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HOTELS & RESTAURANTS, beyond mainstream

All the shades of Venice in the Rialto Luxury Apartments designed by THDP

Stella Manferdini

HOTELS & RESTAURANTS, beyond mainstream

23.06.23

Keywords:

Creations , Craftsmanship , High-end hospitality , Sustainability

A city rich in culture, art and charm, Venice is also known for its specific historical architecture. Overlooking the sea and the lagoon, with its canals, narrow streets – the so-called calle – and art districts, Venice represents with its buildings a rare and recognizable architectural model. Therefore, unique in the world and dreamed by all, the magic of Venice is also to be found in the works of writers, directors and poets of all ages. Thus, it is not surprising that it is also one of the most popular tourist destinations. Precisely to meet the growing demand from tourists for a space of serenity at the end of long visits to urban areas, THDP – the London-based studio led by architect Manuela Mannino and interior designer Nicholas J Hickson – has renovated twelve high-end apartments in the heart of the San Marco district.

Rialto Luxury Apartments, Venice, Italy, THDP <br /> Image copyright: @Giorgio Baroni

Rialto Luxury Apartments, Venice, Italy, THDP
Image copyright: @Giorgio Baroni

Nestled between two historic must-see places of the city, namely Piazza San Marco and Rialto Bridge, the building that houses the apartments is a historic edifice with a view on the Grand Canal and, as such, has a distinctive character and decorative exteriors of visual impact. The original elements of the palace have been mostly preserved and restored, albeit with an eye to contemporaneity. These include mullioned windows, arches, shutters and the typical cone-shaped fireplaces. These latter constitute a traditional element of local architecture and in the past have been decorated and frescoed by artists of the stature of Giorgione and Titian. As for the interior spaces, the richly decorated stucco ceilings of the main rooms have been entirely preserved and, with them, the original railings, steps and stairs. The staircase in particular required much attention during the restoration work as the studio wanted to reinstate the original wall appliqués while maintaining the historical character. For this reason, some signs of wear were left on the walls and stairs, and the effect is a genuine dive into the past of the place.

The history of the San Marco district has inspired on several fronts the project which, indeed, is flawlessly placed in the Venetian landscape. In the fifteenth century, the calle where the palace is located was a craft centre. Here were produced in particular crockery, pots and small objects in pewter and tin for everyday use, always marked by the seal of the guild according to tradition. This local story provided inspiration to a number of pewter-effect design elements, such as the Mepra pewter cutlery and vases designed by THDP and made by APIR as well as the historic antiques framed and hung inside the apartments. In addition, each of the latter bears the name of an ancient worker, as a further link with the city tradition to hand down to visitors.

Rialto Luxury Apartments, Venice, Italy, THDP
Image copyright: @Giorgio Baroni

Colour epitomises a meaningful aspect of the project. In fact, the colours of Venice bring with them a narrative quality as the pigment, with its transformation attributable to the passage of time, recounts to us something. The phenomenon of the tides, which wears and oxidizes the surfaces of the city, is also at the origin of a specific spectrum of tones that recalls nature, the shades of Venetian marble and the colours typical of royal insignia. All the colour shades used in the project, both internally and externally, derive from this chromatic palette.

Openness to the city and attention to light effects are two other aspects that characterize the palazzo. In order to ensure the entrance of natural light, the large skylight has been restored and the decorated glass of the three-mullioned windows on the roof terrace has been repaired. Right at the center of the stairwell’s skylight has been hung a chandelier printed in fabric by Mariano Fortuny, the Spanish-born Italian artist and designer renowned for his finest printed fabrics. Finally, on the ground floor there is a small hall accessible both by sea and by land designed as a connection point between the entrances of the building. This space, truly unique in its kind, also features outdoor furniture as a precaution for the tides.

Rialto Luxury Apartments, Venice, Italy, THDP
Image copyright: @Giorgio Baroni

As for the layout and structure of the apartments, each of them includes an entrance corridor, a living room with kitchen, two bedrooms and two bathrooms – one of which is private. Canale De La Fava is the natural landscape on which all the main rooms have a sight. The interior design is informed by an idea of relaxation and tranquility well expressed in the use of a palette of neutral tones, enlivened by furniture sourced mostly locally with accents of mustard, gold, magenta and teal shades. The rooftop suite is distinguished by the additional component of the terrace, designed as an extension of the living area. Overlooking the interior of the buildings, the balcony also offers a unique view of the rooftops and streets of the city.

With a view to sustainability, this project has adopted a “microlocal language” involving local businesses and thus reflecting the high quality of Made in Italy and the knowledge of Venetian artisans. Among the selected companies, all characterized by a perfect synthesis between classic and contemporary design, there are Italamp – with whom THDP has designed a collection of lamps in borosilicate and brass inspired by female Venetian figures known as lovers of the poet Giacomo Casanova – Barbini – in charge of the decorative Murano mirrors – Rubelli – chosen for the fabrics covering the decorative cushions throughout the building, some upholstered objects and especially for the creation of a particular work of art present in every room behind the headboard. Rubelli fabric has also been digitally printed on large Florim tiles in order to frame bathroom furniture and mirrors. Furthermore, with the Venice Biennale last year, THDP had the opportunity to get in touch with international and local artists and creatives. The desire to celebrate the craftsmanship of the city is indeed reflected in the choice of marble papers by master Alberto Valese combined with antique frames and cutlery by Italian company All’Origine.