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Porta Venezia is one of the most sought-after neighborhoods of Milan in the boom. At its center is the new Hotel Calimala Milanconceived by an award-winning architect Alec Meitlis as a historically sensitive tribute to the northern Italian metropolis and Jannelli&Volpi wallpaper showroom that used to be located here. It is the fourth Italian property of the Milu Holding Group and the second under the Calimala name. Like the address in Florence, it closely reflects the mood of its surroundings.
The wallpaper brand is known for its bold graphic prints, image transfers and floral patterns. The hotel reflects that eclecticism, but in a cohesive palette of noble materials, glossy lacquered surfaces and vivid reflective backdrops. The nods to the original 1960s showroom are undeniable, but so is Milan’s uniquely elegant and lightly embellished modernism.
“We wanted Hotel Calimala Milano to feel like a natural extension of the city,” says Meitlis. “It’s modern yet represents a classic and enduring aesthetic, bringing Milanese elegance and energy to life with details such as floor-to-ceiling windows, private balconies and unique Italian materials.”
The 88 guest rooms – including four different suites – are finished in glossy walnut built-ins, mirrored walls, huge spherical pendants and carefully selected colors – transporting the spaces to another, slightly more vibrant time.
Yet the clever proportioning of geometric shapes suggests a degree of timelessness. Everything is tied together by particularly graphic terrazzo floors – large rough-hewn blocks of locally sourced black marble.
Clay pinks, citrus oranges and mint blues are matched with crafted wooden bed frames varnished and slightly curved in a Milanese Art Deco flair. The adjacent bathrooms are almost entirely painted in these distinctive tones. Curated by sculptor Carmel Ilan, Daphne Arnon’s photographs bring the surrounding city even further. Whose frames were predetermined before the pictures were taken. The reverse engineering approach ensures a flawless translation of Meitlis’ vision, one conceived as a unique sculptural piece.
While most rooms have rain showers and mini-bars, the highest-level suites have fully equipped and proportional bars. Here, era-appropriate lamps descend from a double-height vaulted ceiling. In one, a cow print couch takes pride of place. The second has a private terrace equipped with a hot tub.
The architect’s approach as a complete work of art – bringing together customized, specific furniture and lighting – is carried over to numerous public and indoor spaces. The espresso bar on the ground floor connects the building with the picturesque street. The rooftop terrace on the sixth floor features a large infinity pool – a rarity in downtown Milan – that cuts across the skyline of its historic center. On this level, the FIVE restaurant – serving reimagined Mediterranean classics – gives way to the more intimate The Salon.
Although Hotel Calimala Milano is Meitlis’ “love letter” to the city, it is also an ode to his late husband Yvo Bisignano, an editor at Conde Nast Italia. The comprehensive project reflects his essence as a true Milanese mover and shaker.
The new ideally positioned destination is sure to become a popular meeting place during major events such as the ever-expansive Milan Design Week and the influential Milan Fashion Week.
what: Hotel Calimala Milan
where: Milan, Italy
how much: $205
Design drawing: A 1960s wallpaper showroom has become a sophisticated hotel with a design scheme and rich palette of materials that reflects the eclecticism of Milanese modernity.
Reserve: Hotel Calimala Milan
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Photographers would Itamar Ginsburg.
