Il Palazzo Experimental Venice Hotel by Dorothée Meilichzon

Having recently lost our minds a over the Menorca Experimental hotel, we thought it was only fair to share another winner from the Experimental Group’s stable: Il Palazzo Experimental in Venice, with interiors also blessed by French interior designer Dorothée Meilichzon’s Midas touch. Set in Venice’s peaceful Dorsoduro neighbourhood, the hotel occupies a Renaissance palazzo that was the former headquarters of naval transport company Adriatica.

With 28 rooms and four suites, Il Palazzo is accessed either via the Giudecca Canal at the front, or from a private pier on the Rio Del Ognissanti. Aside from the rooms, the hotel features a terrace on the canal, another in the garden, a restaurant, and a cocktail club. As many existing architectural elements as possible were preserved from the original structure, including exposed beams, grand high ceilings on the first floor, a gallery, gothic windows and timber double doors.

Reinforcing such strong identifying features, Meilichzon was inspired by signature design hallmarks of Venice, such as Scarpa-esque terrazzo floors, dramatic Breccia Capraia marble accents, rich fabrics and Marmorino walls in custom colours. Influences such as the Memphis movement, ancient facades of Venice, and the work of Venetian architects Andrea Palladio, Carlo Scarpa and Gae Aulenti further permeate the interiors. A colourful palette includes shades of red, blue, sunny yellow, pink and grey throughout the light-filled rooms.

Occupying a large space on the ground floor of the hotel, the restaurant comprises timeless but eclectic décor, featuring a large marble plinth, Lit Bateau inspired furniture, antique inspired elements, and striped fabrics. The pale green ceiling references the nearby Laguna, intermingled with white, shades of salmon pink and Bordeaux red.

Meilichzon’s bold and diverse references mingle with Venetian craftsmanship, with custom marquetry, upholstery, and arch motifs. A little more sultry, bathrooms feature chic black marble trims and hand-glazed tiles. For the cocktail bar, Meilichzon collaborated with Milan-based Cristina Celestino, who plays out Carlo Scarpa’s influence with antique mirrors and striking marble features. Accessible by its own entrance, the bar is a place where both guests and locals mingle.