Splendido Mare to reopen in Portofino following renovation

Splendido Mare, a Belmond Hotel in Portofino, is set to re-open in April 2021 with refreshed interiors by Parisian design agency Festen Architecture, marking the first hotel to be renovated under LVMH’s ownership.

“We like to work on the transformation of classical spaces – delving into a storied past to conceptualise its future. For Splendido Mare, we are cherishing its humble beginning as a guesthouse for fishermen and the cinematic setting of Portofino. The redesign evokes a stylish home where contemporary and vintage pieces co-exist to provide a timeless feel,” says Charlotte de Tonnac, co-founder of Festen Architecture.

“We want guests to feel comfortable, at ease but also feel the historical spirit, and we want them to feel the coherence we try to create between the design of the hotel and its surroundings.”

Detailed references to the harbour’s nautical history can be found throughout the property’s interiors; each of the 14 guestrooms and suites feature locally sourced and hand-varnished wood, traditionally used in the fishing and sailing boats that dot the marina. Rope patterns are woven into the marquetry of the headboards, handcrafted by acclaimed textile designer Véronique de Soultrait, while the nautical knot is the emblem of the hotel and is channelled through detailed touchpoints such as custom-designed glassware and crockery, and individual room keys. Handmade by local Ligurian craftsmen and laid in the restaurant meanwhile, 7,000 terracotta tiles feature the undulation of the water to create a feeling of walking on the sea.

The traditional ligurian colours of the surrounding harbour buildings also come to life through a palette of amber, terracotta and sea green, used to accent the archways and ceilings, while the pastel shades symbolic of the region and have been used to decorate the facades and window shutters for generations. Elsewhere, the hotel’s wooden floor is inspired by the nearby church of San Giorgio, and the bathrooms – designed to create a calming sanctuary for guests – take visual cues from the neighbouring Santa Margherita beach cabin; white and yellow geometric tiles form bold striped walls enhanced against a pure white marble floor.

Mid-century modern Italian furnishings further celebrate Portofino’s glamorous history and the iconic 1950s era, which somewhat defined the country’s design prowess. Each guestroom features authentic antiques including fruitwood armchairs by Paolo Buffa and Gio Ponti – selected for their graphic and joyful style, walnut armchairs by Ulrich Guglielmo and table lamps by Oscar Torlasco, all of which create a sense of welcoming nostalgia, especially for natives who grew up with similar pieces in their family homes. Locally sourced materials also include Carrara marble in the bathrooms and slate on the terraces, while furnishings are layered with soft Italian fabrics by Loro Piana and Rubelli and wall lamps are from Murano Glass.

Echoing this sense of place, rooms have been named to reflect each element of the design inspiration, with La Marea (tide), Fioco (jib), Gozzo and Riva (boats) in reference to the nautical heritage; and La Baia (bay), Aurora (new dawn), Libeccio (southwesterly wind) and Tramontana (northerly wind) paying homage to the surrounding beauty and natural phenomena that shape the bay and geography of the area. One of the suites is inspired by American actress Ava Gardner too, who personified mid-century glamour and was a frequent visitor to the guesthouse when filming The Barefoot Contessa in 1954 with Humphrey Bogart.

Austrian stylist, Arthur Arbesser, has also been tasked with designing uniforms that coincide with the interiors. Recognised by Vogue and LVMH as an emerging talent in fashion, Arbesser will create mid-century modern silhouettes using geometric patterns, nautical detailing and botanical cues from the national park.

Rounding out the scheme, a curated art collection will feature specially commissioned pieces by Italian artist Gabriele Cappelli, renowned for the modernist simplicity and an uncomplicated allure that he applies to his practice, matching the timeless elegance of Portofino. Cinematic photography and abstract pieces by Ligurian artists have also been selected for their portrayal of the destination and its iconic history and landscape.