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The beauty of Italian Design Urban Hotel Design

Hotel in Trieste

The beauty of Italian Design

Hotel Urban Design has been inaugurated in December 2006 after a little more than two years of preservative renovation works. This was possible thanks to CIP’s (Community Initiatives Program) “Urban” project, that inspired the name of the hotel. These works changed the purpose of use of four historical buildings – dated back to the 17th and 18th century – located in Trieste’s Old Town.

HARMONY BETWEEN MODERN AND ANCIENT BUILDINGS

ARCHITECTURE

The project was commissioned to architect Mauro Oliveti, born in Veneto to a family of hoteliers and a graduate from the Architecture School of Venice. Inspired by luxury cruise ships, the concept behind the renovation works exploiting the small spaces and providing them with all the possible comforts.

While renovating the buildings, located in the historical area of the city, many archaeological remains have been discovered. Among these are the ruins of the wall of the Roman city of Tergeste (dated between the 4th and the 6th century AD) and of a stepped dock, which dates back to the building of the harbour between the 1st and the 2nd century AD. Both of them can now be admired in the Breakfast Room of the hotel.

This great result would not have been possible without the technical support of leading Italian and local enterprises: master craftsman Simon Benetton, Settimo Costruzioni, Capiotto (plumbing systems), Fabbian (chandeliers), Moroso (chairs and part of the furniture).

SIMON BENETTON: MASTER OF IRON

SCULPTURE

Born in Treviso in 1933, Simon Benetton attended Venice’s Academy of Fine Arts. He taught sculpture at Macerata’s Academy of Fine Arts and has been working with state schools since the 80s. Well known in Italy and abroad, sculptor Simon Benetton has been invited to several international exhibitions and received recognitions and awards in many countries.

“The focal point of Simon Benetton’s sculptures is not the iron, but the rhythmic dynamism he infuses in his works. He does not write on the metal, he uses metal to write signs and signals in the space. To Simon Benetton sculpting is creating a constellation of signs and formal elements in a spatial context”

Enrico Crispolti

VARIOUS PAINTINGS OF NICOLA TOMASI ARE HUNG IN THE HALL, IN THE BREAKFAST ROOM AND BAR

PAINTING

Nicola Tomasi, who has been active in Gorizia for several years now, is a refined minimalist and visionary painter. Through his calculated and flawless technique, he can create the most fantastic architectures, like his memory palaces, light but strong images that – thanks to elegantly forced perspective – seem to fly in the sky. His works present a rational yet original layout, that follows the rules of intuition and modern composition. It is not by chance that his inventions and structures derive from one of the main artistic expressions of the 2000s, photography. Tomasi has always been an enthusiastic photographer, and it is actually thanks to photography that he drew close to painting. In the last few years his silent palaces won this very modern and “wise” artist several awards. Marianna Accerboni

THE PERFECT FUSION OF MODERN AND ANCIENT TASTE

INTERIOR DESIGN

The lighting system revolves around the original fusion between LED and modern-style lamps, which enhances the forms and the colours of the furniture. A 3m long custom-made suspension lamp is hung in the hall, next to Simon Benetton’s large sculpture and above the reception desk (whose design is inspired by nautical furniture). The uniform light cast by the suspension lamp contrasts with the ceiling lights and the Zen niches in the hall, as well as with the LED lights of the Cricket niches in the corridors. These lights in particular enhance the original stone wall and the ancient architectural remains. The same cool light high power LEDs light up the bar counter and contrast with the warm light of the Motion appliques and of the four original Dono appliques, whose glasses create particular light effects on the walls. In the guestrooms, the irregularity of the forms is enhanced by the asymmetrical Motion appliques-abatjours. All the rooms feature ultramodern technologies and minimalistic-style furniture, inspired by luxury cruise ships.

IN SEARCH OF THE ESSENTIALS:Original chairs

FURNITURE

• The lounge area features Catifa di Molina chairs by Arper. Essential yet sensual, the chairs’ elegant curve perfectly combine with their refined outline.
• The bar area features Three Skin Chair by Moroso, a sculptural chair designed by Ron Arad in 2004. The sinuous chair is made of multilayer beechwood which was bent and varnished.
• Every room features Moroso's Soft Big Heavy designed by Arad. This armchair is characterized both by visual softness and full volumes, and by great comfort.
• The hall features Moroso’s Steel Divani by Enrico Franzolin. Classical and linear, these black leather couches come with a wide seat and a comfortable seatback.

IN SEARCH OF THE ESSENTIALS:Reception Desk

FURNITURE

The unusual reception desk has been made upon a specific request by Mr Costantin, owner of the hotel and enthusiastic sailor, born to a family of Venetian hoteliers. The desk, inspired by the sailing world and in particular by boat keels, was commissioned to an Italian shipyard that builds sailing and motor boats using leftover composite materials.

IN SEARCH OF THE ESSENTIALS:Quality beds for quality sleep

FURNITURE

The quality of our guests’ sleep is of the utmost importance to us, that is why every room in our hotel features 100% Italian hand-made mattresses, produced by Falomo manifacture. The wood bed frames are custom-made by Italian woodworkers from a design by Moroso, which includes asymmetrical headboards and bedside tables.