Where Design Defines the Experience
This is the heart of DNA Hotels. A design-led hotel doesn’t have to be created by a famous architect or interior designer—it can be carefully designed from the ground up or have evolved organically over decades. What matters is that everything feels connected: architecture, interiors, furniture, materials, light and atmosphere. These are hotels with a clear point of view, where design isn’t decoration or a marketing label, but part of the character of the place and the way you experience it.
Upper House Shanghai – China Piero Lissoni’s contemporary sanctuary in Jing’an, where Italian restraint meets Shanghai’s cosmopolitan energy. Why DNA Hotels Loves It ● Piero Lissoni’s architecture and interiors combine Italian minimalism with subtle references to Chinese materials, craftsmanship and spatial traditions. ● Part of The House Collective, the former Middle House brings the group’s…
read morePedro Ibañez founded travel company and hotel owner and operator Explora in 1993 with the goal of opening up remote areas of great natural beauty in his native Chile. His seventh property has recently opened in the Valle Sagrado of Peru, a narrow valley flanked by mountains about 10 miles north of Cusco. Like its predecessors in Patagonia, the Atacama desert, and Easter Island, it was designed by José Cruz Ovalle, a leading Chilean architect and a master of wood construction.
read morenhow Amsterdam RAI | The Netherlands Where Architecture Becomes a Global Conversation Why DNA Hotels Loves It ● An iconic landmark designed by OMA, where Rem Koolhaas transformed Amsterdam's skyline with a bold architectural statement. ● Vibrant interiors that celebrate cultures from around the world, reflecting Amsterdam's centuries-old identity as an international crossroads. ● One…
read morenhow Marseille | France Cliffside Modernism Where Contemporary Art Meets the Mediterranean Why DNA Hotels Loves It ● A landmark 1970s seaside hotel has been reinvented through bold contemporary design by Teresa Sapey, Claire Fatosme, and Christian Lefèvre. ● Dramatic cliffside terraces, panoramic sea views, and an exceptional wellness area create a rare combination of…
read moreHotel PACAI | Vilnius, Lithuania A 17th-century Baroque palace where centuries of history become part of the design Why DNA Hotels Loves It ● Architect Saulius Mikštas and YES.design.architecture resisted polishing away the past, preserving frescoes, exposed brick, cracked plaster, old timber, and other traces of the palace’s extraordinary history. ● The 104 rooms and…
read moreOn a mission to transform and expand Illa Blanca’s cultural offerings, Paradiso Ibiza Art Hotel—set in an over-the-top ode to Miami‘s idiosyncrasies and Ettore Sottsass’s avant garde Memphis Style—is curating a programme seeking to make art more accessible for locals and visitors alike.
read moreNH Collection Ibiza | Ibiza Town, Spain Yacht-inspired design and grown-up glamour between Ibiza’s marina and Dalt Vila Why DNA Hotels Loves It ● Baranowitz + Kronenberg translate Ibiza’s maritime identity into 38 beautifully restrained rooms, combining stripped timber, polished stainless steel, crisp fabrics, and abundant Mediterranean light. ● Its former life as Sir Joan…
read moreThe Modernist Thessaloniki Precision Wrapped in Soul Why DNA Hotels Loves It ● A beautifully restored 1920s landmark that blends Art Deco elegance, mid-century refinement, and contemporary Scandinavian simplicity. ● Thoughtful, space-efficient design that proves luxury isn't measured in square meters. ● Deep connections to Thessaloniki's creative community, from local makers and artisans to independent…
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