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Mendi Agria
San Sebastián

Spain

View photos Mendi Agria
San Sebastián
“A ten-bedroom neo-Basque boutique hotel, sensitively reimagined by Openhouse, perched on a hillside above San Sebastián with wide, cinematic views of the coastline.”

Mendi Argia has been reimagined by Openhouse with the thoughtful clarity that runs through all of their projects. Known for crafting spaces that feel both deeply lived-in and gently elevated, the studio approaches design as a form of storytelling, one that unfolds through materiality, light and a sensitive reading of place. Their interventions here are subtle yet transformative, bringing the early-20th-century villa into the present while honouring the spirit of its Basque origins.

Openhouse’s signature is a calm, measured minimalism, softened by natural, tactile finishes and an editorial eye for composition. At Mendi Argia, this comes through in restored architectural details set comfortably alongside contemporary pieces; in a palette shaped by the surrounding landscape; and in rooms arranged intuitively around the path of daylight across the hillside.

Original elements – the carved wooden staircase, ornate plasterwork and even a long-forgotten Basque pelota court resting quietly in the garden – have been sensitively revived. New interventions sit purposefully beside them, creating a serene, contemporary character throughout. Furnishings and finishes from Thonet, Gervasoni, Menu, Santa & Cole, Bauwerk Colour and Nanimarquina lend a considered, tactile atmosphere that feels both refined and inviting.

Inside, light remains the guiding force. Ten guest rooms, each with their own bathroom, frame individual sweeping views across the hillside and coastline. In the guest’s living room, sunlight slips through a glazed doorway and gathers on the surface of Big Round – a sculptural mirror by Sabine Marcellis and Brit van Nerven – casting shifting tones and reflections from dawn until dusk.

Throughout, the villa encourages a slower cadence. Mornings open with expansive views across the bay; evenings are best spent on the terraces, watching Kursaal’s glass façade catch the last red glints of daylight. From here, the city’s landmarks, Cristina Enea Park, its bridges, and Chillida’s Peine del Viento, form a backdrop that feels both intimate and cinematic.

The hotel unfolds across multiple terraces, including an infinity pool that seems to merge with the landscape beyond. A lift connects the outdoor level to the floors below, ensuring easy movement through the property.

San Sebastián’s elegance is woven into every part of the experience, from the hexagonal paving stones of the old town to the lampposts of Zurriola Bridge. Mendi Argia acts as a counterpart to this energy – a place of retreat that offers both perspective and connection.

“San Sebastián unfolds in a series of sculptural landscapes, where the city’s rhythm is shaped by its coastline, its hillsides and the quiet elegance of its streets.”

Here, the Atlantic meets the foothills of the Basque Country, creating a setting that feels both expansive and intimately connected to nature.

The city’s identity is anchored by its three beaches – La Concha, Ondarreta and Zurriola – each with a distinct character. La Concha curves with a near-perfect symmetry, its promenade lined with the city’s iconic white balustrades. Zurriola, on the eastern side, is more energetic: a surfers’ beach framed by the angular glass forms of the Kursaal. Between them, the old town gathers around narrow streets, pintxos bars and historic façades worn smooth by sea air.

Cultural landmarks punctuate the landscape. Eduardo Chillida’s Peine del Viento stands defiantly at the water’s edge, its bronze forms shaping the wind that whips in from the Cantabrian Sea. The bridges – Zurriola, María Cristina, Santa Catalina – mark the flow of the Urumea River as it threads through the city, each one with its own architectural presence.

Green spaces feel integral rather than incidental. Cristina Enea Park sits quietly in the heart of the city, a wooded refuge where herons gather. Mount Ulia and Mount Igeldo rise on either side, offering immense views over the bay and a sense of protection that frames San Sebastián like a natural amphitheatre.

Life here moves at a considered pace. Mornings begin with early sun on the promenade; afternoons spill into cafés and galleries; evenings animate the old town as locals and visitors drift between bars. Despite its international reputation, the city retains a deep local character, one shaped by Basque heritage, coastal living and a commitment to craft, whether gastronomic or architectural.

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