Barceló Hotel Group has opened Barceló Nura in Sant Lluís in the south of Menorca, just 1.5 km from Punta Prima beach. Following an investment of over €20 million, the newbuild hotel comprises 128 rooms, 45 of which have access to a semi-private pool, and has been designed with a respect for the environment in mind.

The design was conceptualised by Menorcan studio FG Arquitectes, with Cristina Farreny and Rafael García taking cues from the island’s natural terrain; declared a Biosphere Reserve in 1993, Menorca has some of the best-preserved habitats in the Mediterranean, making it an ideal spot for an environmentally conscious hotel.

“We wanted to create a discreet hotel with local DNA, traditional materials and natural colours where the water is integrated with the low-rise buildings to fit in with the surroundings and blend seamlessly with the natural environment”, explains Gabriel Bugeda from Madrid-based investment management firm FUND FST.

Natural materials such as stone have been sourced from local artisans and used throughout to reflect the island’s traditional architecture, while landscaping integrates its biodiversity and adds a pop of colour.

Crafts take centrestage within the hotel’s the interior design scheme too, with guestrooms featuring ceramic works by some of the most celebrated artists in the Balearic Islands to honour local culture and creativity.

The hotel is also home to à la carte restaurant Sa Tanca, a buffet venue and a signature Barcelo B-Heaven terrace offering views of the Mediterranean. In terms of sustainability, Barceló Nura reuses water, has low-energy lighting, efficient hot water systems and smart air conditioning that limits electricity consumption.

Inspired by the Phoenician’s influence on Menorca, the name ‘Nura’ comes from the word ‘nur’, or fire.