Parador de Argómaniz hotel

Spain

The Parador de Argómaniz hotel, located in the Palacio de los Larrea—a Renaissance gem dating back to 1712—is a benchmark of architectural heritage in the Basque Country. Since its conversion into a Parador in 1978, with the construction of annexed wings that now house the guest rooms, the building has served as a meeting point between history, landscape, and hospitality.

At IDOM, we took on the challenge of carrying out a comprehensive renovation aimed at resolving the serious functional and operational issues affecting the complex. Our intervention focused on reorganizing the outdoor spaces, improving both the main and service (rear) access points, and ensuring universal accessibility throughout the Parador, in line with current standards of mobility, comfort, and user experience.

One of the most significant changes was relocating the main entrance to the central body of the building. This move freed up the ground floor of the palace to house the new café, which now opens onto a terrace overlooking the surrounding meadow, greatly enhancing the visitor experience and optimizing both interior and exterior space for leisure and relaxation.

Structural intervention was essential to reinforce the building and adapt it to new uses without compromising its heritage value. All installations were redesigned with a focus on comfort, architectural integration, and energy efficiency. A key aspect was the implementation of a centralized energy production and distribution system, enabling the adoption of high-efficiency and sustainable measures, reducing environmental impact and improving the building’s long-term operational performance.

For us, this project has been an opportunity to enhance a historic building through respectful, functional, and contemporary architecture. The restoration of the Parador de Argómaniz hotel demonstrates how engineering and architecture can engage in dialogue with history to shape the future of unique spaces—preserving their essence while improving their functionality for generations to come.

Architecture : Design : Hospitality