Hotel Duomo
Rimini / Italy / 2004-2006
A new luxury hotel set in the Emilia-Romagna area in the historic centre of Rimini.
Client: Pierpaolo Bernardi
Built Area: 2700 m2
Executive Architect: Pierandre Associates (IT)
Structure: Milco Fregnan (IT)
Project Manager: Marco Pignocci (IT)
M&E: Andrea Raggini (IT)
Lighting: DALD (UK)
Photo: Alberto Ferrero
The Duomo Hotel has existed in the historic centre of Rimini, one of Italy’s established seaside resorts, unchanged for many years, until 2003 when Ron Arad Architects were asked to redesign it as way to address the changing demand in the area and attract a younger clientele. The hotel is situated in anarrow street, typical of Emilia-Romagna area, with a wide façade and in close proximity to the façade of the building opposite. This condition suggestedthat the articulation of the façade and the carving of its new identity into the fabric of the existing building would be a successful means of connectingthe hotel to the street and would be the first important step in the design process. The existing façade is wrapped in a new skin of bronze which meandersits way inside the building, forming the back wall of the bar and terminating in the profile of a bench seat. In this way the interior and the street areconnected.
Photo: Alberto Ferrero
The entrance to the hotel is through giant pin-ball-flipper-like doors framing the view to the reception desk which becomes the focal point of the hotel.The desk takes the form of a tapering stainless steel ring dramatically leaning at an angle against a polished steel column. Shelves are imbedded into thering expressing the horizontal topography of the desk. The wall behind is formed using a series of aluminum fins allowing natural daylight to flood thespace and enabling a filtered view into the office behind. The bar itself is a large island with fjord-like scoops routed out of it for the patrons to eat anddrink at. The bar top is formed in bronze and its sides are finished in mirror polished stainless steel, creating distorted reflections which highlight theactivity in the bar. In summer, three glass roller shutters at ground floor disappear into the façade opening the bar up to the street.
The hotel bedrooms are uniquely designed in such a way that individually Corian® bathroom pods form the backdrop to the sleeping area. Each pod isa wet room with a teak slatted timber floor and has a large circular glazed window which lets natural light into the space, the exterior of which formsthe bed head. Through a careful choice of materials and attention to detail, from the door handles to custom designed furniture, the hotel combines tocreate an unconventional and exciting design.
Awards:
European Hotel Design 2006 - Best Lobby/Public Area/Best Bar & Restaurant
Travel & Leisure 2007 - Best Small Hotel of the Year
