Dating from the 1430s, the magnificent palace rises at the intersection of two canals in the heart of the Cannareggio neighborhood. Previous interventions had enlivened her room with decorative details. Most notably, in the 19th century, Giovanni Battista Meduna (who restored the local Ca’ d’Oro Palazzo) oversaw neo-Gothic reforms, adding a dramatic octagonal staircase, among other developments.
Giulio Girardi
Giulio Girardi
Alain began by observing the building at different hours of the day: ‘I didn’t want to impose a new vision, but to rediscover the energy that was already present.’ To this end, the original frescoes and floors have been restored to their former glory. The paneling and gilding have been revived, and their patina carefully preserved. ‘We have left any imperfections resulting from the passage of time’, says the designer, whose previous hospitality hits include the Hotel de Crillon in Paris and the restaurant Le Jules Verne. She observed, ‘I revealed a beauty that can only be seen by spending time in a place.
New materials and furnishings do not betray the palazzo’s centuries-old soul. Alain added rich marbles, plush velvets, luminous silks and burnished brass to a palette that evoked the golden age of rail. Travel. Antique-finished mirrors and Murano glass capture the sun bouncing off the canals. And furniture by master craftsmen creates sensual passages between age-old craftsmanship and contemporary comfort. ‘Each room tells a story, but without forcing the story,’ she says internalIt includes 41 guest rooms, six suites and two apartment-style units.
