The new Guest Lounge at ARCOmadrid 2025: Mesura reinterprets ephemeral architecture with an intimate and sustainable landscape

Each year, ARCOmadrid not only becomes the epicentre of contemporary art but also a field of experimentation for design and architecture. In its 2025 edition, the Guest Lounge—a space reserved for rest and conversation among industry professionals—takes a radically different direction. Designed by the Barcelona-based studio Mesura, this new intervention moves away from the grandeur of previous editions to explore the concept of 'non-architecture'. A refuge of sinuous forms, reused materials, and an immersive atmosphere.

“We define this intervention as 'non-architecture', as the ephemeral,” explain Mesura. “We have spent a long time questioning what an ephemeral intervention should be, and the answer always revolves around sustainability and the coherence of a space that will only exist temporarily.” This reflection has led the studio to conceive a lounge that does not impose itself on the space but rather accompanies it, creating an almost theatrical environment.

The conceptual starting point of the design stems from the inspiration of ARCOmadrid 2025, which this year revolves around the idea of Amazofuturismo. In response, Mesura has translated this into a reinterpretation of something very specific: “Our proposal is specifically inspired by the meanders of the Amazon River, those sinuous geometries that can create intimacy, which was the main spatial goal we wanted to achieve,” they explain.

This exploration is not limited to form but also involves other sensory elements such as light and music, reinforcing the idea that this is not just a space designed for a specific purpose but an experience in itself. “Ultimately, what we want to achieve here is a convergence between space, light, and music. It’s more of a scenographic set than an architectural intervention.”

If there is one central element that defines this year’s Guest Lounge, it is its commitment to sustainability. In an environment where ephemerality often goes hand in hand with material waste, Mesura has opted for a radically different approach. “Here, the key has been resource economy. All materials are either reused or reusable,” they emphasise.

One of the most evident examples is the use of trade fair carpet, a material generally considered disposable, which in this project becomes a noble resource. “We are surrounded by trade fair carpets, an element we take for granted as being used on the floors of the entire fair and inherently disposable. Here, we turn it around, using it as a basic material that defines the entire space, and later we will give it a second life.”

The commitment to circular materials extends to the furniture, where Cosentino’s sustainable surfaces stand out, featuring a combination of Silestone Ffrom 03 from the Earthic collection and Dekton Sirius. “The Earthic collection by Silestone, being a concept created by Formafantasma that revolves around sustainability, is something that really appeals to us because we understand it’s the path we all need to follow together.” These surfaces have been used in various key points of the lounge, from the reception bar to tables and structural elements.

Beyond its spatial and material configuration, the Guest Lounge at ARCOmadrid 2025 is defined by a bold chromatic choice: red. This colour, omnipresent in the proposal, is not a casual choice but a key tool for creating the desired atmosphere. “We were working with recycled materials provided by IFEMA, but the colours we had did not create the experimental atmosphere and intimacy we wanted,” explain Mesura.

Thus, red becomes the guiding thread of the space, enveloping visitors in a sensory experience. “On one hand, it creates an intimate and calm atmosphere, and on the other, it establishes a space distinct from the rest. You are entering a new experience, almost like an artistic intervention exploring the space.”

Mesura’s Guest Lounge challenges architectural conventions and establishes a fluid dialogue with art. “This entire intervention culminates in a performance that combines experimentation, art, and music, an approach very similar to Mesura’s philosophy in architecture and design,” they conclude.

Thus, what might initially seem like a simple lounge within the fair becomes a profound reflection on ephemeral architecture, sustainability, and the ability of space to transform human experience. Something akin to 'a transformed landscape'.