Lonely Planet Magazine put together their list of Europe’s 20 most unusual places to stay - beds in wine barrels, glass igloos in Lapland, that kind of thing. We picked our five favourites and we’re counting them down all this week.
Today, we show you were you can stay bang in the middle of Madrid's architects playground.
Spain has long been the darling of architectural innovation, so it should come as no surprise that the contagion has spread to its hotels. Madrid's Hotel Puerta América gathered together some of architecture's most eminent names, allocated them a floor each, and told them to go forth and create.
The result is an astonishing pastiche of styles. On the seventh floor, Ron Arad has gone for seamless curves and vivid movie-star bathrooms, while three floors up, Japanese architect Arata Isozaki transformed his rooms with Zen adaptations. On lower floors, the designs to anything but come down to earth - Sir Norman Foster chose dazzling all-white for the second floor, while a floor down, Zaha Hadid's futuristic angles create a space-age feel. (Rooms from ₤145). Like it? Book it!
For more Madrid, grab the latest Madrid Encounter guide
Want to see what came in at #5? Check out this kooky lock-up in Lucerne. How about #3 - a contemporary art gallery that lets you crawl inside the masterpiece of your choice?
For the full rundown list of Europe's maddest pads, take a look at the Lonely Planet Magazine.
