Interpretation of Catalan Art Nouveau in the architecture of Barcelona hotels: a cultural and historical aspect

The study examines the architecture of the exteriors and interiors of the Casa Fuster and El Palace hotels in Barcelona as a unified artistic system, within which the synthesis of decorative arts forms a special cultural and historical image of the city. Using the examples of Casa Fuster and El Palace Barcelona, this study examines the influence of Catalan Modernism on the perception of the urban environment and on the development of Barcelona’s image as the «architectural capital of Spain». The aim of the study is to demonstrate, using the aforementioned objects as examples, how the synthesis of architectural and decorative solutions shapes Barcelona's image as a center of modernist aesthetics. Hotels are thus considered not only as functional spaces but also as independent cultural «entities» capable of maintaining lasting interest and becoming destinations in their own right. The research methodology is based on the formal-stylistic method, the method of iconographic analysis, as well as the cultural-historical method, which allows for both the interpretation of individual architectural elements and Catalan identity within the space of contemporary hotel culture. The scientific novelty of the study lies in the attempt to provide a comprehensive interpretation of the exterior and interior solutions of Barcelona's hotel buildings as a unified artistic system based on the principle of synthesis of the arts, characteristic of Catalan Art Nouveau (Modernisme). Furthermore, the study clarifies the significance of the architectural and decorative language of Art Nouveau in shaping the cultural identity of hotel architecture in the 20th–21st centuries. It has been established that the principles of Catalan Modernism embedded in hotel exteriors and interiors transform them from mere functional accommodation facilities into «anchor» elements of the hospitality industry. At the same time, the research confirms the feasibility of applying local architectural concepts in accommodation design to enhance attractiveness and competitiveness. The results obtained have practical significance for architectural design, hotel management, and the development of sustainable cultural tourism strategies. The study demonstrates that the integration of regional traditions in the design and revitalization of hotels serves as an effective means of fostering cultural identity. For the first time, a comprehensive analysis of hotel architecture as an active component of the urban space is conducted, revealing the role of regional and endemic concepts in shaping contemporary destination branding. The main conclusion of the research is that architecture rooted in local traditions and cultural codes can act as a key factor in forming the image of accommodation facilities.