El Equipo Creativo Designs the Selva Restaurant and Sonora Cocktail Bar at the Nhow Amsterdam Hotel

The Spanish interior architecture and design studio, El Equipo Creativo, has designed the interiors of the Selva Restaurant and Sonora Cocktail Bar at the Nhow Hotel in Amsterdam, the Netherlands

Perched on the 25th floor of the Nhow Hotel in Amsterdam, Selva Restaurant serves up Latin American cuisine with a tropical twist. El Equipo Creativo was tasked with transforming a cold, enclosed space enclosed by a striking floor-to-ceiling glass façade designed by the architectural team OMA. The space boasted spectacular views of Amsterdam's outskirts, which is full of highways and new developments. One of the primary challenges of the project was transforming this space into a warm, enveloping, and jungle-like environment that contrasted with the city's hardness.

The Spanish studio proposed a design set against a predominantly green backdrop with organic-inspired flooring and abundant vegetation, along with wooden elements with undulating shapes that evoked the feeling of a dense forest, bringing warmth to the space. Vibrant, warm colors inspired by tropical fruits, birds, and flowers, often depicted in Latin American art, enliven the space through furniture and benches. The undulating bar that surrounds the open kitchen, covered in colorful tiles inspired by traditional Latin American textiles, is another standout feature. The floor-to-ceiling glass façade, partially covered with wicker, rope, and wood panels, filters sunlight like leaves or branches. Together, these elements create a natural setting that delights diners with its rich colors and lush exuberance.

On the top floor of the same hotel, El Estudio Creativo also designed the Sonora Cocktail Bar, which offers bold, tropical cocktails inspired by Latin America, perfectly complementing the cuisine of the Selva Restaurant. One of the main challenges of the project was ensuring the bar, typically the focal point of any cocktail bar, could stand out against the views of the city. To achieve this, a gleaming golden wall covering was added to the center of the space that stretches up to the ceiling, creating a mysterious, enveloping, surface with organic shapes, reminiscent of a long-extinct aquatic creature. 

For these two projects, the studio selected products from Spanish companies, including 

Martinez Otero, Bossvi, Electro Baymon, Pilsa, Finsa, Grupo LaMadrid, and Terraconti.

Founded in 2011 by architects Oliver Franz Schmidt, Natali Canas del Pozo, and Lucas Echeveste Lacy, El Equipo Creativo designs hospitality, gastronomy, and brand spaces. Its philosophy centers around the belief that spatial design should tell compelling stories and inspire people, always grounded in a solid conceptual approach. Their portfolio includes collaborations with some of the world's most prestigious chefs, including Michelin-starred restaurants, and their work has received global recognition such as the Architizer A+ Award 2023 for “Best Interior Design Firm”.