Dorotea Estudio emerged as a standalone firm after the organic relationship formed between technical architects Gloria Viejo Ibarra and Alba Hernández González at a comprehensive service firm in Madrid. After three years of sharing projects, they found common ground in their approach to architecture and interior design and launched their own business in 2018. They specialized in hospitality, although they work on various types of projects, characterized by a style of moderation and balance.

 

Your designs are characterized by avoiding extremes: neither minimalism nor lavish luxury.

Yes. We started with a design profile associated with luxury, but from the beginning, we thought it was necessary for any client to afford an interior design project, so we found a niche in a mid-range budget, where we got many commissions.

We are characterized by not imposing a personal stamp but adapting to the client, avoiding extremes. We like to convey warmth, originality, and always based on a touch of color, where fabrics are paramount and decorative elements are interchangeable, allowing them to be modified without making a significant investment.

 

You have specialized in hotels but also have portfolios of restaurants, residential, workplace… What is your favorite type of project?

Until the pandemic, we worked on restaurant design, franchises, and retail chains. During the pandemic, we didn’t know if we would have work in these sectors, so we opted for residential. Although we enjoy hotels very much because we have more creative freedom and they are currently experiencing a reconceptualization of their space uses, we have been fascinated by the involvement in designing a home that will be lived in day by day.

What makes a design stand out?

Success is achieved by having a very clear understanding of the client’s goal. In the first phase, we have many meetings to reach this understanding. Thanks to these conversations, in these years of experience, we have not left any project unfinished nor received negative feedback.

 

What role do you think architecture and interior design should play at the present moment?

We believe that interior design has been misunderstood. We are not decorators, nor do we work on exterior volumes; we start from space distribution, based on raw architectural design, and define finishes, lighting…

Architecture creates the envelope, and interior design dresses it internally.

 

How can we promote sustainability in the sector?

We lack training within the studios, and this is because we have been cultivating this knowledge. Sustainability was associated with high cost and less varied aesthetics. In recent years, it has evolved; there has been significant development, but we lack information in the studios.

 

What trends do you see gaining momentum for 2025?

In colors, we see intense cobalt blue and acid orange coming in. In materials, natural elements will continue to gain strength: terracottas, clay, fabrics like linens, reminiscent of something warm and handcrafted. We will have uncluttered environments with the presence of nature, always aiming to be welcoming.

Headquarters of Metrovacesa. Application of Roble Hera Sega doors and Gravity Hueso Soft on tables (Madrid, 2023).

 

What is trending in hospitality?

This year in London, we analyzed the new uses of hotels, which are evolving into places where many things happen: you don’t just go to sleep – that’s the minimum – the design load of common spaces increases to host various activities such as concerts, restaurants, well-equipped work areas, with cafes, terraces… Businesses within hotels are developing that transform every day seeking versatility. We could almost say they don’t even seem like hotels!

 

What inspires you? Are you more online or offline?

Every year, the whole team takes a trip to see trends, and we try to visit a newly opened restaurant monthly. Due to time constraints, we are very online: our day-to-day is mostly magazines and social media. We are looking for AI talks, which is another different source of inspiration, and we follow reference studios we like: Hurlé&Martín, MILStudios, Alejandra Pombo o Lázaro Rosa-Violan.