Microconcrete in hotels: 4 inspiring hotel interiors

Microconcrete, also known as microcement or concrete cire, is a micro-finishing coating with a thickness of only 2-3 mm that imitates natural concrete. It can be used on floors, walls, and furniture. It conducts heat well and is flexible, making it suitable for underfloor heating. It is also very durable, making it ideal for public spaces such as cafes, shops, and hotels.

Hotel renovation with micro concrete

Architects are increasingly turning to micro concrete when designing new buildings and renovating older, time-worn interiors.

Renovating a hotel is no easy task. Even when the interior of a hotel, especially the bathrooms, has seen better days and is crying out for renovation, owners are not overly optimistic about the prospect. And this is completely understandable. Few owners will decide to renovate the entire facility and close it to guests. Complete closure of the building means millions in lost profits. That is why they often opt for partial renovations. But how can you ensure that the renovation is not disruptive to guests? How can you avoid excessive noise, dust, and the removal of old plaster or tiles?

Microconcrete comes to the rescue. Thanks to its high adhesion to all types of substrates, it can be used on existing tiles, MDF boards, panels, gypsum plaster, concrete, mosaics, and even steel. Microconcrete allows you to quickly refresh your space while avoiding the mess, dirt, and costs associated with traditional renovation work. Just remember that the surface must be load-bearing, even, and free of loose elements. If necessary, it can be reinforced with a bonding layer with mesh.

Below are four interesting microconcrete projects in hotels, designed by the world's best architectural studios.

1. Microconcrete at the Far & Near Hotel, Guangzhou, China

The Far & Near Hotel in Guangzhou, on the South China Sea, was built on the site of an old, dilapidated concrete building. The Kooo Architects studio decided to preserve the austerity of the original concrete beams and ceilings, and even add more concrete elements by using micro concrete on the floor. The overall effect is quite raw, rough and industrial. Shades of gray, wood and white accessories dominate. Thanks to the large windows, the rooms are flooded with light.

Microconcrete flooring in a hotel conference room. | Photographer: Keishin Horikoshi | photo source: leibal.com

The hotel has retained its original concrete beams and walls, which have been clad with wood panels, and the floors are made of micro-concrete. | Photographer: Keishin Horikoshi | photo source: leibal.com

Microconcrete flooring in the bathroom | Photographer: Keishin Horikoshi | photo source: leibal.com

The entire hotel is decorated in an industrial style. | Photographer: Keishin Horikoshi | photo source: leibal.com

2. Microconcrete at the Yan Hotel, Singapore

Hotel Yan was established in Singapore's trendy Jalan Besar district. Once full of industrial plants, it is now experiencing a boom in hipster cafes, street food, and boutique hotels and hostels.

Opened in 2015, the Yan Hotel stands on the site of a former warehouse. In a sense, it pays homage to the surrounding industrial enterprises, with its interior design echoing the industrial style. All walls and floors in the rooms are covered with gray micro-concrete. To soften the look of the concrete interiors, some rooms have small balconies with plants and a nice view of the surrounding area.

The ground floor of the hotel is a spacious interior that houses the reception and restaurant. Concrete pillars and walls blend perfectly with the traditional wooden floor, mirrors, and interesting chandeliers made from bicycle wheels. | Photo source: hotel-yan.com

The hotel rooms are decorated in calm gray colors. | Photo source: hotel-yan.com

3. Concrete and micro concrete at the Casa do Conto hotel, Porto, Portugal

Casa do Conto (Portuguese for “house of stories”) in the heart of Porto, in the lively Cedofeita district, is a charming designer boutique hotel housed in a spectacularly restored 19th-century townhouse. With its six luxuriously appointed and furnished apartments, Casa do Conto offers its guests exclusive accommodation with breakfast in a unique setting. The interior design combines tradition and modernity. Vintage furniture is set against concrete panel walls and concrete ceilings. The common areas (reception, lounge, library, and dining room) are located on the ground floor and first floor and are illuminated by a huge central skylight.

Most of the design drama is reserved for the ceilings, which are decorated with large graphic texts telling the interesting story of the house. | Photo source: tipografiadoconto.com

It is clear that concrete also plays a key role in minimalist and austere bathrooms | | Photo source: casadoconto.pt-portugal.com

In the staircase, the designers used concrete in various ways, playing with textures. An interesting geometric pattern was created on the walls using formwork, while the stairs and floor were made of micro-concrete. The whole is complemented by a light, openwork railing. | Photo source: casadoconto.pt-portugal.com

Modernity meets tradition: concrete flooring and ceilings in the hotel restaurant are combined with traditional Portuguese azulejos tiles, which adorn the table tops. | Photo source: casadoconto.pt-portugal.com

4. Micro concrete at Willow House Hotel, Texas, USA

The last proposal is Willow House – twelve ultra-minimalist concrete houses in the Texas desert with a view of the Chisos mountain range. The houses are located a few kilometers from Big Bend National Park. These Texas cabins, a contemporary example of desert modernism, were designed with the landscape in mind, and the owners of Willow House have combined natural textures and local materials with concrete. The cabins are truly impressive.

The concrete huts blend in with the desert landscape with their austerity. From the patio, you can enjoy a magnificent view of the mountains. | Photo source: www.willowhouse.co

The interior of the cabins is quite cozy. There is no shortage of comfortable seating, sand-colored accessories, and slightly “cowboy-style” chairs made of leather and wood. All this is set against a micro-concrete floor. | Photo source: www.willowhouse.co

The concrete patio provides shelter from the hot sun. All walls and floors have been coated with micro-concrete. | | Photo source: www.willowhouse.co