Westin Palace in Madrid: A Visual Analysis of Neo-Classical Architecture

This article provides a visual analysis of the Westin Palace in Madrid, a luxury hotel designed in neo-classical architecture. It explores the building's form, structure, function, ornaments, material, technology, and style. The article concludes that the Westin Palace is a true definition of good architecture, achieving the utilitas, firmitas, and venustas aspects of architecture.

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Westin Palace in Madrid
INTRODUCTION
The Westin Palace is a luxury hotel that is found in the city of Madrid in Spain. This building
was designed by an architect by the name Leon Eduard Ferres i Puig and developed by
Belgian entrepreneur George Marquet by personal suggestion of King Alfonso XIII in the
year 1911 (Marriott). The construction of this great hotel began in March 1911 and took a
period of 18months for it to be completed (Marriott). The hotel is so unique in that it has
continued to hold its royal status and has been in a position to compete with new hotels
despite borrowing its design from the renaissance architecture which is an old style.
VISUAL ANALYSIS
Form: from the general outlook of the Westin Palace, an individual can observe that it really
obeys the symmetrical principal. The symmetry can be seen from the way the left and the
right side of the building are so much alike (Acello and Richard). Symmetry has allowed for
the entrance to the building to be identified clearly since it is the only part of the building that
looks different. Other important principles like unity have also been achieved since no side
looks busier than the other hence there is total balance of the different design elements across
the whole hotel structure.

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Figure 1: The Westin palace Madrid symmetrical form source:
http://www.viajesboletin.com/index.php/categorias/hoteles/22640-the-westin-palace-madrid
Structure: the building is made of reinforced concrete. During the time of its construction,
which is in 1911, reinforced concrete had just been introduced as a building material (Burda
and Joan). Following Le Corbusier’s architectural principle that states that,” Pilotis-
Replacement of supporting walls by a grid of reinforced concrete columns that bears the
structural load is the basis of the new aesthetic,” there are columns that have been spread
across the building on different grid lines (Casado and Javier).

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Figure 2: interior column supporting structure source: https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/madwi-the-westin-palace-
madrid?program=spg
Function, program or use: The building was originally constructed to serve the function of a
hotel with several accommodation rooms and since then it has only changed its function just
one and that was during the Spanish civil war that took place in 1936-1939 (Walsh and
Mark). During this period the great glass domed lounge was offering the theatre services due
to the fact that it received enough natural lighting. After the war in 1939 the hotel was
restored and has since then has operated as a hotel to date (Zack and Stephen). A basement in
the building has made it possible to use the space for several different functions among them
being as a dance hall and also a brewery. The structure is also characterised by big lobbies
that are all well-lit and painted with bright and warm colours that make movement along
these spaces to give a sense of importance.

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Figure 3: interior spaces and lighting source: https://redivory.org /the-emblematic-hotel-westin-palace
All rooms have access to natural light from the windows which also offer interesting views
of the city. The use of natural light cuts down the cost incurred when using artificial lighting.
Ornaments: the hotel has got different decorative elements. Most of the openings are all
arched. This arched were popularly done by the ancient romans. The arched openings in the
hotel create a timeless appeal with an exceptional appearance that unwraps up more visual
space (Marriott). These windows have made the building to look pleasing architecturally.

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Figure 4: Exquisite hotel living rooms source: https://www.theducker.com/art-de-vivre/the-westin-palace-hotel-madrid/
The big glass dome is another feature of our hotel that makes those using the space feel like
they are outside but are inside the building due to the transparency of the glass.
Figure 5: magnificent chandelier at the centre of the dome in Westin Palace Hotel source: https://www.theducker.com/art-
de-vivre/the-westin-palace-hotel-madrid/
There are decorative LED lights that have been fixed to the upper part of the building making
the building to look magnificent and outstanding at night (Marriott). The building has also
been carefully painted with a wise choice of colours that has blended perfectly with the
surrounding environment.

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Figure 6: Facade lighting of Westin palace hotel at night source: https://www.theducker.com/art-de-vivre/the-westin-
palace-hotel-madrid/
Material and technology: The hotel in great length manifest the culture in Madrid, the social
and business scene. The interior walls are decorated to interpret the history of Spain.
Figure 7: the history keepers witnessed on the walls source: https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/madwi-the-westin-
palace-madrid?program=spg
The palace was constructed using reinforced concrete and was viewed as the largest hotel in
Europe with 800 rooms. The corners of the building were laid using fine stones. The building
has a basement which was famous in providing diverse activities.

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Style: the westin palace hotel is an example of the neo classical architecture that dates back in
the 1800s, where this style of architecture was demonstrated with a number of visuals and
decoration. In most cases, the neo classical architecture was used to design public buildings
such as libraries, hotels, museums, city halls, churches (Hodak and George). This type of
style can also be related to the white house in Washington DC. Which closely resemble the
westin palace hotel.
CONCLUSION
The Westin Palace is a true definition of a good architecture as described by Marcus
Vitruvius in the 1st century. BCE, in De architectura in terms of the historical context. The
architect Vitruvius stated that a good architecture must have these three elements; utilitas,
firmitas, venustas (Rowland and Thomas). The westin palace hotel is not an exception, it has
definitely achieved the utilitas aspect of a good architecture in terms of need, function and
plan. Its flexible plan has enable the users to meet their needs always converting the functions
of the spaces with ease to meet their needs. The firmitas aspect has also been achieved since
the building has able to endure time due to the fact that it is structurally sound and being a
neo classical architecture, it still fits into the modern architecture style. The building also
respects the venustas aspect of architecture, this has been demonstrated by the art designs in
the dome space and other ornamental beauty displayed in the rooms giving it an exquisite
appearance. As architects, we are responsible to ensure that our buildings express its
functions in an interesting way, it fits its surrounding by either contrasting or complementing
it in a meaningful way, creating enjoyable and delightful spaces, and executing a structurally
sound building that will endure just like Westin Palace hotel that still stand strong as an icon
in Madrid in the history of architecture.

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Works Cited
Acello, Richard. "Opening Up to Open Source." ABAJ 94 (2008): 32.
Burda, Joan M. "Leisure Is Not for the Lazy." GPSolo 27 (2010): 4.
Dotor Casado, Javier. Instalación solar térmica para ACS en el Hotel Westin Palace de
Madrid. BS thesis. (2016).
Grady, Hugh. "Pets and Mental Health." GPSolo 26 (2009): 70.
Hodak, George. "January 30, 1976-Buckley v. Valeo Decided." ABAJ 98 (2012): 72.
Hotel, Chicago Marriott. "“BRIDGING BASIC SCIENCE AND LIVER DISEASE” THE
THIRD ANNUAL IRWIN M. ARIAS, MD, SYMPOSIUM November 2, 1993 The
Westin Hotel at Copley Place Boston, Massachusetts." Hepatology (1993).
Rowland, Ingrid D., and Thomas Noble Howe, eds. Vitruvius:'Ten Books on Architecture'.
Cambridge University Press, (2001).
Walsh, Mark. "On the Campaign Trail." ABAJ 96 (2010): 20.
Zack, Stephen N. "Wresting Order from Chaos: Careful planning is needed to ensure
provision of legal services in time of disaster." ABAJ 97 (2011): 8.