Brilliant red roses are part of a design constant in the Hotel Faena, Martha Salotti 445, Buenos Aires, Argentina (map).

Set in a completely gutted and repurposed industrial building in the section of the city called Puerto Madero, the Faena makes much use of red, a deep, rich, blood red offset by lots of white walls, black marble, gold moldings and silvery mirrors.

The front door (set well back from the street) is a 10-meter-tall panel of deep garnet glass.

With interiors by French maverick designer Philippe Starck, the place is designed not merely to impress, but to wow its guests. The overall impression is decadent — a belle époque aesthetic touched with modern elegance.

(Photo © 2008 by Susan McKee)