The Gritti Palace won Hotel Design Award- Europe in The International Hotel & Property Awards 2014.
The reconfiguration of 91 guestrooms to 82. With 10 special themed suites, a roof top terrace, cooking school and spa were also added.
The design direction was to restore and improve this iconic property without losing the existing atmosphere. The key count was reduced to create 5-fixture bathrooms and to add a variety of suites. All new MEP systems, state of the art waterproofing system of the foundations to prevent aqua alta, hi tech and BOH upgrades to modernize a 500 year old building.
Interiors respect the history of the Gritti and the city of Venice. They pay tribute to the numerous famous patrons and celebrities that continue to frequent the hotel. A new roof top terrace commands panoramic views of Venice while a new Spa is operated by Aqua di Parma.
The historic Gritti Cooking School was revived. All FF&E was designed custom for the Gritti and produced in the Veneto by Italian craftsmen. We did a thorough restoration and upgrading of the property without losing the romance and ambience of the old Gritti that was its charm. The design work respects the history of the building and Venice all while offering guest various design experiences because of the numerous suites.
This was a very special and exceptional project that was immensely complex. There were extreme factors starting with working in Venice to respecting the historic fabric of a 500 year old building with a celebrated history all while bring it into the 21st century.