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    Luca Guadagnino transforms Roman palazzo “steeped in history” into boutique hotel

    Film director Luca Guadagnino’s interior design studio has turned a historic palazzo in Rome, Italy, into a luxury hotel.

    The hotel, named Palazzo Talia, is the first hospitality project from Guadagnino’s Studiolucaguadagnino.
    Originally built in the 16th century, the palazzo was previously a school for children from less privileged backgrounds.
    Studiolucaguadagnino has converted a 16th-century palazzo in Rome into a hotelThe institution, called Nobile Collegio del Nazareno, eventually became more prestigious and taught children of aristocrats. It closed down in 1999, but is now being restored by the Federici family of real estate development firm Gruppo Fresia.
    The firm brought on board Studiolucaguadagnino to create its public spaces to guide the look and feel of the hotel.

    “The most exhilarating aspect was pondering how to intervene in a place so steeped in history and tailor it to a completely different, bespoke garment to breathe new life into the palace,” Studiolucaguadagnino project manager Pablo Molezun said.
    A floral carpet leads to the Magna HallAt the forefront of the hotel’s public spaces is a 248-square-metre hall called the Magna Hall, decorated with 18th-century frescoes. These frescoes were originally painted by Italian artist Gaspare Serenario.
    The studio installed a “monumental” floral carpet in the reception lobby. The carpet leads guests to a central staircase and the frescoed hall.
    The hotel features 18th-century frescoes painted by Gaspare SerenarioThe design of the hotel relied heavily on the use of a wide range of colour hues to achieve a “balanced decorative effect”, Molezun said, describing this as “chromaticism”.
    “Chromaticism guides the entire project, as does our close collaboration with artisans,” he told Dezeen.
    “This aspect allowed us to experiment with various techniques. The project itself is the result of a process aimed at achieving this balanced decorative synthesis.”

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    Centuries-old frescoes also adorn the ceiling of the Bar della Musa, the hotel’s own bar. Its walls are clad in textured blown-mirror panels, which reflect the frescoes.
    Along with the public programme, Studiolucaguadagnino also designed the Terrace Suite on the top floor. The suite, capped with a sloping roof, is lined with peach wood panelling and features an alcove bed.
    The walls of the bar are covered in textured mirror panelsA 66-square-metre terrace extends from the suite, overlooking the inner courtyard of the hotel.
    Landscape artist Blue Mambor curated a selection of tropical foliage for the inner courtyard, transforming it into an “urban oasis”.
    Studio Luca Guadagnino also designed the Terrace SuiteThe remaining 25 rooms and suites were designed by architect Marianna Lubrano Lavadera, founder of MIA Home Design Gallery and designer Laura Feroldi.
    Each room features unique furniture pieces that were designed to blend classic and contemporary styles.
    Tropical foliage lines the inner courtyardStudiolucaguadagnino was founded in 2017. The studio previously created an interior design exhibition at the 2022 Milan design week to mark its public launch.
    Elsewhere in Rome, designer Patricia Urquiola has transformed a palazzo into the Six Senses hotel and American entrepreneur Ian Schrager has converted a bank into The Rome Edition.
    The photography is by Giulio Ghirardi.

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    White-washed Mondrian Ibiza hotel perches above Cala Llonga bay

    Spanish studios Beades Architects and Cuarto Interior have revived a 1970s hotel property overlooking a bay in Ibiza, using local materials and mid-century furniture to transform its interiors.

    The Mondrian Ibiza is perched on a steep hillside above the beach and turquoise waters of Cala Llonga, on the Balearic Island’s east coast.
    Sculptural furniture forms lounge areas in the Mondrian Ibiza lobby”The building was initially constructed as the first purpose-built hotel in the region in response to the growing number of bohemian tourists on the island,” said the hotel team.
    “Despite the launch of super clubs in many central hotspots, Cala Llonga, with its lush greenery, remained an oasis of slow living and authentic island life.”
    Tonal decor is used throughout the hotel’s communal areasFirst built in 1972, the whitewashed structure steps back as it rises, creating spacious balconies for the front south-facing rooms.

