Frank Gehry’s Marques De Riscal Hotel

The amazing Hotel Marques de Riscal, located in the Rioja region of Spain the hotel is nestled within its own vineyards, not far from the medieval town of Elciego. Completed in 2006, this unique building sits beautifully beside the 19th century headquarters of the Marqués de Riscal Vineyard.

The work of the renowned architect Frank Gehry, the striking and unique architectural shapes of the building hover in the air, seeming to float over the surrounding landscape. It characterises the trademark curvilinear style of the architect, with elegant flowing canopies of silver, gold and purple/ pink titanium. As the sun moves through the sky, the colours reflect on the metallic structure, giving off different hues and tones.

Photographed at different times of the day, the light reflects back in different tones from the canopies as the sun passes overhead. The supporting structural steel beams are magnificent in themselves and complement the softer waves of the titanium shapes. They elegantly frame the mountains and the historical old village behind them. A truely extraordinary and magical building this was an architectural photographer’s dream to photograph.