Opening Shot

A Mallorca Retreat That Fosters a Dialogue Between Old and New

At Concepció by Nobis, an elevated design ethos takes hold inside a former 16th-century soap factory as the Swedish hotel brand gets a Spanish makeover.

Opening Shot is a column that peeks inside new hotels, restaurants, bars, and shops with dreamy interiors.

CONCEPCIO BY NOBIS 

Location: Palma, Mallorca

Designers: Wingårdhs, Jordi Herrero Arquitectos, and Eduardo Garcia Acuna Arquitecto

On Offer: Swedish brand Nobis gives its Scandi sensibilities a Spanish makeover at Concepció by Nobis, a new outpost in the Mallorcan capital of Palma. Designed by perennial architecture collaborator Wingårdhs, alongside Spanish studios Jordi Herrero Arquitectos and Eduardo Garcia Acuna Arquitecto, the property occupies a former 16th-century soap factory on a historic street that once hosted a thriving marketplace for olive oil.   

Standout Features: Inside, a celebration of craft is fostered through a dialogue between old and new. The building’s restored arches, pillars, and vaults set the stage for a tasteful curation of design: Carl Hansen armchairs, Örsjö lighting, and pieces from Artek, HAY, and B&B Italia. Inspired by the Mallorcan landscape, custom watercolor-style tiles in green and white line the entrance and 31 rooms—the result of a partnership between Wingårdhs and local ceramics maker Huguet. Also outfitting the accommodations are coffee tables by Bosnian woodworkers Zanat, whose carving technique boasts a UNESCO designation, as well as latticed canvas headboards by Sweden’s oldest furniture manufacturer, Gemla Fabrikers, and floor lamps by the Danish lighting artisans Le Klint.

Concepció’s harmonious aesthetic vision is buoyed by simple pleasures, from local chef Xema Álvarez’s Spanish specialties—cuttlefish croquettes, Iberian pork tacos—at the restaurant Xalest, to the courtyard plunge pool, a rarity in Palma, fringed by local plants and sun loungers.

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