    The Mondrian group collaborated with Beades Architects and Cuarto Interior to reimagine the 154-room resort, which has an unusual layout that operators Ennismore had to rethink.
    In the guest rooms, textured plaster walls provide a backdrop for woven leather headboards”Opposite to most guest journeys that are about getting you up to the roof, for this property you arrive on the higher level and gradually make your way down through the spaces to end up four floors lower on the beach,” Ennismore’s global VP of design Mark Eacott told Dezeen.
    Arrival at the hotel brings guests into a whitewashed reception area on the fourth floor that’s “inspired by the area’s natural caves”.
    Mid-century-style furniture is used in the bedroomsA gallery of contemporary art pieces and ceramics gently slopes down to a niche enveloped in indigo blue, which forms the check-in area.
    A variety of mid-century-style furniture pieces forms lounge areas, while a giant patterned rug leads to the main Sun & Moon bar framed by four chunky rounded columns.
    Sliding windows are angled to face the best viewsApproachable from all sides, the bar counter front is carved with reliefs and inset with circular lights designed to emulate the silver bracelets sold at the island’s markets.
    Guest rooms on the upper levels are arranged either side of a long corridor, and oriented at an angle so that their sliding windows face the best views and balconies don’t overlook the neighbours.
    Guest room balconies offer private spaces to relax outdoorsIn the guest rooms, the decor continues the Mondrian’s neutral scheme while incorporating accents like woven leather headboards and textured linen curtains.
    Slatted wood cabinets are designed to evoke the fisherman’s dry docks found on the coves and beaches across the island.
    The white-washed building stands in contrast to the verdant surrounding hillsMondrian Ibiza is connected to a sister property, Hyde Ibiza, and shares several common facilities across the lower terraces.
    These include a swimming pool, bar and lounge area, while another pool is reserved for Mondrian guests – both surrounded by cabana beds.

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    Between the two hotels, guests have access to seven restaurants and bars, including Mexican eatery Cuyo on the Hyde’s upper terrace, and a Japanese dining experience called Nico on the Mondrian’s third floor.
    For casual fare during the day, the poolside Bungalow bar and grill offers bites and cocktails in a tropical-themed space that spills outdoors.
    Mondrian Ibiza shares a main pool area with sister property Hyde IbizaArt placed throughout the hotel is curated by London-based collective Gone Rogue, and includes resin sculptures by Corine van Voorbergen in the lobby.
    “The hotel bears all the aesthetic hallmarks of a Mondrian, yet there is a softness, and an element of movement conveyed through structural curves, organic shapes and sculptural fluidity that speaks to the island,” Eacott said.
    The hotel occupies a renovated 1970s property that was one of the first in the areaIbiza offers a wealth of options for tourists looking for a relaxing getaway, as well as those arriving to enjoy the famed nightlife.
    In Ibiza town, the Montesol Experimental and The Standard hotels cater to a younger crowd, while countryside retreats like Aguamadera and Campo Atelier provide guests with a slower pace.

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    Nicemakers renovates Swiss chalet interiors with mid-century modern furniture

    In the village of Adelboden in Switzerland, Amsterdam-based Nicemakers has transformed the interiors of The Brecon, a hundred-year-old chalet, into a secluded retreat.

    The intention for the 18-room chalet, called The Brecon, was for it to be “like a high-end version of your own home,” Nicemakers head of design Lottie Lorenzetti told Dezeen. The studio wanted the hotel rooms to feel like guest rooms in someone’s home.
    Rooms at The Brecon have been styled to feel like guests are staying in “a home away from home””We set out from the very beginning with the intention of not creating another clean, minimal, Swiss hotel aesthetic,” Lorenzetti added.
    The client, hotel operator Grant Maunder, wanted to create “a hideaway which feels like a dream home”.
    Across the common spaces, 18 rooms and four suites of the boutique hotel, Nicemakers worked with Maunder to fulfil the brief by creating a series of intimate and characterful interiors with a domestic feel.

