THDP designs Ambasciatori Mestre in Venice
London-based interior design studio THDP has completed the design of Ambasciatori Mestre in Venice, delivering a scheme that takes cues from the city yet is not confined by its influence.
Working closely with the client, the firm has created a project that embodies the hotel’s urban identity, reflecting its location and history. In the 1960s, the family-owned Hotel Ambasciatori became a favoured destination for numerous Italian movie and TV stars. The aim was therefore to revive this glamorous past while infusing it with contemporary touches.
Before the renovation, the reception and lobby bar areas were merged in a large open-plan space with no dedicated zones for the check-in area, lobby or bar lounge. Both the reception and bar counter were placed sideways to the hotel entrance and faced the left side of the lobby lounge, not allowing the receptionists and bar staff to visually communicate with each other.
Creating spaces that could adapt to various requirements during the day was therefore pivotal for the client, along with the request to create a memorable arrival experience. In response to the project brief, THDP moved the reception desk in front of the hotel entrance, drawing inspiration from the building and the Mestre district. Now, a linear and monolithic counter is clad in a Marazzi’s Breccia Capraia tile slab and surrounded by a black metal and glass screen, softly lit against a fluted wood panelling to pay homage to the city landscape.
In front of the reception desk, the studio added a dedicated seating area in support of the check-in operations. The zone offers guests the opportunity to be welcomed while seated on curved custom armchairs, all while taking in the collection of objects and locally sourced artefacts displayed on the bespoke shelving positioned between the desk and the seating space. The lobby provides an exciting and energetic ambiance, boasting an elegant colour palette highlighted by vibrant blues, dark yellows and black accents.
Positioned in the heart of the lobby, a central bar counter island offers guests the freedom to walk around and choose their seating based on individual preferences. Whether it’s unwinding with a local Spritz on the lounges adjacent to the floor-to-ceiling windows or indulging in a light meal while sending emails in the more secluded dining area behind the bar counter. The design also ensures versatile options for relaxation and productivity thanks to the addition of a flexible meeting space, concealed behind a set of rich velvet curtains, with facilities to host eight to 10 people.
The bar lounge features a soft curved bar counter clad with urban inspired brick style greige tiles by Marazzi. The countertop stands out, comprising a backlit fluted timber and black metal edge that echoes the adjacent reception desk’s finishes. To enhance the architectural details of the space, THDP incorporated black metal framing as accents around existing columns, newly added artwork, and above the bar counter. The introduction of Cole & Son’s Cocktails wallpaper (Fornasetti design) on the main wall facing the windows adds an element of surprise, infusing the bar lounge with an energetic backdrop.
Meanwhile, the upscale restaurant on the mezzanine level provides a more serene and pared-back atmosphere. The concept for the F&B venue revolves around generating an urban vibe, embracing the natural light pouring in through the glazed facade, achieved by adorning the existing windows with decorative metal and amber reeded glass screens that produce intriguing reflections. Pendant lights line the perimeter, ensuring a consistent and enchanting illumination throughout the day and night. Inspired by the verdant trees along the Corso, the earthly colour palette includes shades of forest green, warm browns and natural tones.
The guestrooms upstairs are adorned with textile wallcoverings, bespoke lighting and refined joinery, all boasting a generous influx of natural light. Carefully selected natural tone materials with blue and burgundy accents come together to recreate a serene, bright and warm ambiance.
The wall-to-wall headboard features a comfortable blue chevron fabric upholstered headrest, accompanied by linear bedside tables with timber laminate tabletops and bronze metal accents. The double-layered fabric lampshades on the custom wall lights meanwhile gently modulate the artificial light, adding a soothing ambiance to the space.
A generously sized timber laminate shelf – placed under the TV – comprises soft curved edges and varying depths, offering guests valuable extra storage space. The versatile shelf doubles as a desk, accompanied by a burgundy upholstered chair. This setup serves equally well for working or functioning as a dressing table, with the added convenience of a dedicated face mirror.
Each guestroom is completed with an open wardrobe, along with a custom-made long mirror featuring integrated hangers. The fully renovated bathroom is equipped with a curved vanity table and a curved shape back lit mirror to enhance its functionality.
