Hostal Merced – Adaptive Design in Centro Habana

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Located in the iconic municipality of Centro Habana, Hostal Merced presented a unique challenge from design to construction. The project occupies the ground floor of an Art Deco building, where the space included a 5-meter clearance. To maximize its potential, a mezzanine was introduced, but structural conditions complicated the process: in the rear section, the building’s beams had significant depth, making the minimum passage between spaces nearly impossible.

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The solution came through a creative use of uneven floor levels, transforming a limitation into a design feature that gave the hostel its distinctive character. The intervention not only respected the building’s architectural heritage but also reinterpreted it with a contemporary spatial strategy.

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In recognition of its innovative approach, Hostal Merced received a Special Mention at the IV International Golden Trezzini Awards for Architecture and Design in the category of Best Implemented Interior Design Project for Public Space.

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More than just a renovation, Hostal Merced stands as a testament to the studio’s ability to transform architectural challenges into opportunities for design excellence.