    On entry through a bespoke wooden revolving door, the open-plan lounge space progresses into dining and living areas, featuring a sofa tucked away in a secluded nook.
    A two-seater sofa is tucked in a dimly lit nook off the main living areaThe interiors throughout are decorated with wooden panelling and integrated bookshelves, free-standing lamps and mismatched mid-century modern furniture.
    Mantel pieces and coffee tables display a collection of objects, candles and incense holders, statement one-off ashtrays and magazines that were chosen to add to the domestic feel.
    Nicemakers worked with Amsterdam’s Bisou Gallery to select relevant and personal artworks for the walls of The Brecon.
    Coffee tables are filled with homely items like boardgames, candles and matchesTimber, stone, leather and wool, in an earthy palette chosen to complement the hotel’s mountain surroundings, have been used throughout the interior scheme.
    On the ground floor, Nicemaker placed a few casual breakfast tables by an open kitchen to evoke the sense of being a guest in someone’s spacious home.
    The spa, which has a sauna, steam and treatment rooms, and the infinity pool on the terrace looking down the valley to the Engstligen waterfalls, were finished at the scale of a generous private residence, the studio said.
    A crazy-paving entrance space leads through to the open kitchenThe unusual concept for the retreat – in a small town with several more traditional hotels – was executed with a mid-century modern design approach.
    The resulting interiors contrast with the traditional chalet style found in Switzerland.
    Other unusual design details include the repeated use of crazy paving indoors; in the elevators and entranceway, on bedroom balconies and around the pool area.
    Unusual paving has been used around the hotel interiors and exteriors”The crazy paving was a hugely labour-intensive design element – it took a long time to lay and needed a skilled person who came from Wales to do this,” Lorenzetti said.
    Continuing the family affair, all the ceramic crockery was handmade in Wales by Andréa Anderson, who is married to the client Grant Maunder.
    The rooms do not feature mini bar fridges, but rather a variety of cabinetsOriginally Nicemakers had plans for bespoke mini bar cabinets, bedside tables and the same armchairs in each room.
    However, the studio concluded this would have gone against the hotel’s domestic concept.
    “You wouldn’t have a mini bar fridge in your own guest room at home,” explained Lorenzetti.

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    This decision meant that – instead of using the same suite of bespoke elements throughout the hotel – individual items could be sourced and curated for each room.
    “[This] gave the rooms a much more collected, rather than manufactured, feel”, Lorenzetti said.
    An original fireplace was preserved in the new spa areaNicemakers’ design was also informed by some of the original elements from the 1950s and ’60s heyday of the building, which was originally built in 1914.
    Textured plaster, the original red mosaic tiles in the stairwell and the mottled glass all draw from the history of the site. A pre-existing fireplace in the spa was also preserved.
    Vintage and new items were sourced from all over Europe, especially vintage markets in Italy, the UK, the Netherlands and France.
    The palette of the scheme was chosen to reflect the natural surroundingsThe mix of patterns and details was intentional.
    “[We wanted] to imitate a collected mix of items, to steer away from the classic minimal and clean, expected, Swiss aesthetic”, Lorenzetti concluded.
    Other projects in Switzerland recently featured in Dezeen include a 1960s chalet in Zinal renovated by Giona Bierens de Haan Architectures and an extension to a school in Aeschi by Haller Gut Architekten.
    The photography is by Michael Sinclair.

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    Soho House opens in historic São Paulo hospital filled with local art and furniture

    Members’ club Soho House has opened its first location in South America, taking over a historic building in São Paulo and creating interiors influenced by Brazilian modernism.

    Soho House São Paulo sits within the Cidade Matarazzo, a cluster of early 20th-century Italianate maternity ward buildings in the Bela Vista neighborhood that have been restored over the past two decades.
    Shapes and patterns from the mid-century Brazilian modernism movement can be seen throughout Soho House São Paulo, starting in the reception areaA block away from the Avenida Paulista – a major urban artery – and the Museum of Art of São Paulo Assis Chateaubriand, the hotel includes 32 guest rooms and restaurant, bar and club spaces for members.
    “The House’s interiors are inspired by the city’s rich Portuguese heritage and Brazilian modernism,” said Soho House team.
    The ground-floor members’ club spaces are filled with local furniture and artworksSoho House Design worked with local artisans to source Brazil-made furniture and decor for the hotel and club, which revolve around a central courtyard.

