In the Camilo Mori Plaza in the Bellavista neighborhood sits the reddish Lehuedé House, where Castillo Rojo Hotel currently functions. The whole project for this hotel was focused on the restoration and rescue of this national heritage house, in both its architecture and interior design. Built in 1923 by architect Federico Bieregel, this iconic home was originally intended for the Lehuedé family, but as time passed, it had several variations and was transformed most notably in its interior: for a time it functioned as workshop spaces and later, as independent apartments.

Our office took on the commitment to recover, as best as possible, what the castle was like in its early years. We worked with the original plans and period photographs in order to rescue elements of interior design, contributing to the work of restoration from a design standpoint. Original moulding and surfaces were recovered.

Rebuilding the history of the house was the main concept for its interior design. Through subtle nods with decorative elements, we attempted to refer back to its previous life. Each room alludes to its original use: the kitchen, childrens’ room, garage, etc. And on the fourth floor, different workshop spaces were recreated: the painter’s studio, that of an architect, tailor, writer, etc. In the space that corresponded to an attic, antique trophies and sports items, such as tennis rackets, were arranged to communicate the feeling that this area of the home was where the vestiges of old victories ended up. The space where reception was installed had previously been a garage, hence its concrete floor. In order to visibilize the passage of time, tiles made of the same material but that imitate parquet flooring were put in to add a bit more warmth and provide a way to experience the house’s history.

In the image plan, we sought to recreate a 1920s bohemian aesthetic, tied to the world of artists, using textures, lamps, and furnishings that recall that splendor. Many objects and furniture pieces were found in San Telmo, Buenos Aires. Paintings by Camilo Mori were purchased, and the home’s iconic credenza was repurposed as the reception desk, creating an atmosphere that brings one back to the bohemian-metropolitan life of that era. For the rooms, we designed furniture with an atemporal aesthetic, but that gives the sensation of antiquity.