Hotel Omm

The Tragaluz Group, after its great success in the restaurant industry, wanted to open its first hotel. Rosa Esteva had clear ideas: an alternative to everything that already existed. The architectural project was carried out by Juli Capella and Miquel García between 1998 and 2001, with the works directed by Juli Capella and Joan Bozzo between 2001 and 2003. At first the façade proposal was rejected by the city council, which wanted it to match the adjacent buildings of the Ensanche. But Capella argued that the project belonged in the 21st century. Eventually, the hotel became a landmark in the Passeig de Gràcia area. In 2005 it was recognized as best hotel of the year by New York's Travel and Leisure magazine.

The main façade appears to be a sheet, like an overlapping epidermis, in which various curved cuts have been made towards the exterior, like the pages of a book or the openings of an Advent calendar. The 'ears' serve several purposes: to protect privacy from the views of the neighbors, to orient the views from the inside towards Paseo de Gracia, to collect the afternoon light and to serve as an acoustic barrier. The hotel is distributed over seven floors plus four below ground. Interior designers Sandra Tarruella and Isabel López designed interiors with square rooms subtly furnished to maximize natural light. The penthouse has a swimming pool with views of La Pedrera and the Sagrada Familia.

The hotel is a short walk from Passeig de Gràcia, Barcelona's modernist thoroughfare. Gaudí's Casa Milà (La Pedrera) is practically across the street, visible from the terrace. Casa Batlló is two blocks away. The Sagrada Familia is visible from the penthouse. The Eixample offers luxury stores, galleries and restaurants. Diagonal and Rambla de Catalunya complete the hotel's surroundings.