    This verdant open-air terrace is furnished with rattan chairs, round tables, and green and white parasols for up to 68 members and guests to convene and dine outdoors.
    In The Game Room, a navy-topped pool table and a large yellow sectional inhabit the spaceLarge arched glass windows bring light into the ground-floor club spaces, where multiple lounge areas include a Sitting Room that can be used for work during the day and a Main Bar where DJs spin.
    The Game Room has a navy-topped pool table and a large yellow sectional, while the Drawing Room is anchored by an ornate marble fireplace and features a secondary bar.
    Arched openings connect various lounge areas through the building, which was once a maternity wardSoho House São Paulo also features two event spaces: the Condessa room and the Zambone room on the second floor, which includes a private bar and a video projector.
    Artwork around the building forms a collection amassed by the Soho House team that includes the work of 60 artists born, based or trained in Brazil.
    Guest bedrooms feature textured plaster walls and bold patterned curtainsA surrealist mural in the main bar, titled Pernas, pra que te quero!, was created by local artist Marcelo Cipis.
    Upstairs guest rooms vary in size, with the larger ones featuring freestanding baths and living areas, and some have a private terrace.

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    Occupying the upper level, the rooms are decorated with textured plaster walls, dark wooden furniture and bold patterned curtains that nod to Brazilian modernism.
    “The lighting and furnishings in every bedroom have been sourced locally, including reclaimed wood floors and hand-painted tiles in the bathrooms,” said the team.
    A central courtyard allows up to 68 members and guests to dine and relax outdoors”At the same time, all fabrics and accessories have been produced in Brazil or handmade in São Paulo,” they added.
    A second phase of development, due to be completed in 2025, will include the addition of a gym with multiple fitness and spa areas, and a rooftop pool bar surrounded by loungers for sunbathing.
    Soho House São Paulo is located within the restored Cidade Matarazzo, a cluster of early 20th-century Italianate buildings in the city’s Bela Vista neighborhoodSoho House currently operates 42 locations worldwide, with recent openings in the Americas including Mexico City, Nashville, Austin and a third outpost in Los Angeles.
    The group was founded in London by Nick Jones in 1995, and became known for its distinctive rustic and eclectic interior style that has since developed to echo contextual cues of each house location.
    The photography is by Christopher Sturman.

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    Lissoni Architecture designs moody, minimal interiors for AKA NoMad hotel

    New York-based Lissoni Architecture has completed a hotel in Manhattan’s NoMad neighbourhood, featuring minimalist interiors that blend Scandinavian and Japanese influences.

    The studio, led by Italian architect Piero Lissoni, designed the AKA NoMad inside a building that formerly housed the Roger New York hotel.
    A bronze-painted spiral staircase anchors the lobby of the AKA NoMad hotelLocated in NoMad – north of Madison Square Park – an area with many design showrooms and hospitality venues, the project marks Lissoni’s first hotel in NYC after opening his US-based architecture office last year.
    “You know the film New York, New York with Liza Minnelli and Roberto De Niro?” Lissoni said. “Well, for me that’s AKA Nomad, my idea of a New York that encompasses music, life, silence, snow, traffic and energy, but always accompanied by a distinct elegance and diversity.”
    An intimate mezzanine-level lounge is housed within a glowing volume”It’s not formalised – it’s a hotel that narrates and speaks with a touch of style, a touch of art deco, a touch of the 1950s… and we’ll see what else,” he added.

    The double-height lobby is anchored by a bronze-painted metal staircase that spirals up past a backlit volume to a mezzanine level that holds an intimate lounge.
    The lobby bar takes advantage of the tall ceiling height and elongated street-facing windowsBanquettes with sage green velvet cushions sit against the illuminated panels on the other side, paired with white-topped tables and various styles of dining chair.
    “The often filtered light generates soft and cocooning environments, where natural materials such as wood and stone are flanked by fabrics of light and neutral tones, and bespoke furnishings are juxtaposed with contemporary design and iconic objects,” said Lissoni Architecture.
    Fluting on the bar counter front and a glass light fixture accentuate the ceiling heightIn the space below, where the ceiling height is lower, soft lighting and comfy seating create areas for guests to relax beside the floating blue reception counter.
    At the front, a bar area takes advantage of the tall ceilings and elongated windows facing onto the street.

