The 42-room Chapter Roma, the first property in developer Marco Cilia’s Chapter Italia Portfolio, is set to debut this March in the city’s Regola district with a design from South African-based Tristan Du Plessis of Studio A.
The design concept will combine a gritty and glamorous aesthetic with contemporary and classic accents. The building, which dates back to 1880, will be updated by Du Plessis to evoke an industrial-chic atmosphere inspired by the neighborhood’s historic blacksmith community. Metal elements like raw steel, copper, and bronze will offset high ceilings, herringbone floors, and midcentury Italian furniture. Velvet textures and dark green and rust tones will round out the sultry environment.
Inspired by the streets of Rome, a contemporary artwork by Cyrcle, a two-man collective made up of American artists David Leavitt and David Torres, as well as graffiti by local artist Alice Pasquini will grace the walls of the lobby bar, which will feature Roman arches wrapped in raw steel. In addition to an all-organic daytime market, a signature restaurant will open later this year.
“We wanted to create a design that stood out for its youthfulness while still respecting the traditions of the city, by using local craftsmen, materials, and aesthetics for a large amount of the hotel and collaborated with young local and international artists as well as furniture and lighting manufacturers to imbed a spirit of rebellion throughout the design,” Du Plessis says. “The age of the building was both inspiring and challenging, but the old walls and ancient layout made sure that each room has a unique footprint, which has lent us the opportunity to create varied and interesting room types.”
