More than a hotel: a design and art experience

There are hotels that stand out for their prime location, refined cuisine or impeccable service. And then there are those rare gems that elevate each of these elements into a lasting, sensory experience. Seaside Palm Beach, nestled in the heart of Maspalomas, is one of them — a five-star retreat where every moment invites you to unwind, savour and soak in the surroundings. With a carefully curated aesthetic and an unwavering attention to detail, nothing is left to chance. It’s more than just a hotel — it’s an experience that lingers.

Original artworks, iconic furniture, and one-of-a-kind pieces coexist in perfect harmony with the building’s architecture, the lush outdoor greenery, and the natural light that filters through every space, as if they had always belonged there. 

It’s no surprise that Seaside Palm Beach is part of Design Hotels, a global collection united by a shared philosophy: to offer modern travellers more than just a place to stay. Here, design becomes a language of emotion. Every space is intentional, every object tells a story — and together they create a stay that is as inspiring as it is unforgettable. 

The signature painting by César Manrique 

Location: The visual centrepiece of the lobby 

At the heart of the lobby is a piece by César Manrique, the most influential figure in 20th-century Canarian art. Born in Lanzarote and trained at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando, Manrique was a multidisciplinary artist: painter, sculptor, architect, landscaper, and a pioneering activist for sustainable development. His work is known for its vibrant organic abstraction, with shapes that evoke volcanic magma, Atlantic winds, and the earthy colours of the Canary Islands. 

Orchilla (1980) is the masterpiece proudly displayed at Seaside Palm Beach, thoughtfully integrated into the very heart of the hotel. It serves as the guiding thread in a narrative where art is not just decoration but identity. Its presence connects the building’s interior with the Canarian landscape and reinforces the hotel’s commitment to local culture. Undoubtedly, it is the jewel of the collection where the energy of volcanoes reminds us that nature and culture are inseparable on the islands. A tribute to local artistic heritage that highlights the hotel’s ongoing harmony with its surroundings. 

Expressive Figuration by Dieter Korbanka 

Location: Restaurant 

At the heart of the restaurant hang two striking paintings by Dieter Korbanka (1936–2009), an East Prussian-born artist whose work reflects a dynamic fusion of European expressionism and Canary Island influences. A student of Oskar Kokoschka at the Salzburg Academy in the 1950s, Korbanka absorbed the energy and intensity of the Wiener Moderne, a movement shaped by artists like Gustav Klimt and Egon Schiele.

He later settled in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, where he became a key figure in the local art scene. His exhibitions at Manolo Ojeda’s gallery in the late 1950s played an important role in defining the Canarian contemporary art movement.

The paintings displayed at Seaside Palm Beach exemplify his expressive style: bold lines, abstracted figures, and layered textures come together in a composition that invites quiet reflection. Positioned amid the restaurant’s warm wood panelling, sculptural accents, and ambient lighting, the artworks form a visual and emotional focal point — subtly reinforcing the hotel’s commitment to thoughtful design and artistic depth.

Alberto Pinto: the hidden harmony 

Location: The entire hotel 

The unmistakable atmosphere of Seaside Palm Beach is closely linked to the refined eye of interior designer Alberto Pinto. His elegant, occasionally playful signature can be found throughout the hotel – from the public areas to the rooms and suites. Striking lamps, vibrant Rocking Adianto chairs and Noguchi tables in distinctive mid-century style all reflect his talent for creating stylish, harmonious interiors.

For Alberto Pinto, interior design was always more than function – it was a way of expressing mood and identity. He combined classical and contemporary elements with masterful precision, creating balanced compositions that integrated seamlessly into their surroundings. For him, furniture was not only about utility, but about reflecting the character of a place – and telling something of the people who inhabit it.

Barcelona chairs and sofas by Mies van der Rohe 

Location: Lobby 

Few objects have had as much influence on the history of modern design as the Barcelona chair, created by Mies van der Rohe and Lilly Reich for the German Pavilion at the 1929 International Exposition in Barcelona. Its elegant, minimalist silhouette welcomes guests in the hotel lobby, where a carefully arranged combination of Barcelona chairs and sofas sets a tone of timeless sophistication from the very first moment.

Designed to embody the ideals of modernism — clarity, proportion, and restraint — these pieces are more than furniture: they are icons. Upholstered in leather and supported by a curved stainless steel frame, the Barcelona collection complements the hotel’s refined interior with understated confidence.

Diamond and Side Chairs by Harry Bertoia 

Location: rooms 

Designed in the 1950s by Harry Bertoia for the Knoll company, the Diamond and Side Chairs are a brilliant example of how industrial materials can be transformed into art. Crafted from polished chrome steel rods, these pieces combine visual lightness with surprising strength. In Bertoia’s own words: “If you look at those chairs, they are mostly air, like sculptures. Space flows right through them.” This concept comes alive in the rooms at Seaside Palm Beach, where the chairs function not only as practical furniture, but also as pieces to be admired and contemplated. 

The delicate metalwork adds transparency and spaciousness to the room, creating an ethereal atmosphere in the bedrooms. The Knoll logo, engraved on the base, confirms their authenticity and underscores their status as icons of 20th-century design. In this context, the chair is more than just a seat — it’s a livable sculpture that elevates everyday moments, perfectly capturing Bertoia’s idea of being “mostly air.” 

Gitanos, a six-part series by Jean-Diego Membrive 

Location: Lobby 

The lobby of Seaside Palm Beach is framed by six evocative canvases by Jean-Diego Membrive (Paris, 1960), known artistically as Jean Diego. Born to Andalusian parents, this Franco-Spanish artist studied at the École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts and developed his early technique in the painting department of the Louvre, where he was influenced by the classical mastery of light and form. His artistic direction later shifted during extended stays in southern Spain and Morocco, where he abandoned oil painting in favour of gouache, collage, and a more expressive, symbolic approach.

Central to his work is Pico Falso, a recurring figure that moves between clown, dancer, and Mediterranean spirit — a vessel for exploring ritual, identity, and performance through repetition and abstraction.

The six-piece series Gitanos embodies this symbolic universe. Displayed across opposite walls of the lobby — three on each side — the works feature rhythmic, repeated silhouettes reduced to essential contours. Membrive reduces the figure to its essential contours and repeats it like a vivid mantra; each variation in gesture and tone creates rhythm, almost like visual music, inviting guests to move forward unhurriedly. The dense brushstrokes and intense colours connect with the popular energy of flamenco, while the serial composition reflects his desire to turn paintings into a narrative sequence. 

Mobile sculpture by Alexander Calder 

Location: Lobby

At the centre of the lobby, another iconic piece is showcased: a mobile by Alexander Calder (1898–1976), pioneer of kinetic art and a key figure in 20th-century sculpture. Calder reinvented sculpture by giving it movement. His mobiles, a term introduced by Marcel Duchamp, are suspended structures that respond to air currents with delicate and poetic balance. The organic and abstract forms that make up the piece seem to float beneath the window above, casting shadows that shift with the changing daylight. 

Heir to a family of sculptors and trained in engineering and art in New York and Paris, Calder combined mechanical precision with aesthetic sensitivity to create ever-evolving designs. The piece that presides over the lobby is a perfect example of this vision: it transforms the ceiling into a stage and the air into raw material, welcoming guests with a floating gesture that sets the tone for the artistic experience at Seaside Palm Beach.

Whether you’re an art lover, a design aficionado or simply seeking elegance in the Canary Islands, Seaside Palm Beach offers more than luxury — it offers inspiration. Experience the difference of a true design hotel in Gran Canaria.