MEDITERRANEAN HEAVEN

OLTREMARE LOUNGE BAR AT HOTEL MEDITERRANEO IN SORRENTO IS AN HYMN TO HOLISTIC DESIGN.

Hotel Mediterraneo is located in one of the most beautiful areas of the Sorrento coast, Sant’Agnello, characterized by a breath-taking view overlooking the Gulf of Naples. In the past, Sorrento and its surrounding areas were already coveted destinations, in fact tourism has very old roots here. The town was one of the Grand Tour destinations, the journey of young aristocrats through various European countries, between the 18th and 19th century to complete their cultural formation. Many illustrious visitors exalted the beauty of Torquato Tasso’s town, which continues to fascinate tourists from all over the world.

In April 2023 the new Oltremare Lounge Bar was inaugurated. Located in the hotel lobby, the project brief envisaged the restyling of the lobby spaces and the creation of a destination lobby bar in addition to the popular skybar used during the summer season. A bar space that could also be used during the winter months and that celebrated the view of the Gulf of Sorrento.

The renovation involved the creation of an informal and welcoming check-in area. The waiting areas are transformed into an elegant and refined living room with a sofa with sinuous shapes and armchairs with details in natural wood and fabrics declined in a marine palette, with tones from aqua green to ultramarine blue. The existing arches are embellished with bronze frames and showcases with a collection of objects and artefacts made by local artisans and collected by the hotel owners over the last 50 years. The memorabilia collection is inspired by the Grand Tour, where Sorrento represented one of the unmissable stops starting from the 19th century.

From the lobby space, previously joined in a large room with arches, a small room has been created for private events with a double-sided fireplace that separates the room from the lobby, a chandelier with blown Murano glass waves by Italamp illuminate the space creating unexpected reflections.

Blue velvet drapes frame all the arches creating theatrical wings that open towards the ‘Oltremare’ lobby bar. The walls of the bar are covered in custom wallpaper by Jannelli and Volpi, where the blue line of the sea, visible from the large windows on the terrace, continues into the interior spaces, giving guests the sensation of immersing themselves in the blue waters, I mean of the Mediterranean Sea.

THE BAR COUNTER IS COVERED IN NATURAL BRUSHED BRASS, CHARACTERIZED BY A LIGHT DARK PATINA THAT WILL OXIDIZE OVER TIME, GIVING THE SURFACE UNEXPECTED NUANCES. THE BACK OF THE COUNTER IS CHARACTERIZED BY THE OVERLAPPING OF PANELS IN BRONZE, BRASS AND RIBBED GLASS WHICH OVERLAP THE BOTTLES CREATING A REAL ARTWORK.

The bar counter is covered in natural brushed brass, characterized by a light dark patina that will oxidize over time, giving the surface unexpected nuances. The back of the counter is characterized by the overlapping of panels in bronze, brass and ribbed glass which overlap the bottles creating a real artwork. The transparency in its central part allows daylight to illuminate the room and during the evening hours to create interesting views from the outside.

The domes in blue burnished bronze are also made to measure and embellished with an internal coating in gold leaf.

The bar also has a fixed DJ station for more social evenings.

The palette of fabrics and finishes is declined in all the shades of the sea. Upon arrival, sand and rope shades were selected as a suggestion upon arrival at the beach, also represented by the custom-designed carpet by Besana, where the waves of the sea meet the sand of the coast.

The eco-leather of the Artnet stools have a shagreen print and the tables have a laminan finish with silver reflections that recall the skin of the blue fish of the Mediterranean Sea.

Q: What special factors do you need to consider when creating spaces for hotels, and for an hotel lobby?

A: At the core of our design philosophy is the emphasis on layout, which serves as the starting point for all our projects. The initial experience of arrival should be both surprising and delightful, while also meeting the operational requirements of the hotel.

Q: What is your design approach when you start to work on the project?

A: We tend to take a very holistic design approach to each of our projects, envisaging the key elements of a design in our first brainstorming meeting.

We envisioned the new hotel lobby and Oltremare bar lounge as beautiful and welcoming spaces, layered by lots of interesting pieces, colours, textures and things that would entice and excite the customer coming through the hotel doors.

The hotel lobby and Oltremare Bar lounge colour palette was inspired by the breath-taking sea view of the bay of Sorrento and includes deep blue tones, seaglass greens, sandy natural tones, and brass accents. A bespoke wallpaper was specially designed for this project, allowing us to extend the blue line between the Mediterranean Sea and the sky, that you can admire from the windows, to the walls of the Oltremare Bar lounge where guests can embrace the beauty of the surroundin, while enjoying an aperitivo or dancing all night during the dj sets night.

Q: What was the biggest challenge for this project?

A: The lobby and bar lounge were originally merged in a large and white open space featuring overscale archways and high ceilings, making it operationally difficult to manage and lacking a strong identity and design direction. Creating different spaces, that could answer to different needs during the day, was pivotal for the Client along with the request to create a memorable experience for their guests.

In response to the project brief, the existing archways have been framed by rich drapes and filled with luxurious glass displays that showcase a collection of objects inspired by the Grand Tour, an educational trip across Europe popular for your aristocrats during the 17th and 19th century. Sorrento was one of the most anticipated destinations of this glorious journey.

A bespoke fireplace and a set of glass doors lead now to a new secret room with antique mirrored screens, a Murano glass chandelier inspired by the sea waves and a large dining table for special gatherings. Behind the main archway, centre of the scene, guests can discover a newly open American style bar, that features a 5meter long natural brass bar counter, mesmerizing sea views and a lush interior ideal for people-watching, where champagne and signature Oltremare cocktails are among the specialties.

Q: What is your design approach when working on a partial hotel renovation, rather than all areas hotel design project?

A: When approaching a renovation of a specific area, within a bigger hotel project, it is important to design a space that can complement and uplift the existing, that can celebrate what is unique from the previous design, while adding a contemporary and new layer to it. Longevity for a project is always key, a timeless project is a project that finds his roots in the past but with a vision invested in the future, able to please the generations of today and tomorrow.

“A BESPOKE WALLPAPER WAS SPECIALLY DESIGNED FOR THIS PROJECT, ALLOWING US TO EXTEND THE BLUE LINE BETWEEN THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA AND THE SKY, THAT YOU CAN ADMIRE FROM THE WINDOWS, TO THE WALLS OF THE OLTREMARE BAR LOUNGE WHERE GUESTS CAN EMBRACE THE BEAUTY OF THE SURROUNDIN, WHILE ENJOYING AN APERITIVO OR DANCING ALL NIGHT DURING THE DJ SETS NIGHT.”

Claudia Mazzucato, Founder, Architect & Creative Director - THDP Studio Milan