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Hotels are about more than just the art of service and hospitality. These days hotels also involve the art of architectural design - the process that conveys and expresses the way of being and living.

STYLE & HARMONY: The Boutique Hotel Experience 259 pp, 1,450 baht ISBN 978-607-437-110-9. Available at Asia Books.

Style & Harmony: The Boutique Hotel Experience puts together 18 outstanding hotels and resorts in Mexico, each representing its own unique and stunning architectural design. Presented in two languages - Spanish and English - the 259-page book is full of excellent photographs of these 18 hotels that make the book interesting to read even if you absolutely have no plan to visit Mexico in the near future.

Each hotel comes with descriptive information regarding its location, its design, and some useful basic design techniques - some of which can be applied at home.

The 18 hotels featured in the book are all different in terms of design, but they share the common goal of providing their visitors with a pleasant and unique experience. Coupled with their good cuisine, music, good selection of furniture, the hotels were created not just as a place for relaxation, but also a place to arouse emotions among visitors.

It does not really matter whether you have ever heard of the hotels featured in the book or whether they have achieved a full occupancy rate, because when it comes to architectural design, they have all been proven a success, as stated in the book's introduction: "Success is defined in terms of visitors leaving the hotel in some way transformed as a result of the intense, rich and joyful experience, and wishing they could have spent more time there."

A private mansion with only nine rooms, Maison Couturier is an ‘agriculture guest house’ that revives the atmosphere and values of the countryside.

Situated on Quinta Avenida in Playa del Carmen just a few yards from the sea, Hotel Basico embodies a profound challenge to the traditional concept of hotels.

Azucar located on the beaches of Veracruz is well known for the simple and refined things in life.

La Purificadora is the most avant-garde offering in the city of Puebla.

At Capella Ixtapa, the overwhelming beauty of the details is complemented by the soothing perfection of the distant horizon.

Distrito Capital sits in the heart of Sante Fe, Mexico’s most modern and extensive business centre.