Hotel Il Palazzo Experimental: A Love Letter to Venice

A LOVE LETTER TO VENICE

Published in OnOffice magazine, December 2019

Hotel Il Palazzo Experimental by Dorothée Meilichzon is a celebration of the Venetian cityscape that surrounds it.

FROM A SMALL cocktail bar that opened in 2007 in Paris, Experimental Group has grown into one of the most intriguing hospitality brands in the world. Today, it has speakeasies, wine bars, restaurants and hotels in Paris, New York, London, Ibiza, Verbier and – most recently – Venice. The company’s latest project, newly-unveiled Il Palazzo Experimental, is a dazzling hotel in a Renaissance palace located in the heart of Venice’s Dorsoduro neighbourhood.

The new hotel is situated in the former headquarters of the Adriatica naval transport company and seems lifted from the set of a Wes Anderson film. It features 32 rooms – superior, deluxe, suites and junior suites – all flooded with natural light and boasting views of the Canale della Giudecca at the front or a ‘secret’ garden in the back, alongside Il Ristorante Adriatica, a rooftop terrace and the Experimental Cocktail Club Venice.

The fit out, by Experimental Group’s design partner Dorothée Meilichzon, is inspired by local references and the Venetian vernacular. “We wanted the hotel to ‘fit in’,” says Meilichzon. “So, we did a lot of research on Venice: its history and architects, but also the neighbourhood of Dorsoduro and the building itself.”

The design team retained some original elements, but updated these to fit the strikingly modern interior. The restored timber beams in the Dorsoduro Suite have become an eye-catching feature against a muted backdrop of terracotta pinks; while the impressive double timber doors that lead to the suites were painted with bold blue and white stripes evoking nautical iconography.

These striped doors, as well as upholstery fabrics, echo the design language of the gondoliers and pali da casada (mooring poles) along the network of canals, while Gothic shapes and arched windows, mirrors and wall niches pay homage to the Venetian cityscape.

A rich material palette includes hand-glazed tiles, carved dark timber, custom brass lighting and Breccia Capraia marble; as well as traditional finishes adding a modern twist. “We used all the timeless Venetian savoir-faire with contemporary colours,” says Meilichzon. “The marble terrazzo scarpa flooring and the marmorino plaster on the walls were made the traditional way, but with our own colours.”

This signature colour palette – vast swathes of cool blues, greens and silvers alongside rich sunset hues – is also inspired by the city, namely the iconic lagoon and colourful Venetian facades.

“The laguna is my favourite part of Venice,” says Meilichzon. “In particular, we played with its colour and shape of the water on the banquettes in the restaurant.” The result is a hotel that is truly of its place. “We want guests to feel as if they are actually in Venice,” says Meilichzon. “And, we wanted to bring a little fun to the experience, for both visitors and locals.”