We’re currently working on a new opening on the iconic Velázquez Street in Madrid, and from the start we knew we didn’t want it to be just another restaurant. We wanted to create something that actually feels meaningful. While thinking about what that could be, we kept coming back to two cities: London and Copenhagen. Both do hospitality in a way that feels relaxed, honest, and unpretentious—focused on what really matters.
Lately, it seems like many places are racing to have the “coolest” or most Instagrammable look & feel, and the result is that everything starts to look and feel the same. Beautiful, yes, but also kind of soulless.
For us, hospitality goes way beyond design. It’s about creating spaces that feel natural, where people want to be without feeling like they’re being sold an experience.
In London, the Public House Group is a great example. They restore historic pubs without stripping away their character. Places like The Pelican, The Hero, or The Bull feel warm and authentic—never overdesigned. They respect tradition, but they also make it relevant for a new generation in a very natural way.
Another place we love is Below Stone Nest on Shaftesbury Avenue in Soho. It’s an underground bar / restaurant where theatre and musical performers would historically go after their shows. And the wonderful @jermainegallacher and his team, who worked on this project, didn’t strip away its past—they kept the atmosphere and simply added a light contemporary touch. Now it works as a club and live music space / restaurant, but it still carries its history. That balance between past and present is something we are really interested in.
On our last trip to London, we also visited the V&A archive in Hackney Wick. In the lounge area of the museum , there was a café, books everywhere, comfortable sofas. It was full of people: friends talking, couples hanging out, even people reading by themselves. No one was rushing. People didn’t just come to see the exhibition, they stayed. Because the space invited them to.
In Copenhagen, even the typical, everyday spots — like the “next door” café in the heart of the city, or Hart Bageri — are treated with architectural intention. They are regular, day-to-day places, yet architecture is the defining element, and everything is built from that foundation.
There is the same tasteful restraint throughout. A natural understanding of proportion, material, and atmosphere. Nothing feels excessive, yet everything feels carefully considered.
That’s very close to how we work. We’re not interested in forcing a strong “signature” design onto a place. We care more about the architecture, the history, and the location, and then adding just what’s needed to support the concept.
With this restaurant in Velázquez, the goal was exactly that : to create a place where people don’t just come to eat, but somewhere they want to spend time.
“EVERY UNIVERSE BEGINS SOMEWHERE”
Romanengo believes creation starts in the hand that crafts “Natura Custodita in Un Gesto” , every sweet is made by hand, using the finest natural and locally sourced ingredients, honoring centuries-old traditions where care, precision, and time shape each creation.
& with that same spirit, we’ve designed their confetterias over the years, guided by our own “Universe of Sketch”. A philosohpy that honors the first gesture of creation -The sketch- as the origin of every concept we design. This is how Romanengo & Hurlé & Martín ‘s shared universe was born , one honest sketch , one thoughtful gesture at a time.
This Christmas, we invited our clients and friends to experience this shared universe: a hand-drawn sketch of one of our latest Romanengo confetterias in Genoa, paired with a wooden Romanengo box filled with their finest handcrafted chocolates and sweets. A simple gesture that brings both universes together—sketch and craft, idea and tradition.
This Friday we visited the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando (RABASF), one of Madrid’s oldest and most emblematic artistic institutions.
There, we discovered its plaster casting workshop, a space dedicated to reproducing sculptures in plaster from molds taken from the originals. For centuries, these casts have been an essential tool for studying, teaching, and preserving sculptural heritage.
The work carried out in the workshop is rooted in techniques that have barely changed over time. Each piece goes through a meticulous process ; from mold making to pouring, demolding, and finishing; where patinas and subtle retouches are applied to reproduce the appearance of marble or bronze, achieved literally brushstroke by brushstroke.
We use plaster casts in our projects not only for their timeless beauty but also for their historical and symbolic value. Visiting this place was a way to reconnect with the roots of many artistic traditions that continue to inspire our work today.
Original plaster casts (vaciados) from the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando have been carefully integrated into the design of Anna Paris and Anna Cannes.
Historically used as academic models to train artists in classical techniques, these casts are part of a centuries-old tradition that traces back to the early years of the Academy. Their presence extends beyond sculptural beauty: they embody a commitment to preserving artistic heritage within the framework of contemporary architecture and interior design.
For us, these vaciados are not simply decorative elements. They represent craft as a foundational pillar — not only as a method, but as a language that creates continuity between past and present.
DECONSTRUCTING PROJECTS is our new initiative to share what goes on behind the scenes — the processes, decisions, and stories behind each project. It’s also a way to give visibility to the artists, craftspeople, and makers we collaborate with, while offering other creatives ideas and inspiration.
We’ll talk about craft, antiques, our own furniture and product design — where things come from and how they’re made. Being a small team means every element is carefully chosen and created with intention, so we thought… why not share our process openly?
In this edition of HURLÉ & MARTÍN / Deconstructing Projects, we’re walking you through the creation of a shell mural we designed and produced in collaboration with artist Johina Conchesco, with whom we’ve worked for many years — from the first concept to the finished piece.
The mural’s composition was inspired by a Roman mosaic depicting peacock feathers. All shells come from calcified locations, meaning they are legally sourced and cause no harm to nature, and you get whatever comes in; you can’t order a specific size or quantity. This is why its so special. For this project, darker shells were scarce due to a 1°C rise in water temperature from the previous year, so the artist hand-dyed them with black pigment to create the deepest shades.
Ambiance in interior design is the art of shaping how a space feels — through light, texture, and history.
Lighting creates mood: warm glows, soft shadows, and layered illumination give spaces depth and intimacy.
Clay, marble, wood, and fabrics in warm tones — terracotta, honeyed wood, creamy marble, soft linens — invite touch and create a comforting, rich atmosphere.
Curved furniture and sculptural shapes ease the eye, soften architecture, and make a room feel alive.
Antiques, busts, and classical fragments bring history into the space, grounding contemporary interiors with timeless elegance.
Warm colors — ochres, rusts, siennas, muted golds — define a space. They harmonize with materials, enhance light, and give interiors a sense of intimacy and personality.
