Camplus San Pietro is a hospitality establishment located in the heart of Rome, adjacent to Vatican City. It accommodates both short-term and long-term stays, integrating the natural environment with the city’s urban fabric. Students can stay during the academic year, while tourists are welcome year-round. The six-story building, originally a health facility, has been restored and redesigned to create 120 guest rooms that foster a direct connection with nature and encourage a sustainable lifestyle.
Inside, the refurbishment highlights the contrast between the structure’s brutalist style and sculptural elements, such as the serpentine staircase and the refined metal frameworks in each guest room. Generous window openings allow ample natural light and maintain a visual link to surrounding greenery. Key furniture pieces—including the bed, closet, and kitchenette—are integrated into the metal structure, maximizing vertical space and clearly delineating daytime and nighttime areas. This approach creates an uncluttered, loft-like feel.
Sustainable strategies and heritage preservation
Minimizing construction materials, installing light and motion sensors, and incorporating a flexible, energy-efficient heating and cooling system were core objectives. Eco-friendly water heaters and photovoltaic panels further reduce the building’s environmental impact. Structural reinforcement and seismic retrofitting were carried out where necessary. The property is also listed in Rome’s “Carta per la Qualità,” which safeguards architectural, archaeological, and cultural assets, requiring preservation of defining features like the building’s brutalist aesthetic and large window openings.
A bold reception desk and serpentine staircase encourage guests to opt for the stairs over the elevator, promoting social interaction in a lobby furnished with wooden and concrete benches.
Landscaping improvements include rain gardens planted with local, low-maintenance species, and a parking area designed for multifunctional use. Permeable paving helps mitigate urban heat islands and manage the effects of increasingly frequent severe weather events. A Variable Refrigerant Volume (VRV) system provides heating and cooling, working in tandem with condensing boilers for hot water; all mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) elements are linked to a management system equipped with sensors for occupancy, temperature, and light intensity. Where visible, MEP components are either exposed or covered with metal mesh panels for a clean, minimalist look.
LED lighting fixtures reduce electricity use, while a 60.48 kWp rooftop photovoltaic system generates approximately 82,555 kWh of power annually. Low-flow taps and toilets in kitchens and bathrooms limit water consumption. To comply with heritage constraints, existing window openings could not be altered, so they were transformed into a central design feature that frames outdoor views and ensures natural light.
