Fachada del hotel.“Natural stone visually stands

out and gives the feeling

of confidence, warmth and strength.”

How was stone used in the project?

As a façade for both external walls and internal patios; covering walls of bathrooms in the rooms and common areas; paving floors in high traffic areas; and of course in the grand décor of the reception area, lounge-bar and restaurant.

What varieties of stone were used in the work and why?

In terms of quantity, granite is the most important: it was used in the main façade, in different thicknesses from 50 to 25cm, and its being worked on by quarries over 70 years ago makes it a still more exclusive product.

White Bora granite of 12cm thick was used for the external leaf of the façade enclosures for patios within the blocks and inner patios.

The steps of the service staircases have been finished in polished white Bora marble, 3 cm thick, with tread and slabs of 2cm.

Polished white Macael marble of 2cm thick was used to line the walls of the bathrooms of all the rooms of the hotel, with large pieces and horizontal grooves of 1x1cm.

On the shower plates, pieces were made to measure from fine crandalled stone for an anti-slip surface.

The black onyx was used for the reception area for its centre pillar with a height of 4.50m and the lounge-bar, with retro-lighting, creating an unparalleled effect in an area which will not go unnoticed by any guest. (It protects against bad wishes and envy.)

What did you consider were the best characteristics or qualities of stone when you worked with the material?

Depending on where each one is used, we get the best performance and functionality.

The area of the work which, in our opinion, had the best work carried out was the façades on Plaza de Compostela and on Calle Luis Taboada, with distinguishing features such as durability, resistance and sculpted work. This granite always works very well, with white and greyish tones on the Plaza de Compostela façade and darker on the façade on Calle Luis Taboada.

In the bathrooms, we used Macael marble to cover the walls in large pieces in which there are hardly any joints, and great homogeneity was achieved.

With respect to the black onyx, as it is a precious stone, we understand that it is extremely rare, if not unique, with its veins and great colour contrast which make it different and a work of art in each place that we put it: “each piece is a picture”.

Sandstone, used in the Alameda XXI restaurant, by being very uniform and simulating a ventilated façade, it creates the effect of an external façade, playing with the visual perception of the guests, making them feel as if they were outdoors.

Were there difficulties in using this material when you were working on the project?

Nowadays with the technology and machinery available, it is easier to work and everything comes in parts, which makes it easy to assemble. You can go to a thickness of up to 1cm with large pieces and 2cm pieces which cover areas of up to 3m².

There are also chemical treatments to protect both the exterior and the interior which are easy to use: using silicon for moss, protection against stains or paint caused by vandalism.

How did you link and harmonise the stone material with other materials which shaped the work?

The stone was used together with other fine materials such as walnut for the walls and floors of the restaurant, reception, and lounge-bar; tempered glass and special mirrors; walls painted in Venetian stucco, in combinations in which marble, sandstone, onyx and granite provided a perfect contrast, giving a warmth which will be long-lasting and which the client will appreciate and observe in every corner of the hotel.

From your point of view, what is the importance of stone in architecture in general?

It adds very important value to the construction: natural stone visually stands out and gives you a feeling of confidence, warmth, and strength. Although now we have new technologies with ceramic materials, prints in laminated glass and so on, all trying to appear as remarkable materials, and all these new trends provide practical solutions, in our humble opinion, they are never so perfect, or imperfect as stone, and understand what I am saying, from where I stand, the beauty is in the natural material and not the synthetic.

What has it meant to you to receive the Macael Prize for National Works?

In the first place, pride and honour. It is a prestigious and recognised distinction which we feel very flattered to receive, and which undoubtedly contributes to giving the necessary recognition for all the efforts of a great team, which has made possible the marvellous culmination of this fabulous project which today is a reality in Vigo – the Gran Hotel Nagari Boutique & Spa.

Text: Carmen Méndez