There is a difference between decorating a space and choosing a space that does not need to be decorated. The first requires budget, planning, suppliers and the hope that the result resembles the Pinterest reference. The second requires good judgment and a reservation with enough lead time.
Etro Rooftop is in the second category. Not because decoration is irrelevant in a celebration, but because the space’s architecture and the views it offers produce a visual backdrop that any additional decoration would struggle to improve and would find easy to disrupt.
What to expect from the space as a setting
Etro Rooftop’s architecture was designed by Andrés Martínez of studio INTO with the same principles defining the rest of Binn Hotel: local materials, clean lines, natural light and a deliberate relationship between the interior space and the exterior landscape.
In a celebration context, that means the space has its own visual character before any additional decorative element arrives. The floor-to-ceiling windows framing the Valle de Aburrá, the Colombian wood and stone materials, the lighting adjustable in temperature and intensity for the moment of the evening — all of those elements are there without the event organizer needing to bring them.
At night, when Medellín’s lights spread across the valley and the mountains form the dark perimeter, Etro’s visual backdrop is difficult to match by any external decoration production. Guests arrive and have an immediate visual reaction that no balloon arrangement can produce.
What types of decorative elements work at Etro
Understanding what works in the space is as important as knowing what to avoid. Binn Hotel’s events team has the judgment on this because they know the space and have seen which types of intervention complement it and which compete with it.
What works:
- Low-height floral arrangements. Fresh flowers at the center of the table, with arrangements that do not block guests’ sightlines toward the view. Preferably Colombian seasonal flowers that have coherence with the space’s color palette — earth tones, greens, whites.
- Discreet signage. For birthdays with the birthday person’s name or a personalized message, signage elements in quality materials — acrylic, wood, metal — that respect the space’s design rather than plasticizing it.
- Candles and warm lighting. For dinner or evening celebration formats, candles at the centerpiece intensify the space’s warmth without altering its character. The rooftop lighting can be coordinated with the team to complement that effect.
What tends not to work:
Balloons in quantity, paper banners, fabrics hung from the ceiling. Not because they are low-cost objects — there are sophisticated versions of all of those elements — but because they compete visually with the architecture and the view rather than complementing them. The space gains when additional decoration is precise, not when it is abundant.
The host team’s coordination
Binn Hotel trains its team as hosts — not just as service staff — so that the coordination of a celebration’s details happens without the organizer or the birthday person having to manage anything during the event.
That includes: table preparation according to prior instructions, coordination of special event moments (cake presentation, toast activity, arrival of a surprise element), management of the guest arrival flow and orientation within the space, and attention to the event dynamic’s signals to adjust the service rhythm.
For celebrations with a surprise element — a special guest arriving at a specific moment, a personal video, a coordinated message — the team can include that element in the event logistics without the birthday person anticipating it.
Related reading: Birthday at Etro Rooftop: how to choose the right format
Photo session in the context of the birthday
Etro Rooftop has photographic conditions that few celebration spaces in Medellín replicate. The panoramic view, the quality of golden hour light and the architectural design of the space produce photographs with a backdrop that communicates the celebration’s level without additional equipment.
For those wanting to document the celebration more professionally, the space admits external photographers who know the space — the events team can recommend options who have previously worked at Etro and know the angles that best use the light and the view.
For social media use, the floor-to-ceiling windows with the Valle de Aburrá as the backdrop are one of the most circulated backdrops from Medellín’s rooftop scene. That visual recognition has its own communication value for the birthday person who wants the celebration to be visible in their digital community.
Related reading: Etro on social: how influencers amplify the rooftop aesthetic
Frequently asked questions
Does the Binn Hotel team coordinate birthday decoration?
The team advises on which decorative elements work in the space and can coordinate floral arrangements and signage elements with suppliers who know the architectural design. For more elaborate decorations, the organizer can bring their own supplier with prior coordination with the hotel’s events team.
Is it possible to arrange a professional photo session at Etro for the birthday?
Yes. The space admits previously coordinated external photographers. The golden hour light window — between five and six-thirty in the afternoon — is the best quality light moment for photographs on the 16th floor. For sessions at that time, prior coordination with the team ensures the space is available.
Is it possible to organize private birthday events with full space exclusivity?
Yes. For birthdays requiring the full Etro space, the events team can coordinate the exclusive rooftop reservation. Capacity is up to 80 people in seated format or up to 150 in cocktail format. For smaller groups, there is the option of a reserved section within the rooftop during regular hours.
