As the birthplace of the rave scene, Ibiza may be synonymous with hedonistic revelry, but in recent years, this former party capital off the coast of Spain has grown up. The island best known for celebrity-packed soirees with paparazzi lurking in the bushes has set a new tone for itself, instituting rules that state parties must end by 6:30 A.M. (the horror!) and courting tech billionaires and prime ministers in place of reality television stars. You can still find wild dance parties at famous clubs like PACHA, but as a more business-like Ibiza emerges, the island?s aesthetic is beginning to shift toward a distinct Mediterranean mix of classic and modern.

The new Sir Joan hotel, a 38-room boutique paradise with a unique faceted exterior, reflects that transformation. The first Spanish property to come from the Sir Hotels hospitality collective, Sir Joan is set right in the city center adjacent to Talamanca Beach, and its design quirks and details pay tribute both to its nautical surroundings and to the island?s untamed artistic legacy.
Architects and interior designers Baranowitz + Kronenberg have created a stunning design scheme that symbolically brings the waters of the sea right into the rooms without relying on kitsch or being too literal. Textured mirrors applied to the walls and ceilings mimic the look of sunlight reflecting on the surface of the water, while round mirrors in the rooms call to mind the portholes of ships. Wood is used extensively and strategically ...