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    A glossy black bar counter reflects the minimalist liquor bottle shelving, which also glows from behind, while fluting on the counter front and a glass light fixture accentuates the height of the space.
    On both communal levels, dark tiles laid in a herringbone pattern cover the floors and exposed brickwork is painted beige to create consistency.
    Oversized fabric-upholstered headboards and textured wallpaper soften the bedroomsThe guest rooms and suites continue the same neutral palette and materials, but the balance is tipped towards a lighter tone.
    Oversized fabric-upholstered headboards, plush carpets and textured wallpaper soften the bedrooms, while the bathrooms are lined with dark stone and tiles.
    Guest bathrooms are lined with dark stone and tilesLissoni previously has leant his clean, minimalist style to several of Italy’s top design brands, including Lualdi, Boffi and Salvatori, and recently expanded the Design Holding flagship in New York City.
    He has also served as artistic director of B&B Italia and Sanlorenzo yachts, and was a Dezeen Awards judge in 2023.
    The photography is by Veeral Patel.
    Project credits:
    Design team: Piero Lissoni with Stefano Giussani, Christine Napoli, Antonio Rinaldi, Vincent Chen, Tania Zaneboni, Roberto Berticelli.

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    Post Company and Lázaro Rosa-Violàn turn 17th-century convent into Lisbon hotel

    Design studios Post Company and Lázaro Rosa-Violàn have combined historic features and contemporary touches for the Locke de Santa Joana hotel on the site of a convent in Lisbon, Portugal.

    A 17th-century convent building has been renovated and integrated alongside newly constructed additions to form part of the hotel.
    The Locke de Santa Joana hotel occupies a 17th-century convent in LisbonAmerican studio Post Company designed the interiors of the rooms, while Barcelona-based Lázaro Rosa-Violàn oversaw the design of the hotel’s public spaces.
    Locke de Santa Joana is the latest and biggest property from Locke Hotels – set across nine floors, it contains 370 units comprised of hotel rooms, apartments and suites, as well as a range of public spaces.
    The studios refined and highlighted existing architectural details”The hotel was originally a convent built in the 1600s – in designing the rooms, we wanted to marry this rich history with the contemporary culture of Lisbon,” Post Company partner Jou-Yie Chou told Dezeen.

    While the rooms’ interiors are largely clean and minimal, Post Company refined and highlighted architectural features including archways, pillars and mouldings.
    “We wanted to create a dialogue between the rooms’ architectural ‘bones’ and their interiors,” said Chou.
    Contemporary furniture and lighting elements were added to the roomsThese historic details were complemented with modern furniture, lighting fixtures and decorative elements added in natural tones.
    “Chairs in the kitchens and living spaces have a clear foundation in pews or church furniture, but still read as modern,” said Chou.

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    “Mohair and boucle upholstered furniture in sinuous shapes lend geometric friction, while clean, minimal millwork is softened by over-stuffed textiles,” Chou continued.
    Fabrics, ceramics and stone finishes were sourced from the surrounding area, including rugs and textiles from local makers, as well as a Portuguese stone, Rose Aurora, for the washbasins and a local limestone for the bathroom floors.
    Glass and wood partitions were used to divide spaces within suite-style roomsEach suite-style room has its own living area and burnt orange kitchenette alongside a bedroom, which was divided using a glass and wood partition screen.
    “Glass and wood partitions provide design interest and functionality all at once,” said Chou.
    “They offer both privacy and room definition, creating a residential feel while still allowing light to permeate the room.”
    Lázaro Rosa-Violàn oversaw the design of the public spaces including a cafePublic spaces within the hotel include restaurants, cafes, bars, a co-working and meeting space, as well as a gallery to display pieces found during the renovation of the convent.
    There is also a courtyard pool at the centre of the hotel, framed by dark wooden decking.
    Terracotta pots and mosaic tiles were incorporated throughout the hotel’s interiorLázaro Rosa-Violàn continued the natural, rustic colour palette of terracotta, yellows, greens and blues used in the rooms for the shared spaces.
    “We tried to evoke warm, contemporary spaces while still taking inspiration from the colour tones of the existing architectural elements,” studio founder Lázaro Rosa-Violàn told Dezeen.
    Blue and white mosaic tiles were intended to reference the hotel’s location in PortugalCeramics feature heavily throughout the hotel, with large plant-filled terracotta pots and mosaic tiles traditionally associated with Lisbon lining the walls and tabletops.
    “When talking about Lisbon, the first thing that comes to mind is the distinctive tiles adorning the city’s buildings,” said Rosa-Violàn.
    “We’ve incorporated this element in a modern and contemporary way, combining them with rich textures, patterns, natural materials and colourful fabrics, accentuating the historical architecture.”
    Since its first location opened in 2016, Locke has expanded to include 17 sites across the UK and mainland Europe.
    Other Locke Hotels recently featured on Dezeen include Locke am Platz in Zurich and Locke at East Side Gallery in Berlin.
    The photography is courtesy of Locke Hotels.

