 A place for contemporary explorers of life seeking the intrigues and mysteries of Peruvian culture, geography and nature, Hotel B caters to traditionalists looking for an authentic historic atmosphere and to shrewd urban explorers willing to immerse themselves in the city´s contemporary social and cultural scene. An arts-boutique Hotel in the heart of a bohemian revival neighborhood, housing a unique art collection of its own, Hotel B is surrounded by neighboring galleries and linked directly to the Lucia de la Puente Gallery, which will provide guests with opportunities for private viewings, special events and a connection to Lima’s blossoming art scene. Originally built in the style of the Belle Époque, the mansion served as a seaside retreat during the presidency of Augusto Leguia in the 1920s. Its architectural features and flair capture the celebratory spirit of Peru’s centennial, which permeated life in the capital city throughout the era of its construction. Famed French architect Claude Sahut, lauded for his work remodeling portions of the Government Palace, along with many of Lima’s main avenues, parks, theaters and other public buildings and spaces, was originally commissioned to design the property as a summer retreat for the Garcia Bedoya family. Construction was completed in 1914 and initially showcased imported Italian marble and exotic woods, along with an ornate façade, stratospherically high ceilings featuring teatinas (a unique style of skylight favored locally), open balconies and expansive terraces. The Arts Boutique Hotel B restoration and reconstruction team includes sculptors from the Fine Arts Academy and a legion of carpenters under the supervision of an Italian master woodworker. The goal of the project was to preserve the original structure while introducing a complimentary three-story annex to the property, ushering it into the modern era in its new role as a boutique hotel. The INC (Peru’s Historic Building Society) considers the renovation a new standard for historic restoration in Lima and beyond. Surrounded by galleries and artists’ studios, it houses a unique art collection of its own and is linked directly to the Lucia de la Puente Gallery, where guests can enjoy private viewings, special events and a vital connection to Lima’s emerging art scene. The heart of a bohemian revival neighborhood Lima’s most vibrant district. Now home to many of Peru’s best-known artists, musicians, designers and photographers, Barranco first emerged in the 19th-century as a fashionable seaside retreat for Limeño aristocracy. They summered here amidst the salty air and a drier, warmer microclimate, as the high cliffs of Chorrillos shield Barranco from Lima’s cold and humid southern winds. Families like the Garcia Bedoyas built grand Belle Époqueand Republican style houses around the area’s landscaped parks and along elegant avenues. When 20th century urban expansion encroached upon this elite enclave, those wealthy Limeñans moved out and squatters took up residence in the abandoned, decaying mansions. Barranco’s fortunes shifted again in the new millennium thanks to a dynamic migration among Lima’s arts community, including fashion photographer Mario Testino, Nobel Prize winning author Mario Vargas Llosa and gallerist Lucia de la Puente. Fresh coats of paint on many of the area’s most charming colonial houses signal this vibrant revival. Visit the Website: www.hotelb.pe     READ ISSUE 1 OF DESTIG MAGAZINE  Comments are closed.
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