With the opening of the Four Seasons Hotel Casa Medina Bogota in Colombia coming up later this year, here's a sneak peek at what to expect from the new hotel's look.
Originally built in 1946, Casa Medina was the vision of artist and architect Santiago Medina Mejia, who was born in Medellin and educated in Paris in the early part of the 20th century. Salvaging architectural treasures from the recently demolished colonial convents of San Agustin and Santo Domingo, he brought stone columns, flooring and hand-carved wooden doors to the building he planned as an exclusive enclave. He personally oversaw the crafting of intricate wrought iron details to enhance the historic elements.
In 1984, Casa Medina was designated for its architectural heritage. In 1988, the building was restored and transformed into the Hotel Casa Medina Bogota with the help of Luisa Amelia Pinto, architect, and Fernando Reyes Elicechea, designer.
Now under new ownership, Four Seasons Hotel Casa Medina Bogota is scheduled to open in mid-2015, and is the sister property of Four Seasons Hotel Bogota. The 2015 remodeling involves Milena Vargas, architect; Lauren Rotette, designer; and Saul Sasson, restaurant designer.
The property will have 62 guestrooms and 17 suites, including the 1,163-square-foot Penthouse Suite, which has an in-suite kitchen for entertaining. Each accommodation will have colonial-style beamed ceilings and handcrafted wooden doors. All rooms and suites will offer the new, fully customizable Four Seasons Bed.
There will also be 3,293 square feet of function space located on the ground floor, with one additional new boardroom on the second floor for added privacy. The Casa Medina Room will measure 1,539 square feet, while smaller options will include El Nogal and La Merced rooms, plus two new boardrooms – one on the ground floor, and one upstairs on the second floor.
The Las Roseles private dining room adjacent to the restaurant will also be available for business and social functions.
For dining, the property will have a Spanish-style restaurant and tapas bar concept, with most seating in a new, naturally-lit courtyard with a glass atrium, as well as a covered outdoor terrace. The Las Roseles private dining space for 24 is designed for discreet business dinners or intimate celebrations.
Other amenities will include: a four treatment room spa and a 764-square-foot fitness center.
Luis Argote, a native of Venezuela who grew up in Bogota and a 29-year Four Seasons veteran, will serve as the GM of the property.