Radisson Hotel Group has opened its fifth luxury-lifestyle hotel in Italy, Radisson Collection Hotel, Santa Sofia Milan. The property has opened following a four-year renovation period, which has seen it transformed from a 1960s Italian landmark to a five-star Radisson hotel.
Architects Studio Marco Piva have breathed new life into the original Allianz Italia headquarters, aiming to achieve a LEED Gold certification. The original facade, clad in trachyte from Veneto, has been preserved and accentuated with new exterior lighting, while the original roof – with its oxidised-copper pitches – remains.
The hotel’s 159 rooms and suites have been designed by Studio Marco Piva as small urban lofts with large windows and interior glass walls to maximise the spread of natural light. Seeking to reflect the character of Milan, designers have chosen to juxtapose warm, natural materials like wood and leather with glass and metals, adopting a colour palette of rich browns, black and dark navy blue.
Interior public spaces created by Milanese designers AtelierP and Alessandro Cesario embrace a kind of elegant maximalism; bold geometric patterns on the floors are inspired by classic Milanese mansions, while various elements of Milan’s history are infused into the designs of the lobby and reception area, the adjacent co-working spaces and the hotel’s all-day dining restaurant.
Sofia Kitchen & Bar occupies the former courtyard of the building, now covered by a glass roof and adorned with damask and oriental motifs. The space – in which a selection of Mediterranean dishes will be served up – also takes inspiration from the green tones of Milanese fountains, streetcars and 1960s taxis.
On the hotel’s seventh-floor terrace is Issei Rooftop, a fine-dining restaurant and bar specialising in Nikkei cuisine, a fusion of Japanese and Peruvian cuisines. Opening shortly after the hotel’s official launch, the indoor and outdoor space will embrace AtelierP’s “more is more” design philosophy with a visually complex and eccentric design.
A new terrace has also been created on the fourth floor of the hotel, with an outdoor swimming pool and lounge bar area that will be open during the warmer months. Additionally, hotel guests are able to make use of a 24-hour fitness centre, as well as a sauna during the day and evening.
Chema Basterrechea, Global President and Chief Operating Officer at Radisson Hotel Group, comments: “Radisson Collection Hotel, Santa Sofia Milan is the perfect fifth Italian iteration of our Radisson Collection brand, and our second in Milan, as we continue expanding our portfolio of luxury hotels. As Radisson Hotel Group, we’re looking to give guests more options in Italy across different hotel brands, with 30 hotels by 2027 as an ambitious, but very much achievable target.”
