hotel giulia by patricia urquiola embodies milanese flair

hotel guilia by patricia urquiola embodies milanese flair
image © ricardo labougle

with locations in new york, mexico city, madrid and istanbul, spanish hotel chain room mate has opened its newest branch in the heart of milan designed by patricia urquiola. set within a classical milanese building, ‘hotel giulia’ is based a few steps from the famous piazza del duomo and hosts 85 rooms with a breakfast bar and gym.

seen here: shimmer by patricia urquiola for glas italia, fishbone formoroso and cassina’s tre pezzi by franco albini
image © designboom

the interiors embody an eclectic mix of old and new – an homage to milan itself – with details taken from the city that only someone living in milan or urquiola, an ‘honorary milanesi’ would notice. the careful choice of materials and elements can be seen on arrival with the floor of the hotel lobby crafted in pink marble, the same used in the duomo and the terracotta bricks seen on the curved feature wall which creates a three-dimensional effect.

the ground floor with the spacious lobby and lounge area has been decorated with furniture all specified from cassina including urquiola’s own collaborations. furthermore, a wall frieze of specially commissioned work by locally-based artist sandro fabbri hangs above the combination of wood paneling and terrazzo walls.

the breakfast bar with brass accents and industrial glass draw reference to the milanese trams
image © ricardo labougle

several consistent themes run throughout; seen in the communal areas to the rooms. ‘there are a lot of grids in milan and the idea of a grid can be found in the carpets, specially made fabric and wallpaper’ urquiola tells designboom. the recurrent geometric patterns reflect the rigor of the city and also refer to the graphic arts, an important element of the cultural history of the city.

the lobby is flanked with sustainable treated steel that has produced a bronze metallic effect
image © designboom

‘the idea of contemporary hotel is not just thinking it is a design hotel, it’s how you interpret it, the genius loci and with hotel giulia, the piazza del doumo is nearby, the local souvenir shops, traditional cafes; everything in the exterior is connected to the materials in the interior.’ – patricia urquiola

all areas of the hotel there are works of different artists, photographers and illustrators who are all milanesi
image © ricardo labougle

the rooms have been divided into four categories and they all adopt a domestic italian character with an added vintage touch. the idea of taking elements such as color – greens, red, cottos and light blues –  from each room and combining them has produced a mix and match effect. additionally, instead of using typical wooden tables and furniture, urquiola replaced them with a metal system that seamlessly serves as a clothes rail and storage. ultimately, the goal was to foster a familiar space where guests are able to find everything they need to live temporarily in the rooms as if they were at home.

the rooms – divided into four categories – instill a home-like feeling
image © ricardo labougle

‘italy has always been a key market for room mate hotels. the opening of room mate giulia in the capital of fashion and trends comes to surprise both milanese residents and travelers, through striking design full of elegance and passion. it also has a dreamlike location in the heart of piazza duomo’ comments kike sarasola, founder and chairman of room mate hotels.

a bespoke metal system has been used as the wardrobe instead of typical wooden furniture
image © ricardo labougle

steel accents and grid fabric are a few details which pay homage to milan
image © designboom

each room uses the grid wallpaper
image © ricardo labougle

the reception area sees an eclectic mix of furniture by moroso, cassina and very wood
image © designboom