Kimpton Las Mercedes Hotel by Moneo Brock: A Contemporary Dialogue with Colonial Heritage

Santo Domingo’s Colonial City, the oldest European settlement in the Americas, is a complex urban fabric where historic layers coexist with modern interventions. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, this district embodies a Renaissance urban layout dating back to the 16th century. However, as with many historic centers, the challenge lies in preserving its architectural heritage and adapting it to contemporary needs without compromising its essence. The Kimpton Las Mercedes Hotel by Moneo Brock is a critical addition to this evolving narrative, engaging with the urban and historical context while proposing a forward-thinking integration model.

Kimpton Las Mercedes Hotel Technical Information

• Architects^1-14: Moneo Brock
• Location: 155 Las Mercedes Street, 10210 Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
• Area: 6,380 m² | 68,674 Sq. Ft.
• Project Year: 2019 – 2024
• Photographs: © Sergio López

Each of our 130 rooms is a reflection of the harmony between the historical and the contemporary

– ​Belén Moneo, co-founder of Moneo Brock

Kimpton Las Mercedes Hotel Photographs

Architectural Concept and Spatial Organization

The architectural approach to Kimpton Las Mercedes is centered on adaptive reuse, balancing preserving historical elements with introducing contemporary spatial strategies. The project retains the existing building’s colonial facades, ensuring continuity with the surrounding urban fabric, while incorporating elevated structures and new courtyards that redefine the spatial composition of the block. These interventions avoid overwhelming the historic scale, ensuring the new additions remain subordinate to the original context.

The courtyard concept—a typology deeply rooted in the colonial architectural tradition of the Caribbean—becomes a primary organizing element. The original central patio, preserved during the renovation, serves as the hotel’s core, linking interior and exterior spaces while maximizing natural light and ventilation. Additional open-air spaces reinforce this logic, creating a network of interconnected courtyards that foster permeability and spatial fluidity.

The circulation strategy further emphasizes this integration of indoor and outdoor spaces. Perimeter corridors surrounding the courtyards allow for uninterrupted views, reinforcing a sense of continuity and openness. Balconies and terraces extend the private realm into semi-public zones. At the same time, rooftop amenities—including a solarium and swimming pool—offer a distinct vantage point over the historic city and the Caribbean Sea beyond. Through this careful orchestration of spatial relationships, Kimpton Las Mercedes achieves a nuanced balance between privacy and engagement with the urban landscape.

Materiality, Construction, and Sustainability

Material selection is fundamental in embedding the project within its cultural and environmental context. The architects have employed a restrained palette of locally sourced materials—travertine, ceramics, and wood—to establish a tactile dialogue between the hotel and its surroundings. Using these materials enhances the project’s aesthetic coherence and reinforces a commitment to sustainability through regional sourcing and craftsmanship.

Ceramics, traditionally associated with vernacular architecture in the Caribbean, are used as vertical cladding elements, lending a sense of continuity between interior and exterior surfaces. Travertine flooring, with its natural variation in texture and tone, complements the warm climatic conditions, while wooden elements contribute to a sense of material authenticity. These materials, selected for their durability and environmental responsiveness, demonstrate an understanding of the site’s historical and climatic demands.

Beyond materiality, the project incorporates passive design strategies to enhance environmental performance. Shading devices, such as aluminum louvers, mitigate solar gain while preserving visual connections to the exterior. Cross-ventilation principles are embedded in the courtyard typology, reducing reliance on mechanical cooling systems. Vegetation within these open-air spaces further contributes to microclimatic control, creating shaded, comfortable environments throughout the hotel. By integrating these sustainability measures seamlessly into the architectural language, Kimpton Las Mercedes exemplifies a model where environmental responsibility enhances, rather than compromises, design integrity.

Architectural Legacy and Broader Implications

Kimpton Las Mercedes represents a critical shift in the discourse surrounding heritage conservation and contemporary architectural intervention. Rather than treating preservation as a static exercise, the project reframes it as an active process that accommodates change while maintaining historical continuity. This approach challenges the conventional dichotomy between old and new, illustrating how sensitive design can reconcile historical authenticity with modern functionality.

The project also serves as a case study in rethinking hospitality within a heritage context. By embedding public spaces within its program, the hotel extends its role beyond that of a private accommodation facility, becoming an active participant in the city’s life. This blurring of boundaries between private and public realms fosters a more inclusive model of urban integration—one where architecture facilitates rather than isolates social interaction.

Kimpton Las Mercedes contributes to ongoing discussions about sustainable urban development in historic centers. As cities worldwide grapple with preservation, tourism, and urban growth challenges, projects like this offer valuable insights into how architecture can mediate between conservation and progress. The hotel’s design demonstrates that contemporary interventions in heritage contexts need not be disruptive; they can serve as catalysts for thoughtful, context-sensitive transformation.

Kimpton Las Mercedes Hotel Plans

Kimpton Las Mercedes Hotel Image Gallery

About Moneo Brock

Credits and Additional Notes

1. Lead Designers: Belén Moneo, Jeff Brock
2. Client: Megeve Investment Office
3. Design Team: Javier del Pozo, Federico Pérez, Laura Cerpa, Peter Rae, Laura Alonso, Francisco Blázquez, Gador Potenciano, Yaiza Camacho, Maite Rodríguez, Enrique González, Miguel de la Ossa
4. Structural Engineers: Calter Ingeniería
5. Building Services Engineering: Engineers Assesors
6. Technical Architect: Aparejadores ACC
7. Contractor: Aybar Constructora
8. Interior Designers: Pepe Deudero and Linette Nardi
9. Lighting Design: CA2L
10. Landscape Design: PWP Studio
11. Brand: Kimpton IHG
12. Operator: Iberostar
13. Electrical Consultants: Estel
14. Woodwork: Alumader