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ART IN THE HOTEL

Article appeared in “SUITE” magazine in August 1991

Written by Giuliano Simonelli

 

 

 

 

There is a growing feeling that business Hotels should provide a real break to their clients' daily activities, though all too often the services offered by business hotels tend to create an overly business-like atmosphere.

Today many guests prefer to search out the smaller hotel, one that provides complete relaxation after an intense day. In a large city like Milan, such an atmosphere of relaxation is not easy to create.

Often an excess of technology and the stress of fulltime work cause the hotel to leave their guests isolated in an indistinct space, though surrounded by excellent services. Hotel Spadari, in the centre of Milan, provides an alternative approach, with art as its distinctive hallmark.

The idea was to work direct with the artists during the renovation of the building. Owner Marida Martegani and architect Urbano Perini, designer of the renovation project, enlisted the help of the critic Flavio Caroli, organizer of the 1988 exhibition 'A Milanese story'. From the exhibitors in that show, Caroli chose a group of artists, namely Corona, Nata, Gaetano Grillo, Sergio Ragalzi, An-

gioletta Firpo and Klaus Karl Mehrkens, each of  whom were commissioned to make a series of works to personalize the hotel, in particular the rooms.

The intent was not one of mere decoration, but related to a careful selection by an established art

critic.

Sculptor Gio Pomodoro was commissioned to make a large wall-sculpture and fireplace (perfectly functional) for the hall: the work determines the organization of the surrounding space, both in

terms of practical functions and architecture. In fact the sculpture represents a focus for the sequence of public spaces on the ground floor. Entering the Hotel, one encounters a winter garden, then the reception area, a lounge, and finally the large fireplace, while on the right is the American bar.

Therefore the hall, though not large, forms a spacious volume satisfying the functional requirements

of the public area. The sophistication of the interiors creates the atmosphere of a private Lounge.

Pomodoro's fireplace is naturally a fundamental element in the scheme: the wall is hand-worked in

Trani marble, with a spiral motif in Verona Red Marble.

Perini has worked with Pomodoro for over twenty years, in many architectural projects, above all in

private houses. Working with artists may mean accepting their particular requirements: Pomodoro

always uses certain proportions in his work, and in fact the entire false ceiling in the ha/l had to

be lowered for a satisfactory installation of the Sculpture. This space, rendered Sober by the simple, clean wall design which enhances the power of the large Sculpture, includes furniture and objects by Ugo La Pietra, a series of light, ironic pieces, amongst which there is a large bar-cabinet available to guests after the American bar has closed. This is another example of how the informal domestic atmosphere was created. La Pietra was given a commission for the design of an exclusive collection of furniture to further personalize the hotel. These pieces, distributed throughout the building, form an easily recognisable hallmark, a key to the hotel's approach. The work of Pierini and La Pietra form a sort of dialogue expressed by surfaces, spaces and furnishings. Great freedom was employed in the selection of pieces for the hall, nearly all form La Pietra's collection for Boffi, while a mole rigorous selection was used in the interior decoration of the rooms, for which greater emphasis was given to the value of single elements. In fact in the

room all pieces were specially designed: beds, corner tables, breakfast tables and dressing tables. Valentino Vago created the wall-decoration in the American bar. Here the paintings create an impression of spaciousness in the small bar, with landscapes of fantasy within beautifully-lit niches containing small objects by La Pietra. The niches are arranged within a number of true architectural drawings: the design of a Monza piazza (from a project by Pierini), the outline of La Scala Opera theatre, and the canal-side houses of Milan.

On the left, there are tables for breakfast or lunch, while the bar itself is on the right. The dominant

Colour in the hall is light blue, a shade that beautifully sets off the furniture in light-coloured Italian walnut. In the room, the same wood contrasts with the walls, finished in intense blue. All the works of art in the hotel are carefully placed, to reinforce the atmosphere of sophistication and calm of the

hotel. Much credit is due to Urbano Pierini who designed the hotel in collaboration with the artists

in order to create a space for art, in which all details receive full attention and in which functional

and artistic elements are intimately blended, so that the guest lives an uninterrupted aesthetic experience.