Hotel Monte Mulini has opened in Rovinj, a historic coastal city on the peninsula of Istria, in Croatia, on the Adriatic coast. International design firm WATG was the architect, interior designer and landscape designer for the five-star project.
 
"The site—a wooded park—was the inspiration for our use of local stone and timber to create a contemporary hotel with magnificent views from every room," says Jeremy Heyes, vice president of WATG.

According to Nicole Hammond, senior associate in the WATG London office and one of the lead architects on the hotel, the town itself is famous for its white stone, which was featured throughout the project. But as the town has such a distinctive look, the design team wanted to take advantage of the fact that the site is set just outside the old town center, and complete something a bit more contemporary while still tying it in with its natural surroundings.
 
Set into the hillside, the 109-room hotel with ten luxury suites is spread over four levels and boasts a dramatic panoramic glass wall that greets guests with an uninterrupted view of the sea. "You are arrive on the site and there's an immediate 30-ft. drop to the sea," Heyes explains. The team wanted to take advantage of that dramatic element. "Every single room has the best five-star view of this bay from its high elevated position."

Bars, lounges and restaurants are located on lower levels, with spacious terraced areas for fine dining and relaxation on warm days. A traditionally-styled wine vault is located at the lowest level, as the area is one that is very proud of their wines.
 
Because a nature reserve is situated across the bay from the hotel, and the hotel itself is set within the city on a main promenade, both urban and natural elements were part of the design. Great care was taken to take advantage of natural light, including studies of light and shade on the windows throughout the year. The curved roof is positioned so that the glazed wall is in shadow during the summer, minimizing heat gain and the need for air conditioning.
 
WATG won the competition for the project and was the first international architect to do work in the region.