Les Cols di Olot, progetto del famoso studio RCR Arquitectos.
admin August 16th, 2010
Hotel & Restaurant Les Cols is ideal for those who are looking for either avant-garde architecture or Nouvelle Cuisine gastronomy. Les Cols is located in Olot, in the Catalan Pyrenees with scattered hills like pimples, extinct or dormant volcanoes of the Parc Natural de la Zona Volcánica de la Garrotxa
Les Cols is a highly poetic and innovative interpretation of what a hotel should be all about. This Hotel wants to offer an area to rest at night next to Les Cols Restaurant. It is an isolated building that surrounds the 13th-century farmhouse Les Cols, like an oasis round the City.
Les Cols restaurant is headed by Fina Puigdevall, a charming chef who converted the ground floor of her family’s traditional house into one of the world’s best-looking dining establishments (it’s on the cover of “Les Plus Beaux Restaurants du Monde,” by Bethan Ryder). Les Cols Restaurant has one Michelin Star. Fina Puigdevall was selected as one of Chefs representing the Catalan gastronomy when Catalonia was Guest of Honour at the prestigious Frankfurt Book .
Judit Planella and Joaquim Puigdevall engaged the local firm of RCR Architects (they were featured in the New York Museum of Modern Art’s (MoMA) recent survey of Spanish architecture) to create rooms where diners could spend the night. Echoing the linear structure of former kitchen gardens, one such area has been divided into lots that are now occupied by five glass cubes. Overnight guests can experience a night under the stars - literally, because they have a clear view of the night sky and the natural world outside. At the same time the unusual high-tech architectural envelope affords them complete protection against the elements. The design of the Pavilions is based on the idea of a picnic experience with a strong connection with nature (in this case, the strong connection with the volcanic qualities of Olot).
Guests devise numeric codes to enter their volcanic rock room/pavilions, which are shielded from peeping neighbors by opaque glass panels and green metal “hedges.” The pavilions appear to be furnished with nothing more than a freestanding bed, because the wardrobe space has been cleverly - and almost invisibly - integrated into the outer envelope of the building.
There is mineral water to drink and sunlight filtered through trees to watch. No television, no radio, no magazines. The Bathroom is as gorgeous and Zen as the room. The washbasin is constantly replenished with water, like a fountain, and the floor of the shower consists of pebbles. There is a shower and a bath. As you are standing on small smooth volcanic rocks, the shower experience feels like you are showing under a waterfall or in the rain whilst standing on the river bed. It is not meant to be very comfortable like you would be when standing on river rocks. The bath, similar to a Japanese Onsen, is at a constant comfortable temperature, not hot, not cold, just luke warm like you would at a swimming hole in summer. You cannot control the temperature, just like in nature, it’s out of your control. When you are seated, it goes up to the base of your neck. The buoyancy keeps you very comfortable on the deep bed of river worn volcanic rocks.
Soap, shampoo and shower gel are all formulated specially for the Hotel. There are thick towels and black waffle-weave robes. TVs and Internet connections are banished: here the visitor is invited to reflect on the simpler things of life. Privacy is available, however, with the aid of automated fabric roller blinds.
Breakfast is included and can be taken in the room. It’s a Catalan version of Continental Breakfast, meaning that in addition to coffee and tea, there is local salami and cheese and toasted manhole-cover-sized slices of country bread known as pan payés, which are meant to be rubbed with garlic and tomato, and drizzled with olive oil. You also get a little picnic hamper of local produce and a bottle of wine.
It may not be for everyone, but for those looking for a different hotel and gastronomic experience, we consider a stop in Les Cols Hotel & Restaurant is well worth it.
Les Cols is located in the city of Olot, inside the Natural Park at the impressive Garrotxa Volcanic zone. Olot is a bit off the radar of mainstream tourism, so the fact that the pavellons (pavilions) are attached to the area’s biggest gastronomic draw is a big plus. Teisa runs up to 7 buses daily to/from Barcelona about €14, 2 and a half hours).
Opening Hours: Restaurant open from 13:00 – 15:30 and 20:30 – 22:30 h.
Restaurant is closed for Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays dinners and Bank holidays.
Pavilions available all days.
Address: Mas les Cols, Crta de la Canya s/n
17800 Olot, Girona, Catalonia
Restaurant Telephone bookings: please call us on +34 972 26 92 09
Restaurant E-mail bookings: lescols@lescols.com