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    Casa Yuma hotel built with “vegetal concrete” and pink bricks

    Architecture studio TAAC and interior designer Sara Skalli have created a seaside hotel in Mexico that uses traditional materials including chukum – a finish made from tree resin and limestone.

    Named Casa Yuma, the 25-room boutique hotel is located on Playa Los Naranjos, a short drive from Puerto Escondido on the Pacific coast of Mexico.
    Casa Yuma sits between a palm grove and the beachSkalli, who co-owns the hotel with friends Camille Lambert and Tim de Belloy, felt it was important for the buildings to utilise materials native to the region.
    She and the project architect, TAAC founder Ricardo de la Concha, devised a materials palette that centres around the use of chukum.
    The hotel offers 25 guest suitesDescribed as a “vegetal concrete”, this water-resistant, plaster-like material is made by combining the resin of indigenous chukum trees with limestone-based stucco.

    The material often has a strong red tone –  as seen in other new Mexico buildings like as the Xique Boutique Hotel and Tulix housing – although the colour here is closer to a pale concrete-like grey.
    Furniture and textiles were sourced from local artisansSkalli said the use of chukum was intended to create “an ambience that is both organic and sustainable”.
    “My main goal was to create an environment where elegance harmoniously blends with the surrounding nature while reflecting the warmth and authenticity of this unique land,” she said.
    The entrance is via a thatched palapa hutThe materials palette also includes “salmon pink” adobe bricks from Puebla, which form decorative screen walls, and locally sourced macuil wood, used to build furniture and joinery.
    “The use of materials of Mexican origin was of vital importance,” added De la Concha.
    Building materials include pink adobe bricksCasa Yuma is situated between the seafront and a vast grove of palm trees. It is formed mainly of single-storey buildings, with zigzagging staircases providing access to rooftop patios.
    The reception is housed inside a palapa – a traditional Mexican hut with a palm leaf roof. From here, guests are led past the bedroom suites to arrive at facilities on the beachfront.
    A beach bar is among the seaside guest facilitiesThese facilities include an open-air restaurant, co-working lounge, beach bar, swimming pool, sunken firepit area and a spa cabin.
    “The layout of the elements is based on a linear axis with a direct path from the entrance to the beach, passing through the rooms to reach a pool facing the sea,” said De la Concha.

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    He said the concept was for “a barefoot hotel” where guests always have the feeling of being on the beach.
    “We want to create a unique atmosphere so that guests feel comfortable in every corner of the hotel and feel like they have found a second home,” added co-owner Tim de Belloy.
    The hotel offers co-working and wellness facilitiesThe interior design follows a similar ethos to the architecture, with craft objects and textiles sourced from local makers. These include handmade wall tiles, minimal nightstands, woven rugs and striped bedspreads.
    “Most of the decorative elements come from incredibly talented local artisans and underscore our commitment to preserving regional culture,” said Skalli.
    “The aim is to offer unique spaces, where each room retains its individuality while inspiring a familiar experience.”
    A sunken firepit lounge sits alongside the swimming poolOther recent Mexican hotels on Dezeen include a hotel by Productora and Esrawe Studio on a hilly site in San Miguel de Allende and a boutique hotel coated in pink chukum and set in an artificial wetland in Puerto Escondido.
    The photography is courtesy of Casa Yuma.

