Venice, noblesse oblige

places to perch and read a book while the light changes through the day”. The interiors are fluid, dynamic and with bold touches: “The most counterintuitive room turned out to be the long hallway, we treated the walls with black Venetian plaster, no one would do that, but it just worked, the hall became elegant and mysterious, it was a fabulous way to showcase the client’s art collection, it really popped. I also love the Master Bedroom, which is very grand, we mixed the Dream headboard system by Marcel Wanders in leather and velvet panels from Poliform with a custom pure silk rug in gold by Joseph Carini. I’ve always wanted to use some furniture designed by Paul Dupré-Lafon, his work is extraordinary”. The apartment has an impressive art collection, including the likes of Cy Twombly, Gerhard Richter, Susan Frecon, Vik Muniz and Lisette Schumacher: “The owner’s collection is primarily contemporary art, including an impressive collection of Chinese art, some of which is in the project. I love working with art collectors, discovering how to live with art is a fascinating challenge”. John Beckmann reveals that his favorite room is the library media room: “I think it’s a very iconic space, it has received a lot of media attention, it is unexpected and shocking, I love the use of red, the sofa, the rug, the bookshelves. It’s also not a very large room, but it looks big, it’s bold and fun, it has a rock star swagger to it”.

The recently opened Hotel Palazzo Nani evokes the long-ago world of the Serenissima Republic without sacrificing contemporary style. Fine furnishings and fabrics are made to measure, dialoguing with marble, wood, frescoes, stucco, in the name of timeless elegance

Since the sixteenth century, the Cannaregio Canal has been a main gateway to Venice coming from the mainland. Of the many noble buildings reflected in its water, one captured special attention: Palazzo Nani, named after the noble Venetian family of that name that had it built and lived there for centuries; later it became a barracks and then a school. After two years of restoration, Palazzo Nani becomes the new jewel in the crown of Venetian hospitality, joining the Radisson Collection. It’s a triumph of stucco and marble chip flooring, historic wood, and frescoes, furnished with clean, sophisticated elegance by Studio Marco Piva (who had designed the Milanese Palazzo Touring Club for Radisson). “Palazzo Nani was a beautiful piece of architecture, but in a state of decline. Turning it into a 5-star hotel was an opportunity to bring it back to life,” explains the architect Marco Piva, who worked closely with the construction man-

Owner: Figura 11 Hotel operator: Radisson Collection Architectural restoration: Sirecon Interior design: Studio Marco Piva Architecture & work supervisor: Venice Plan Ingegneria Main Contractors: Arredo Design, BRB Engineering, Concreta, Prisma Furnishings: Brunner, Calligaris, Ethimo, Miniforms, Natuzzi, Tribu, Wiesner Hager Mobel Lighting: Artemide, Flos, Italamp, Marset, Rossini Illuminazione, Santa & Cole, Vibia Bathrooms: Axor, Ceramica Globo, Crown International, Geberit, Hansgrohe, Margaroli, Vismara, Zucchetti.Kos Kitchens: Candy, Electrolux, Elica Flooring and surfaces: Cotto D’Este, Itlas, Pagani Marmi, Silestone, Unilin Italia Textiles: Rada, Rubelli Carpets: Besana Carpet, Lolohey, Radici Pietro Curtains: Delius, Jab, Silent Gliss, Tendaggi Paradiso Handles: Colombo Design, DND

Author: Elena Luraghi Photo credits: Andrea Martiradonna