zaha hadid architects transforms 16th-century roman palazzo into hotel romeo roma

zaha hadid architects transforms 16th-century roman palazzo into hotel romeo roma

Zaha Hadid Architects transforms historic Palazzo into Hotel

 

Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) completes the restoration and renovation of Palazzo Capponi in Rome, transforming the 16th-century building into Hotel Romeo Roma. The architectural team revisits historical vaults, crafting fluid spaces that pay homage to the architectural palimpsest of the Eternal City.

 

The vaulted ceilings of the hotel are inspired by Rome’s layered history—from Roman barrel vaults to Baroque celestial frescoes. ZHA’s gestures reinterpret these traditional forms with intersecting geometries that shape each room. This interplay of curves and planes extends across the 74 guest rooms and suites, adorned with intricate detailing in ceilings, walls, and furniture to echo Italy’s artisanal traditions. Select suites on the piano nobile include restored 17th-century frescoes, while upper-floor accommodations boast private terraces with panoramic views of Rome.

zaha hadid architects transforms 16th-century roman palazzo into hotel romeo roma
portal enterance of Palazzo Caponi | image by Jacopo Spilimbergo

 

 

the layered past of Hotel Romeo Roma’s building

 

Situated on the Via di Ripetta, part of the iconic Sistine Trident leading from Piazza del Popolo, the project injects Rome’s rich architectural heritage with Zaha Hadid’s contemporary design language. Palazzo Capponi, originally constructed in the 16th century, underwent significant alterations in the 1950s, when it served as offices for the Italian National Institute for Assistance of Accidents at Work (INAIL). The renovation uncovered displaced frescoes, reintroducing them to their original splendor. However, with much of the interior heavily modified or lost, ZHA embraced the challenge of reimagining the space, creating a fresh narrative to link the Renaissance exterior of the Palazzo with the contemporary interiors.

zaha hadid architects transforms 16th-century roman palazzo into hotel romeo roma
gallery entrance | image by Jacopo Spilimbergo

 

 

a subterranean gallery houses 2,000-year-old stone pattern

 

The centerpiece of the transformation is the former courtyard, now enclosed with a retractable glass roof that floods the lobby with natural light. This space serves as a distribution point to the grand staircases, leading to guest rooms and the private garden of Hotel Romeo Roma. ZHA also added a subterranean gallery beneath the garden, housing the remains of a Roman-era workshop featuring an opus reticulatum, a diamond-shaped stone pattern dating back 2,000 years. The gallery’s glazed ceiling doubles as the base of the hotel’s swimming pool, offering guests a literal window into history.

 

Reflecting Italy’s long-standing tradition of artisanal excellence. The interiors feature Carrara Statuarietto and Nero Marquina marble, paired with Makassar ebony, cedar, and chestnut wood, while Sicilian rock salt and Moroccan tadelakt clad the spa. Brass accents adorn the vaulted ceilings, and every surface aims to balance beauty with functionality. Adding a contemporary feel without compromising the historical integrity, the architects devised a ‘second skin’ system. This slim cavity houses essential mechanical and electrical services, preserving the original structure.

zaha hadid architects transforms 16th-century roman palazzo into hotel romeo roma
reception, | image by Chris Dalton, courtesy Romeo Collection

zaha hadid architects transforms 16th-century roman palazzo into hotel romeo roma
bistro | image by Chris Dalton, courtesy Romeo Collection

zaha hadid architects transforms 16th-century roman palazzo into hotel romeo roma
Il Restaurante Alain Ducasse | image by Chris Dalton, courtesy Romeo Collection

zaha-hadid-architects-16th-century-roman-palazzo-hotel-romeo-roma-designboom-1800-01

Il Restaurante Alain Ducasse | image by Chris Dalton, courtesy Romeo Collection

zaha hadid architects transforms 16th-century roman palazzo into hotel romeo roma
Fresco Suite | image by Chris Dalton, courtesy Romeo Collection

zaha hadid architects transforms 16th-century roman palazzo into hotel romeo roma
Deluxe Twin | image by Chris Dalton, courtesy Romeo Collection

zaha hadid architects transforms 16th-century roman palazzo into hotel romeo roma
Premier Suite | image by Chris Dalton, courtesy Romeo Collection

zaha-hadid-architects-16th-century-roman-palazzo-hotel-romeo-roma-designboom-1800-3

