Hotel Calimala Milano Reimagines a 1960s Wallpaper Showroom

By
Admin
-
0
6


Porta Venezia is one of booming Milan’s most sought-after neighborhoods. At its center is the new Hotel Calimala Milano, imagined by award winning architect Alex Meitlis as a historically sensitive homage to the Northern Italian metropolis and the Jannelli&Volpi wallpaper showroom that was once housed here. It’s Milu Holding Group’s fourth Italian property and second under the Calimala moniker. Like the Florence address, it closely reflects the mood of its surroundings.

The wallpaper brand is known for its bold graphic prints, pictorial transfers, and floral patterns. The hotel reflects that eclecticism but in a cohesive palette of noble materials, sheen lacquered surfaces, and colorfully reflective backdrops. Nods to the original 1960s showroom are undeniable but so is Milan’s uniquely elegant and slightly ornate modernism.

A modern elevator lobby with glossy wood-paneled walls, mirrored surfaces, and a black marble floor with white veining, illuminated by recessed ceiling lights.

“We wanted Hotel Calimala Milano to feel like a natural extension of the city,” says Meitlis. “It’s modern, yet presents a classic and enduring aesthetic, bringing Milan’s elegance and energy to life with touches like floor-to-ceiling windows, private balconies, and unique Italian materials.”

Modern restaurant interior with marble floor, mirrored walls, red tables, wire chairs, and a long wooden bar; large windows show a city street outside.

Modern cafe interior with wire chairs featuring red cushions, round tables, large windows, and a black patterned floor. Natural light illuminates the space.

Covered patio with red chairs and round tables, stone-patterned floor, and green vines climbing beige walls, opening to an outdoor garden area.

The 88 guest rooms – including four distinct suites – are rendered in glossy walnut wood built-ins, mirrored walls, oversized spherical pendants, and pops of carefully chosen color – transporting the spaces to another, slightly groovier time.

Modern living room with black and white marble floor, wood-paneled wall, black lounge chairs, a glass coffee table, and a mounted TV. Bright, minimalist decor with large windows and shelving.

A room with a couch and a table.

And yet, the clever proportioning of geometric forms suggests a degree of timelessness. Tying everything together are especially graphical terrazzo floors – large roughly-hewn blocks of black marble sourced locally.

Modern bathroom with orange walls, a freestanding white bathtub, double sinks, mirrored cabinets, glass shower, and black and white marble flooring.

Modern rooftop terrace with wooden decking, a white lounge chair, a square hot tub, towel rack, and metal railing, overlooking neighboring buildings under a blue sky.

Modern hotel room with a large bed, glass desk, brown leather chair, marble floor, and a view through tall windows; bathroom visible in the background.

Clay pinks, citrus oranges, and minty blues play off of crafted wood bed frames lacquered and slightly curved in an oh so Milanese touch of Art Deco flourish. Adjoining bathrooms are almost entirely painted in these distinctive tones. Curated by sculptor Carmel Ilan, photos by Dafna Arnon bring the surrounding city in even more. The frames of which were predetermined before images were captured. The reverse-engineered approach ensures a seamless translation of Meitlis’ vision, one conceived as a singular sculptural statement piece.

Modern hotel room with two twin beds, a large mirror, desk, TV, marble floor, and a window with a view of a balcony and cityscape.

While most rooms feature rain showers and mini bars, the top level suites have fully stocked and proportioned bars. Here era-appropriate lamps descend from a double height vaulted ceiling. In one, a cow print sofa takes pride of place. Another has a private terrace equipped with a hot tub.

Open wardrobe with glass shelves, hanging space, cups, and a coffee machine next to a desk and wall-mounted TV in a modern hotel room.

Modern hotel room with a wooden bed, gray blanket, marble floor, glass wardrobe, bedside pendant lights, and a large wall mirror behind the bed.

The architect’s total-work-of-art approach – unifying custom, project-specific furnishings and luminaires – carries across to a number of public and internal amenity spaces. The ground-level Espresso Bar links the property to the vibrant street. The sixth-floor rooftop terrace features a sizable infinity pool – a rarity in central Milan – cutting across the skyline of its historic center. On this level, the FIVE restaurant – serving reimagined Mediterranean classics – gives way to the more intimate The Salon lounge.

Modern hotel room with black-and-white marble floor, a bed, wooden furniture, large windows, and an orange-accented bathroom with a glass shower enclosure.

Modern living area with a cowhide sofa, black lounge chair, glass coffee table, wall-mounted TV, wooden desk, marble floor, and large windows with sheer curtains.

Though Hotel Calimala Milano is Meitlis’s “love letter” to the city, it’s also an ode to his late husband, Ivo Bisignano, an editor at Condé Nast Italia. The comprehensive project reflects his essence as a true Milanese mover and shaker.

A rooftop swimming pool with clear blue water, surrounded by potted plants and glass railing, adjacent to a modern building.

Rooftop pool area with lounge chairs, potted plants, and umbrellas overlooking city buildings under a partly cloudy sky.

A rooftop swimming pool with glass railing, potted plants, lounge chairs, and a cityscape view under a partly cloudy sky.

The new ideally situated destination will surely become a popular gathering place during major events like the ever-expansive Milan Design Week and influential Milan Fashion Week.

Modern multi-story building with a grid-like facade, large windows, rooftop greenery, and several cars and a cyclist on the street in front.

What: Hotel Calimala Milano
Where: Milan, Italy
How much: $205
Design draws: A 1960s wallpaper showroom turned sophisticated hotel with a design scheme and rich material palette reflecting the eclecticism of Milanese modernity.
Book it: Hotel Calimala Milano

Go virtually on vacation with more design destinations right here.

Photography by Itamar Ginsburg.

Adrian Madlener is a Brussels-born, New York-based writer specializing in collectible and sustainable design. With a particular focus on topics that exemplify the best in craft-led experimentation, he’s committed to supporting talents that push the envelope in various disciplines.





Source link