clar or, habitat hotel – Sigfrido Serra

Photography: Nacho Uribesalazar and Nuel Puig
Interior Design Project

clar or, habitat hotel.

Clar Or was born from a very intimate impulse: the need to capture that special light that only Valencia reveals in its early hours, when the day is still a promise and calm. It is not just a hotel room; it is a space that seeks to pause time, so that those who inhabit it can connect with a slower rhythm and with the memory of a landscape that renews itself each morning. My intention was to create a refuge where light and material meet to provoke an experience that goes beyond the visual, that envelops, calms, and invites contemplation.

The palette I chose does not respond to trends or prefabricated formulas, but to that light that moves me in Valencia when the sun begins to caress the façades and rooftops—a moment when the air feels clean and the city seems to whisper. Sandy tones, soft terracottas, and warm golds form a chromatic landscape that does not impose itself, but accompanies gently. Each colour seeks to translate that golden light, that warm breath that invites pause. I wanted the room to breathe this serenity, to be able to modulate the sensation as the day progresses, as if the light itself were another material of the interior architecture.

The materials have been chosen with touch in mind and with the idea that each element can generate a genuine sense of comfort. The wood, present in its various textures, brings a warmth that is not only seen but also felt against the skin; natural fabrics, with their softness and authenticity, add sensory layers that enrich the experience. The Lusotufo carpet acts like a silent cushion underfoot, gently embracing each step and contributing to an atmosphere that invites relaxation and leaving behind the rush. At the windows, the curtains work with natural light: the off-white voile filters the brightness to soften it and create a gentle shadow, while the blackout curtain protects privacy, offering control over the interior atmosphere. The walls, dressed in Casamance’s Pyrite wallpaper, have a subtle sheen that recalls the first light of day, that moment when stone and plaster reflect the city’s nascent life.

I am passionate about caring for the small details that ultimately transform a space into a memorable experience. That is why Vayoil’s bed linens are not merely functional, but an invitation to deep rest. The softness of the sheets, the quality of the fabrics, the warm touch, all form part of the ritual of inhabiting this refuge. Sonpura’s Dubai mattress provides the support the body appreciates, a balance between firmness and comfort that ensures restorative sleep. These details, often invisible, are what create an atmosphere in which the guest can truly disconnect and feel that they are in a place designed just for them.

Regarding the furniture, I sought a modernity that does not shout, but whispers. The Brut armchair by Annud, with its sculptural yet welcoming presence, brings a visual tension that simultaneously invites one to sit and stay. The side pieces from The Masie complete the scene without disrupting the harmony; they are discreet, elegant, contemporary, and maintain coherence with the rest of the project. The bathroom is conceived as an intimate oasis, with basins and a bathtub from the SONAR collection that play with soft, flowing, almost organic shapes, while Laufen’s faucets add a touch of minimalist sophistication. I wanted this area to maintain the same sensitivity, that balance between functionality and emotion that defines the entire project.

Lighting has been a fundamental element in the composition of the space. For me, light is not just a practical necessity, but a material with which to shape the atmosphere, to generate sensations, and to mark moments. The technical lighting from Jiso Iluminación is designed to accompany without intruding, to solve needs discreetly and efficiently. In contrast, the decorative luminaires from Estiluz provide that warm breath, that soft glow that envelops and transforms the space into something cosy and human. In this luminous choreography, the pieces from Lladró act as notes of artisanal delicacy, a nod to Valencian tradition reinterpreted from a contemporary perspective. I did not want the project to remain on the surface; I wanted it to speak of roots, memory, and the future, without falling into clichés or stereotypes.

Clar Or is a subtle yet conscious tribute to the local culture. It is a dialogue that emerges in the details, in the textures, in the reflections, and in the light that crosses the space. The room suggests rather than imposes, inviting one to feel without overwhelming. It is not intended to be a literal replica or an artificial set, but a living space that breathes with the city and offers those who inhabit it the opportunity to reconnect with a profound and unhurried identity. At a time when everything accelerates, Clar Or proposes pausing, observing, feeling, and simply inhabiting the moment.

Ultimately, this project represents for me an invitation to reconnect with the essential, with that which is lost when the pace becomes frenetic. I wanted Clar Or to be more than a functional room; I wanted it to be a refuge, a space that offers calm and beauty, that speaks of light and material, that embraces emotions and generates memory. A place, in short, from which to observe how a city awakens, how its colours and light emerge, and how, in that moment, everything seems possible.

Acknowledgements: Casamance, Habour, Arena, Lusotufo, Vayoil, Annud, Flic Studio, Sonpura, The Masie, Lladró, Laufen, Estiluz y Jiso Iluminacion.