Premier Room | image by Chris Dalton, courtesy Romeo Collection

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Fresco Suite | image by Chris Dalton, courtesy Romeo Collection
Fresco Suite | image by Chris Dalton, courtesy Romeo Collection
Fresco Suite | image by Jacopo Spilimbergo
Fresco Suite | image by Jacopo Spilimbergo
Superior Room | image by Chris Dalton, courtesy Romeo Collection
Superior Room | image by Chris Dalton, courtesy Romeo Collection
Premier Room | image by Chris Dalton, courtesy Romeo Collection
Premier Room | image by Chris Dalton, courtesy Romeo Collection
cigar lounge | image by Chris Dalton, courtesy Romeo Collection
cigar lounge | image by Chris Dalton, courtesy Romeo Collection
gym | image by Chris Dalton, courtesy Romeo Collection
gym | image by Chris Dalton, courtesy Romeo Collection
Grand Suite | image by Chris Dalton, courtesy Romeo Collection
Grand Suite | image by Chris Dalton, courtesy Romeo Collection
Premier Suite | image by Chris Dalton, courtesy Romeo Collection
Premier Suite | image by Chris Dalton, courtesy Romeo Collection
Deluxe Room | image by Chris Dalton, courtesy Romeo Collection
Deluxe Room | image by Chris Dalton, courtesy Romeo Collection
Deluxe Room | image by Chris Dalton, courtesy Romeo Collection
Deluxe Room | image by Chris Dalton, courtesy Romeo Collection
Deluxe Room | image by Chris Dalton, courtesy Romeo Collection
Deluxe Room | image by Chris Dalton, courtesy Romeo Collection
Deluxe Room | image by Chris Dalton, courtesy Romeo Collection
Deluxe Room | image by Chris Dalton, courtesy Romeo Collection
archeological finds, under the transparent water basin in the garden | image by Chris Dalton, courtesy Romeo Collection
archeological finds, under the transparent water basin in the garden | image by Chris Dalton, courtesy Romeo Collection

 

project info:

 

name: Hotel Romeo Roma | @theromeocollection_

architect: Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) | @zahahadidarchitects

design: Zaha Hadid and Patrik Schumacher

location: Rome, Italy

 

concept stage:
project director: Paola Cattarin
ZHA project architects: Fulvio Wirz, Mariagrazia Lanza
ZHA project team: Christos Sazos, Daniel Fiser, Grace Chung, John Morrison, Konstantinos Psomas, Kyle Dunnington, Ludovico Lombardi, Melodie Leung, Monir Karimi Kakhki, Natassa Lianou, Ovidiu Mihutescu, Pasquale Lorusso, Peter Logan, Sofia Papageorgiou, Thomas Sonder

 

schematic design stage:
project director: Paola Cattarin
project architects: Fulvio Wirz, Mariagrazia Lanza
project team: Christos Sazos, Daniel Fiser, Francesca Gulizia, Gaganjit Singh, Grace Chung, John Morrison, Kyle Dunnington, Konstantinos Psomas, Marco Guardincerri, Pasquale Lorusso, Sofia Papageorgiou, Thomas Sonder

 

design development stage:

project director: Paola Cattarin
project architects: Fulvio Wirz, Mariagrazia Lanza
project team: Andrei Dino, Cristina Capanna, Daniel Fiser, Delfina Bocca, Diego Ariza, Dieter Matuschke, Francesca Filosa, Gaganjit Singh, Grace Chung, Gigi Ho, Hangyul Jeong, Ivo Ambrosi, Konstantinos Psomas, Kyle Dunnington, Leonid Krykhtin, Luca Melchiori, Luciano Letteriello, Marcello Maioli, Mattia Santi, Michael Rogers, Paola Salcedo, Pavlos Symianakis, Qiuru Pu, Ripple Patel, Roni Man, Ryan Anthony Szanyi, Shibani Choudhury, Thomas Sonder, Vincenzo Barilari

 

artistic supervision stage:
project director: Paola Cattarin
project architect: Mariagrazia Lanza

 

client: Romeo Gestioni spa
client representative and project manager: Romeo Design – Ivan Russo

structural engineers: Studio Beta srl
MEP consultants: Spring srl
lighting: Corte Gherardi snc
water features: Fluidra Engineering Slu
special structures: EOSS Architettura
interior furnishings: ARTE+PARTNERS-BRAGA, Barretta srl, Devoto Design srl.

construction company: Mannelli Costruzioni srl, Ga.Re.Co. srl.

photographers: Jacopo Spilimbergo | @jacopospilimbergo, Chris Dalton | @chrisjdalton.shoots 

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