Borneta Barcelona is the second opening in quick succession for the new hotel brand Miiro. Hot on the heels of its Parisian sister hotel, it aims to redefine the modern city hotel with its stylish and welcoming atmosphere. Located in the lively El Born district, the property seamlessly combines modern design with local Catalan charm.
Former European Design Director at Soho House and founder of Thurstan, Waterworth has worked on homes in Istanbul, Miami, Barcelona and London, always placing great importance on comfort, practicality, and the origins and history of a building. Working on Borneta, located in one of the city’s most interesting areas, was the perfect canvas for the designer to work his creative magic and bring this Barcelona hotel to life.
Photo credit: Thurstan
Pauline Brettell: Before you dive into Borneto, can you give us some background on Thurston and the transition from design director at Soho House to setting up your own studio?
James Thurstan Waterworth: I had a great few years at Soho House, overseeing the development of the interior design department from the London office. One of the most important aspects of working there was working with operations, and this gave me a close look at not only the guest experience at the hotel, but also the operational side.
Thurstan also offers a design-led, hands-on offering to its hospitality clients. There are similarities in my approach as we look very closely at the environment, the history of the building and the product offered. At Soho House, with each new building there was already a strong DNA that needed to be adapted to each city and of course with our new projects at Thurstan we often need to develop the DNA of the new hotel or members club.
In 2018 I left Soho House to start Thurstan with the aim of creating beautiful hospitality projects across Europe and beyond, using the amazing knowledge I had acquired but also a fresh creative approach to each project.
Photo credit: Miiro
PB: It’s exciting to be part of the journey of a brand new, shiny brand in the hotel landscape – how was the design process part of Miiro’s brand journey?
JTW: It was a big part of it. We were lucky enough to be involved in the early meetings about Miiro’s goals and so have been part of that journey and creative process from the very beginning. It’s always very exciting to start building the building blocks of the future brand and we’re lucky enough to be working with them across multiple locations.
PB: Miiro clearly values location as an influence on the design of his properties – can you tell us about the relationship between location and design at Borneta?
JTW: The location had a number of influences on our approach to the design. The building had a 19th century historic feel and we wanted to capture that. We took inspiration from a number of 19th century apartments in the city and incorporated some elements from that. It was important to us to give the space a homely feel as we also wanted to appeal to locals so they would come regularly. For this type of brand, there is nothing better than the feeling that hotel guests are coming into an environment where locals are enjoying the space and giving a real feel for the area.
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- Photo credit: Miiro
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- Photo credit: Miiro
PB: Which design elements have a special connection to the Barcelona and El Born location?
JTW: The wooden floor was a perfect match for the apartment we had been living in. Many of the tile references, both floor and wall, were heavily inspired by Barcelona properties. We worked a lot with local antique dealers to source unique, local pieces.
Photo credit: Miiro
PB: And on the other hand, what design elements in Borneta are unique to Thurston?
JTW: That’s a good question and not an easy answer. Rather than specific design elements, it’s perhaps more about a feeling. For example, we let the main entrance of the hotel flow into the lounge area and bar as we were trying to remove the concept of a formal reception area. This is an example of a feeling we are trying to create and we really wanted to create a relaxed living environment for both the hotel guests and the locals.
PB: Part of the Thurston portfolio is your antique collection, which complements your “eclectic and original” design approach – were you able to integrate this into the Borneta project?
JTW: Yes – projects where lots of people use the spaces need to have a practical aspect. However, wherever possible we use antiques to give the spaces a uniqueness that contributes to a homely feel. We work with a number of local dealers to create as authentic a feel as possible.
Photo credit: Miiro
Rapid fire:
The most difficult part of the design?
JTW: Boring, but the project works both in terms of regulations and operations
Your favorite design element in Borneta?
JTW: There is a slightly hidden library that will be a beautiful, cozy space
And finally – sit on the roof terrace of the Borneta… your tapa and glass of choice?
JTW: Probably quite simple – I would have a local cana with gambas al ajillo.
Main image credit: Miiro
