Casa Popeea Boutique Hotel in Romania by Manea Kella.

London-based studio Manea Kella have saved a derelict house in Braila, Romania from the brink of destruction, revamping it into boutique hotel Casa Popeea. Working with the local Penta Stil Studio, the designers converted the dilapidated property, formerly known as the ‘pearl’ of the city’s Hellenic quarter, into an 11-room establishment.

Originally constructed in 1900 by a Greek shipping merchant, a troubling series of events saw the building partially destroyed by fire in 1923, then confiscated by the Socialist regime after WWll, after which it was neglected and exposed to the elements. In restoring life to the home, the designers maintained its historic charm and art nouveau details, balanced with contemporary additions.

“Driven by the idea that the original structure should be emphasised in its spatial context and original materiality – the new reflects the lost without imitating it,” explain Manea Kella.

The site is small but complex, with the designers looking to open the hotel to the surrounding streetscape, improving access and circulation by altering the floor plan. The main entrance opens to a courtyard which leads to an intimate, light-filled reception area in the heart of the building. A secondary entrance guides the general public through carefully restored hallways with hand moulded plaster walls through to Café Popeea, an artisanal coffee shop and brasserie.

The carefully considered, rich material palette speaks to both the historical and contemporary elements. The reception, lobby and coffee shop feature stained solid oak floors, joinery and bespoke furniture. The original oak staircase that leads to guest rooms was meticulously dismantled and sent to expert carpenters in Transylvania to be restored. Bedrooms are fresh and neutral, with full height linen curtains, warm timber beds and elegant pendant lights. A basement level spa features Bulgarian limestone, black marble and stained solid oak, with ceiling apertures enhancing the reflective qualities of the natural materials.

[Images courtesy of Manea Kella. Photography by Cosmin Dragomir.]