THE FACTS ABOUT HOTEL PUERTA AMERICA

Spain Madrid

At Madrid's most visually spectacular hotel, every storey tells a different story. Twelve top designers were invited to have their creative way with one floor each, and the result is 12 mini-hotels in one. On arrival, guests are shown a catalogue to choose from: you might plump for the playful excesses of Javier Mariscal and Fernando Salas's jungle-themed 11th floor, or Arata Isozaki's Zen-inspired 10th, with its black-satin bedding. Exiting the lift on Ron Arad's seventh floor, you are greeted by 12 blinking TV screens; while the corridors of the fourth, designed by Plasma, are built entirely from stainless steel shapes. The bedrooms are considerably toned down, although the games continue: witness Kathryn Findlay's bed, suspended from the ceiling (eighth floor) or Richard Gluckman's granite-and-glass-cube bathroom on the ninth. The spacious Lágrimas Negras (Black Tears) restaurant serves haute cuisine on the ground floor, while on the 13th the Skynight bar is accessed via a slightly scary glass 'skywalk'. The pool and gym by Jean Nouvel are on the same floor. The management offers brief guided tours. WHEN TO GO September, when Madrid's rich natural light will be filtered most stunningly through the rooms. ROOM TO BOOK Any of Jean Nouvel's 12 presidential suites on the 12th floor, each with stunning 180-degree city views. CONTACT Avenida de América 41, Madrid, Spain (00 34 91 744 5400; www.hotelpuertamerica.com). COST Doubles from 385 euros; suites from 706 euros; presidential suites from 3,344 euros