Hotel Puerta América, Madrid

Photo: Solodovnikova Elena

In Madrid, the Hotel Puerta América gives new meaning to the term "design hotel." Nineteen celebrated architects and interior designers, including David Chipperfield, Marc Newson and Ron Arad, each produced either a floor of guest rooms or one of the public areas of the property, which opened last September. Situated midway between Madrid Barajas Airport and downtown, the 342-room hotel is spared the tourist crowds of central Madrid, which is just fifteen minutes away by taxi. The thirteen-story building has a rainbow facade by Jean Nouvel (who also created twelve suites) set off with multilingual passages from a Paul Éluard poem. The design talent worked independently of one another, providing a diversified menu of exuberant or Minimalist interiors. John Pawson's Zen lobby is flanked by Christian Liaigre's restaurant, aptly named Lágrimas Negras ("Black Tears"), with its sober wood and leather decor. My favorites include the womblike rooms of Zaha Hadid, seamlessly composed of molded white Corian that swirls and swoops like a cape in the wind. It is wonderfully practical until you try climbing out of the cavernous tub. Norman Foster's streamlined style is displayed in his impeccably organized room with its backlit onyx work surface and vanity, as well as a sexy shower enclosed in an ellipse of translucent glass. The biggest surprise is the helpful service provided by the attractive young staffers, who are refreshingly free of attitude, the bane of most hip hotels. Rooms from $205 per night.011-34-917-445-400; www.hotelpuertamerica.com.