved to London when she was 14 years old. Being exposed to the city’s creative pulse at such a young age shaped her into the inquisitive professional she is today.
On what was most likely a sunny day in Mallorca in 1964, surrealist artist and sculptor Joan Miró penned a personal dedication in Hotel de Mar’s golden guest book, extolling its architecture. The storied hotel, with its boxy brown exterior – which locals still affectionately call ‘The Chocolate Hotel’ – had already captured his heart a few weeks after its opening.Son Boter studio, Miró
had an ideal view of the hotel: its modernist lines and earthy tones set vividly against the Mediterranean backdrop. Envisioned by the late industrial designer José Antonio Coderch, the building remains a celebrated example of Mediterranean vernacular architecture and sees a design focused on clean, angular lines and an open layout that embraces the Mediterranean’s outdoor-centred lifestyle.
In 2024, ‘The Chocolate Hotel’ celebrates 60 years as a timeless destination, cherished for its rich history, prime location and cultural ties. Gabriel Escarrer Julià, founder of Meliá Hotels International, acquired the property in 2016, leading preservation and restoration efforts to declare the hotel a historic site. ‘The opening of the Hotel de Mar Gran Meliá was a defining moment for Mallorca.
Tapping into the creative landscape that defines Hotel de Mar, one of the anniversary celebrations is the unveiling of ‘The Bombon Pool Club’, a collaboration with Italian designer Alberta Ferretti. In conjunction with the anniversary, Gran Meliá also released a collector’s edition coffee table book,. The limited-edition volume is both an artistic tribute to Coderch’s vision and a comprehensive chronicle of the hotel’s history.
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