Moneo Brock Architects: Founded in 1496 Santo Domingo is the oldest city in the New World and a historical landmark in Latin America. As the capital of the Dominican Republic, its Colonial City has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This iconic historic district, with a Renaissance layout dating back to the 16th century, is undergoing an ambitious transformation that goes beyond the mere restoration of a deteriorating environment. It is a comprehensive effort to restore its essence, adapt it to contemporary needs, and turn the Colonial City into a model of coexistence between past and present.
Initiatives aimed at restoring monuments such as the Ruins of the Monastery of San Francisco or Plaza de España go beyond impeccable facades; they represent a profound rethinking of how citizens and visitors experience these spaces. With reduced vehicular traffic, greener streets, and permeable sidewalks, these new initiatives revitalize and humanize the city, restoring the pleasure of walking in an environment that breathes history and nature.
Kimpton Las Mercedes is a hotel project that forms part of this ambitious revitalization plan for Santo Domingo’s Colonial City. Located in the heart of this emblematic historic center, the new hotel exemplifies the trend toward a balance between preservation and modernity in the colonial district. This architectural project reinterprets the rich heritage of the Colonial City, transforming a historic block through an interior public space deeply rooted in the local context.
The design of this 130-room hotel respects the original facades of the building while introducing contemporary elements that harmonize with the urban surroundings. New elevated structures, additional courtyards, and an architectural layout that avoids massive impact ensure integration with the historical scale of the area, contributing to the district’s regeneration.
The use of locally sourced materials that blend with the environment, the coexistence with vegetation in the courtyards, and the creation of open public spaces make the hotel not just a place of accommodation but an accessible oasis—an organic extension of the city. This innovative "green block" concept not only reinforces the community character of the neighborhood but also redefines what it means to integrate architecture into its context.
The central courtyard, a key feature of the original structure, has been carefully preserved during the renovation. This space, which retains its native vegetation, has become the heart of the hotel, providing a connection to nature and the colonial legacy. The surrounding corridors maximize natural light and cross ventilation, creating a tranquil, tropical atmosphere. All rooms are designed to offer balconies overlooking the interior courtyards, while some include private terraces with jacuzzis, elevating the comfort experience.
On the rooftop terrace, guests can enjoy a spacious solarium with a swimming pool, a gym, and other amenities. This space offers spectacular views of the sea and the historic district, creating a unique visual connection with the cultural heritage of the Colonial City. The hotel's interior stands out for its use of local materials such as travertine, wood, and ceramics, which contribute to a natural and authentic aesthetic. Additionally, the carefully selected wood, with a low carbon footprint and insulating properties, reflects the project’s commitment to sustainability, adapting to the region’s tropical climate.
This hotel, designed to connect guests with the city’s cultural heritage, also offers a comprehensive experience with event and meeting spaces, restaurants, and a hall ideal for weddings and corporate gatherings. With its blend of luxury, history, and sustainability, Kimpton Las Mercedes positions itself as a premier destination in Santo Domingo, offering guests a unique experience in one of Latin America's most distinguished historic centers.
About studio / author
Moneo Brock is an international architectural, planning and design firm of versatile professionals committed to the identification and implementation of sustainable solutions, with great faith in the promise of good design.
As we begin our work, we carefully consider each project’s urban and natural context. Projects are thereafter developed with a clear sense of place and purpose. Finally, construction details are always rigorously controlled in order to be in concordance with the project’s fundamental concept.
We are sensitive to the synergies that emerge in collaborative processes, viewing teamwork as fundamental to the creation of great work.
We see each job as an opportunity to create a unique structure that can transform a part of the world, no matter the scale.
Current project sites are in Spain, the USA, Mexico, Colombia and the Dominican Republic. Our work has been widely published in international media.
Belén Moneo (Harvard, 1988) and Jeffrey Brock (Princeton, 1985), founded Moneo Brock in 1993 in New York City after receiving their Masters of Architecture from Columbia University’s GSAPP in 1991, when they first collaborated professionally on a project for a loft in Tribeca. Maintaining connections with New York, the firm opened its Madrid office in 2002.
