In a compelling reinterpretation of hospitality design, Transit Studio has reimagined two key spaces at the historic Le Méridien Ra Beach Hotel & Spa in Calafell, Spain. Once a coastal sanatorium, the hotel now welcomes guests with a narrative-driven transformation—a new cocktail bar and an all-day restaurant—that draws inspiration from the surrounding land and sea. Both spaces embody a thoughtful balance of materiality, history, and local context.
Bar Tempus: An Axis from Earth to Sea
Located in the former chapel of the hotel, the newly unveiled Bar Tempus becomes the spiritual and physical heart of the site. Transit Studio rooted its concept in the linear journey from the earthbound gardens to the open sea beyond, integrating the geology and texture of the region into the material palette. The use of custom terrazzo, pigmented plaster, and warm earth-toned marble evokes the terrain of the Catalan coast. Upholstery patterns subtly reference local vineyards, forming a narrative of landscape and heritage underfoot and overhead.
Designing the Transition of Atmosphere
Bar Tempus was envisioned not merely as a drinking venue, but as a seasonal anchor for the hotel, bridging the experience of winter firelight and summer breeze. With a textural richness and elevated ambiance, the lounge enables a seamless shift from day to night. Transit Studio’s context-rich design language not only expands the hotel’s guest journey, but also honors the building’s past as a place of healing and quietude. The space offers intimacy and openness in equal measure, emphasizing renewal and relaxation.
La Terrassa del Mar: Dining in a Living Landscape
In the second phase, Transit Studio turned its attention to La Terrassa del Mar, the hotel’s all-day restaurant. A previously underutilized events hall has now been repurposed into a botanical and aquatic haven, visually connecting the seaside and garden views. A sequence of terracotta arches breaks down the linearity of the space, guiding guests past a wine room enclosed by verdant greenery and into a vibrant dining environment characterized by a dramatic azure-tiled ceiling that mimics sunlight on water.
Material Narrative from Land to Sea
From earthy terracotta to sea-green terrazzo tables, the interior narrative unfolds like a walk from shore to horizon. Transit Studio’s intervention does not erase the past but overlays it with a fresh spatial rhythm. The new wine room further enriches the experience, showcasing regional Spanish wines and highlighting the terroir of the Catalan coast. These changes offer more than aesthetics—they shape a multisensory culinary journey rooted in place and season.
The transformation led by Transit Studio draws on deep local awareness while contributing a new identity to the storied hotel. Supported by collaborators including Ed Francis Consulting, Dapple Studio, Core Essence, and Growland Arquitectura, the project reflects the studio’s strength in reinterpreting context into material and spatial form.
| Project Name | Le Méridien Ra Beach Hotel & Spa |
|---|---|
| Location | Calafell, Spain |
| Design Firm | Transit Studio |
| Area | 890 m˛ |
| Status | Completed |
| Opening Date | May 2025 |
| Client | Orka Investments / Okami Hospitality Group |
| Contractor | Bosch Pascual |
