The Granada War unfolded between 1482 and 1492, and the eventual victory of the Catholic Monarchs culminated in extinguishing centuries of Muslim rule on the Iberian Peninsula. During this time of transformation, the rising influence of the British was keenly felt against the backdrop of grand Moorish architecture and a still-thriving silk trade, and it was these intersecting moments of Islamic history and a burgeoning Spain that drove Rockwell Group’s design narrative of the Seda Club Hotel.
Part of the Hidden Away Hotels portfolio founded by Granada native Ignacio Jiménez Artacho and Carmen Cordón—which includes the Gran Hotel Inglés in Madrid that Rockwell Group revitalized in 2018—the intimate 21-room property is located on Granada’s central Plaza de la Trinidad. “It was super complicated because the building was falling apart,” recalls Eva Longoria, principal and studio leader of Rockwell Group’s Madrid office.
A glowing bronze and glass installation adds a sense of drama at the Seda Club’s Bar
Beyond the restored pink façade, guests walk through a hushed library into the lobby and dine underneath a dramatic coved wood ceiling or imbibe at the bar amid a curving installation crafted from bronze and glass that mimics the forms of archery bows, a nod to the liberating warriors who came to Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand’s rescue in the 15th century. “In contrast to the square, it’s a different world, so people are always peeking through the windows. It creates curiosity for the locals,” explains Longoria.
Throughout, Seda Club feels like a cozy, members-only haunt adorned with contemporary artworks including Debbie Lawson’s 3D tapestry and the Abolfazl Shahi carpet, a collaboration with traditional weavers from his hometown of Kashan in Iran. There is a petite spa reminiscent of a Roman bath, the salon-style hangout El Clandestino is concealed behind a wall in the library, and the sky lounge La Pájara—decked out with a water fountain and floral motifs—awaits on the rooftop. “When we first saw the space, it was full of birds that were hiding, so we wanted a place with powerful colors and patterns,” says Longoria.
Guestrooms (only two of which embrace the same layout) mix chevron wood floors, velvet drapery, and custom leather headboards backdropped by sleek brushed brass rods. The combination elicits a tailored look suggestive of made-to-order suits and the “sophistication the British brought to Granada,” points out Longoria, while bathroom tiles reference the elaborate mosaics gracing nearby Alhambra palace, “reminding you that you are in Granada.”
This article originally appeared in BD’s Fall 2023 issue.
