Renowned architects' unusual designs are transforming hotels into landmarks

The newly opened Renaissance Barcelona Fira Hotel is perforated by windows that supposedly resemble palm fronds. Designed by lauded architect Jean Nouvel, the distinctive building is one of a number of hotels worldwide conceived by high-profile architects, whose renown ensures the business gains worldwide attention. We look at other "starchitect"-designed hotels making an impression internationally

Best known in Spain for designing the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, Frank Gehry is also the architect behind the Marques de Riscal hotel in Rioja. Each unique, its 43 rooms are "thrown" together in two wings and connected by a footbridge; Gehry also designed furniture for the building

ME London is the first hotel designed by Norman Foster. Its pyramid-shaped lobby is shown here

Zaha Hadid has subsequently been commissioned to design ME Dubai, due to open in 2016

Jean Nouvel remodelled a 1907 building to create Switzerland's Hotel Luzern. He also designed the hotel's furniture and selected film stills to from his favourite directors to be projected onto bedroom ceilings