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    Venetian palazzo informs “elegant and unexpected” interiors of Hotel Bella Grande

    Bold red-and-white checkerboard tiles and colourful upholstered banquettes lend an Italian feel to the atrium of this Copenhagen hotel designed by local studio Tonen.

    Malene Bech-Pedersen and Mette Bonavent of Tonen oversaw the design of Hotel Bella Grande, which occupies a historic building close to Copenhagen City Hall.
    Constructed in 1899, the five-storey building retained many characterful features but was in need of refurbishment to maximise its potential and bring it up to modern standards.
    Tonen has refurbished a hotel informed by a Venetian palazzoTonen aimed to create interiors for the 109-room hotel that are timeless yet contemporary and combine a sense of nostalgic charm with modern sophistication.
    “For the interior of Hotel Bella Grande we had two important pointers,” said the designers. “First of all to create a design hotel that is a true treat to the eye, and second to highlight the historic and very classic architecture of the building.”

    “The hotel rooms should be luxurious, with high-quality materials and references to midcentury Italian design,” they added. “The interior design plays with a nostalgia that is utterly elegant, but also unexpected.”
    The hotel occupies a historic building close to Copenhagen City HallInspiration for the project came from a trip to Italy, where Bech-Pedersen and Bonavent were impressed by a Venetian palazzo with an open-air central courtyard and peach-coloured walls.
    The atrium at Hotel Bella Grande has a roof light that allows natural light to flood into a bright and welcoming space containing colourful furnishings, floral arrangements and marble-tiled floors that enhance the al-fresco feel.
    Marble tiled floors feature in the bright atrium”We went for ‘wow’,” said the designers of their approach to the interiors, and particularly the reception and courtyard areas that are the first guests encounter upon entering the building.
    “This should be a very one-of-a-kind experience, and nothing like you would normally experience in the centre of Copenhagen.”

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    The atrium was previously a dark and underused space that required significant upgrades to become a prominent focal point within the scheme.
    Soundproof windows were added to all the rooms that overlook the courtyard. All four internal walls were covered in acoustic foam which, along with the soft furnishings, helps to reduce sound reverberation within the space.
    Tonen looked to give the hotel’s rooms and suites a calming atmosphere through the use of muted colours and sophisticated details, such as the coordinated upholstered armchairs and fabric lampshades from Danish brand Oi soi oi.
    The hotel also contains a restaurantThe hotel also contains an Italian restaurant called Donna, with a lively and vibrant interior defined by its use of moody red and pink hues.
    The dining room’s dark red ceiling is complemented by blood-red couches and pink curtains that were designed to create an atmosphere of romance, but have a touch of mystery for the space to take on a nightclub vibe later in the evenings.
    Guests can choose to dine in the main restaurant or in the atrium space, while a laid-back cocktail lounge provides a cosy spot for pre-dinner drinks or late-night conversations.
    An internal courtyard is overlooked by the hotel bedroomsTonen was involved in every detail of the hotel’s interior fit-out, sourcing vintage objects and artworks to sit alongside contemporary pieces including furniture from &Tradition, bedside lamps by Tom Dixon, side tables from Polspotten and bespoke vanities made by by Københavns Møbelsnedkeri.
    “Both Bella and Donna are very much unmistakable expressions of our style,” claimed Bech-Pedersen and Bonavent. “We love the historic references, mixing vintage with new design and the use of materials that age beautifully.”
    The restaurant interior is defined by red and pink huesHotel Bella Grande is owned by Copenhagen Food Collective, a Copenhagen-based group operating 18 restaurants around the city. Tonen has worked on interiors for several of Cofoco’s properties, including Coco Hotel and Restaurant Delphine.
    Other recent restaurant interiors on Dezeen include a steel-and-mirror space in London’s Mayfair area and a Frankfurt restaurant with lime-wash walls.
    The photography is courtesy of Tonen.

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