Last week, we were in Valencia for work, as this beautiful city is the World Design Capital this year, and we are collaborating with World Design Capital Valencia. We’ll tell you more about that shortly.

Making the most of our visit, we stayed at this wonder of a family-run boutique hotel called YOURS. It is run by Daphne Kniest and Wouter Kock, a Dutch couple who love the light in Valencia and the good life it has to offer. Before this project, they ran a B&B in the Cánovas district, until they decided to create a hotel of these characteristics in Ruzafa. The process to manage it has not been at all easy, because they have had to overcome many hurdles – what with paperwork, permits and the pandemic- before it became a reality… However, they were always clear that they had to work hard and all that effort has been worthwhile.

“Valencia is a city that you can cycle around and get to the old town, the sea or the park in less than half an hour…It has everything and, at the same time, is not too big.”

A unique hotel in a special neighbourhood: Ruzafa

YOURS boutique hotel is located in the heart of Ruzafa, the hippest and coolest area in the city. Specifically, on Calle Cuba in an abandoned building that was home to a family who, in turn, managed the customer facing business on the ground floor: “Tintorerías Vivó, Dry Cleaners”.

“Going into the old launderette and the homes was like travelling in time.”

12 rooms with a very cosy atmosphere and a minimalistic design

YOURS boutique hotel has a total of 12 spacious outward-facing rooms, with a private bathroom and a design that converges Scandinavian, Japanese and Mediterranean styles. The rooms on the top floors have a kitchen, a second- storey loft space and a terrace.

The beds are really comfortable and the light and soft neutral colours of the palette provide calm and balance.

Also, instead of your standard reception, YOURS boutique hotel welcomes you from its multi-functional space on the ground floor. It’s a wide, open space where the boutique shop sits. It sells local objects such as typical Valencian pottery as well as its unique candles – their fragrance was custom designed for them and their aroma is incredible! -, some of their amenities by Marie-Stella-Maris – it is a Dutch brand that creates natural products that are dye, silicon and paraben free and whose main objective is water conservation. It is known for its own refill policy to avoid waste and the generation of more plastic -, and other things specially curated by the hotel. The ground floor space also contains the living area, the kitchen and the bar, where you can have breakfast or a drink, and the evocative interior courtyard that is full of plants and has a pool.

“We’re just another neighbour here and that’s why we want to contribute to and be the neighbourhood.”

At YOURS, the details matter

As soon as you cross the threshold of YOURS boutique hotel, you will feel like you’re in a copy of the Kinfolk magazine.

The hotel exudes wellbeing, peace and very good vibes, and that is something that Daphne Kniest and Wouter Kock have achieved together with their kind and cheerful team. They make you feel at home or even better…

The materials that are predominantly used in the hotel are exposed concrete, wood and matte black metal, in addition to the beige tones. The lighting is also a key element in this designer accommodation, and to that effect they have gone for light fixtures to create that sought-after lighting that creates warm intimate spaces.

Breakfasts at YOURS boutique hotel are delicious. They are á la carte and prepared on the spot. Their home-made cereal and avocado toast with a floral touch are incredible. They always work with great quality local ingredients and producers.

Sustainability as its spearhead

Although they cannot say that they are 100% sustainable, what they are clear about is that sustainability is an essential part of their accommodation concept. That’s why they  carry out different initiatives to promote it.

“We have maintained the original XIX century facade of the building, we worked with AguaKmZero, and we always try to collaborate with local producers, business and brands, as is the case with Bluebell coffee.”

Design, design and more design

The YOURS boutique hotel branding is flawless and has been carried out by the Valencian design studio, Estudio Savage, that is also in the neighbourhood and a stone’s throw from the hotel.

The architect Irene Soriano from ESEIESA is responsible for the architectural project and is also a neighbour. Juanjo Picó and Jorge Soriano, who are also local and who worked on CuldeSac, helped them with the interior design as, although neither Daphne nor Wouter are interior designers by profession, they were both clear on the aesthetic they wanted for their hotel. As you can see from the images, good design is everywhere, and that is something they have achieved thanks to an excellent choice of objects: from lamps by Arkoslight to furniture by Viccarbe, among many other details.

More than a hotel

Although the hotel opened last year, they have already organized activities for clients and people from the neighbourhood and from Valencia, such as a yoga workshop, a Nomad Kitchen dinner and, coming soon, they will hold a dried preserved flower workshop together with the florists, Flor de luna.

In fact, they told us they had many ideas related to art, culture, craftwork and gastronomy that will gradually see the light.

Without further ado, we can only recommend that you discover it for yourselves. YOURS boutique hotel is a unique, inspiring project in this bubbly Mediterranean city, that is living its best moment.

“We want to offer an experience that will last longer than your stay.”

(*) Photos by Ely Sánchez.

Share this article

Comparte

• Facebook
• Pinterest
• Twitter