Review of Faena Hotel and Universe, by Harry Hastings

Faena Hotel and Universe has a history to match its kooky personality. During the most recent of Argentina's crippling economic crises, French architect Philippe Starck and Argentine fashion magnate Alan Faena teamed up to transform a one hundred year old redbrick granary in a run-down Buenos Aires neighbourhood into the city's boldest and brashest design hotel.

'One of the coolest hotels I've ever been to in my life', Owen Wilson said on checking out of Faena Hotel and Universe. For many, its 10-metre high entrance doors and ultra-kitsch design are little more than an exercise in gaudy extravagance and extraordinarily bad taste. For others it stands as a paradigm of design supremacy and unrivaled efficiency. Take the 'Experience Managers' assigned to each guest that check in to this design hotel. They form a personal concierge (usually of the uncommonly attractive variety) to pander to their every need, from restaurant reservations to city tours and theatre tickets.

The library lounge, kitted out with imperial-style furniture, red silk curtains and hunting paraphernalia, draws in young hipsters from all over town who drop by for some sublimely-mixed cocktails or one of the design hotel's highly exclusive pool parties.

So, what about this 'Universe' bit? Not content with the standard gym, spa, business center, outdoor bar and pool of most five-star design hotels, Faena goes a step further with the inclusion of a rooftop farmers market, cooking classes, a beauty corner, three restaurants, shopping boutiques and a red velvet cabaret and theatre. High profile awards have been flooding in since opening in 2004 with critics clearly convinced by the design hotel's promise to transform 'dreams into reality'. Its location could be a lot better but it still prides itself on incorporating the very best of the city into its 'universe'.

The hotel's 110 rooms, each with spacious marble baroque bathroom, are adorned with plush velvet, rich reds, crisp whites, Venetian blinds, even an 18-karat gold leaf swan chair. A glut of cutting-edge technology earned the hotel a 'best project' award from Siemens and includes surround-sound stereos, flat-screen TVs, safes, DVD, Ethernet and Wi-Fi.