Four Seasons Hotel & Residences Cartagena

When the Santo Domingo family, with strong Colombian roots, identified an opportunity to revitalize a group of historic yet underutilized landmark buildings in Cartagena, their development company, San Francisco Investments, partnered with Four Seasons to establish a new model for a luxury destination.

Located in the Getsemaní neighborhood adjacent to Cartagena’s historic walled city, a UNESCO World Heritage site, the project includes the 16th-century San Francisco cloister and temple, the 1920s landmark Club Cartagena, and several historic buildings and theaters.

“Adaptive reuse was a central theme to the Four Seasons Hotel & Residences Cartagena project. These buildings were never intended to function as a single destination, so the challenge was to bring them together in a way that feels natural and respects their authenticity, while meeting the expectations of the modern luxury traveler.” — Monica Cuervo, Managing Director

WATG was engaged as Hotel Designer from the outset and led the overall concept design and development strategy, focusing on complex site planning and creating the framework for the buildings that comprise the hotel and the project vision before transitioning later phases to additional design partners.

Celebrated French designer François Catroux, a longtime collaborator of the Santo Domingo family, was brought on to conceive the interior design vision. Through early discussions with Catroux and the client, Wimberly Interiors, who joined during the interiors development phase, gained insight into their perspective, aesthetic sensibility, and appreciation for art and fashion, which influenced the direction of the project.

Working in close collaboration with historic preservation specialists and engineers, WATG crafted an adaptive reuse strategy that honored the integrity of the centuries-old structures while meeting the exacting standards of a world-class hotel brand, a demonstration that the most sophisticated form of sustainability is not building new, but thoughtfully transforming what already exists.

Due to strict heritage, zoning, and code constraints, including height limits and a high water table level, these heightened complexities and limitations guided the approach and informed the planning of the entire site, creating a clear framework for the existing structures and defining spatial relationships between key program elements.

A new building was introduced within the existing courtyard to relate to the historic fabric. The broader renovation evolved through multiple iterations to preserve façades and architectural elements wherever possible. Where structures had deteriorated beyond repair, they were rebuilt in keeping with the original detailing. During construction, discoveries such as frescoes, murals, wood beams, and stone columns prompted revisions, allowing these features to be restored and incorporated into the project.

Arched arcades and open corridors facilitate natural ventilation and movement through the site, calibrated to align with the scale and proportions of the historic buildings. White stucco façades reference Cartagena’s colonial heritage and respond to the coastal climate. Within the San Francisco cloister courtyard, centuries-old trees were preserved, providing shade and a strong visual presence.

Wimberly Interiors led the interior design of the Ballroom de la Veracruz, which serves as an event and cultural center for the property. Drawing from Spanish Colonial architecture and François Catroux’s understated aesthetic, the team approached the interiors with restraint, allowing the historic character of the spaces to remain prominent. Located within the former Teatro Colón, the ballroom retains its original checkerboard floor, complemented by chandeliers that provide warm illumination. Restoration of the original brick dome above the stage revealed a centuries-old fresco that adds depth to the space.

The team also designed the fitness center and Umari Spa, offering a calm and refined wellness experience within the former cloisters and adjacent building. Spaces are organized to support a gradual transition from arrival to treatment. Upon entry, a blackened steel spiral staircase is integrated into the historic architecture. A textural palette of plaster walls, patterned tilework, and natural wood and stone is paired with woven furnishings and blackened steel detailing, creating character with a more current expression. The spa includes six treatment rooms, a couple’s suite, hair salon, relaxation lounge, steam room, and boutique.

In addition, Wimberly Interiors played an integral role in the development of all other interior spaces designed by Catroux and AvroKO, working closely with both teams and San Francisco Investments to maintain alignment with their original design intent and articulate a cohesive composition for the hotel and residences. Catroux passed away before the project’s completion.

Four Seasons Hotel and Residences Cartagena introduces a new level of luxury hospitality in Colombia and South America, positioned within one of the region’s most historically and culturally significant cities. The adaptive reuse project required extensive collaboration among a team of skillful design partners, led by San Francisco Investments, to align the site’s existing conditions with modern hospitality standards and contributes to Cartagena’s evolving cultural and design landscape.

“The project was driven by a genuine passion to create something meaningful for Cartagena. We approached the interiors with a sense of care and restraint, complementing the historic architecture and honoring Catroux’s original vision.” — Liana Hawes Young, Creative Director, Wimberly Interiors

Photography by William Laird.