The historic Palazzo Venezia, a building erected at the end of the 19th century based on a design by architect Luca Beltrami, formerly the headquarters of Generali Assicurazioni, reopened its doors in December 2023.

Redeveloped and partly converted for hotel use, the new Gran Meliá Palazzo Cordusio represents the intersection of History and Hospitality, a tangible homage to the synergy between the preservation of collective memory, historical heritage and the desire to create new experiences shaped by the present.

Studio Marco Piva, which won the architectural competition, was responsible for the Artistic Direction of the areas subject to monument protection (management of relations with the Superintendency of Milan, the institutions and the other partners involved in the project for all protected spaces), of building and permitting procedures, distribution plan of the interior architecture and terraces, and construction of the central courtyard.

The goal of the Palazzo Venezia redevelopment project and of the conversion of part of its spaces into a hotel was to give new artistic and civic value to the building: the renovation started with a dialogue with the past and saw a close collaboration among all involved designers and bodies who, as guardians of a priceless heritage, succeeded in creating a future that respects its roots.

Gran Meliá Palazzo Cordusio: in the Studio Marco Piva project, the walls of the past merge seamlessly with the contemporary era, offering an experience that embraces yesterday, today, and tomorrow, providing the city and its citizens and/or visitors with a new urban social space.

PROJECT CREDITS

CLIENT Generali Real Estate | Meliá Hotels International

BRAND Gran Meliá

ARCHITECTURE, INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE, FACADE TECHNICAL LIGHTING AND RELATIONS WITH THE SUPERINTENDENCY Studio Marco Piva

INTERIOR DESIGN Asah

CONSERVATIVE RESTORATION Gasparoli

SUPERINTENDENCY OF ARCHAEOLOGY, FINE ARTS AND LANDSCAPE FOR THE METROPOLITAN CITY OF MILAN Architect Annamaria Terafina, Architect Valentina Minosi, Architect Paolo Savio

PROJECT MANAGER AND WORKS MANAGEMENT Artelia

EXECUTIVE PROJECT ARCHITECTURE AND INTERIOR DESIGN, SYSTEMS AND STRUCTURES Tekne

GENERAL CONTRACTOR Percassi

MANAGEMENT CONSULTANT CSA – Corrado Serafini Architetti

FIRE SAFETY Studio Mistretta

PHOTOGRAPHS: Andrea Martiradonna | Melià Hotel International