ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Two boutique hotels in Rome and Milan showcase adaptive reuse and urban sensitivity

architecture-design · 2026-05-04

In Italy, two boutique hotels—Hotel dei Barbieri in Rome and Savona18 Suites in Milan—emphasize sensory experiences rather than relying on design clichés. The Hotel dei Barbieri, crafted by MORQ studio, is situated within the 17th-century Palazzo Cavallerini Lazzaroni, where it harmoniously blends original architectural features with modern aesthetics. The guiding principle of "Forget the every day. You are in Rome," shaped its development. Meanwhile, Savona18 Suites, designed by CIBIC Workshop, revitalizes a former tenement, fostering a sense of community while adhering to current safety regulations. Each suite resembles a micro-apartment with unique color schemes, and the lobby is adorned with bright tones and bespoke artwork. Both establishments celebrate urban heritage and encourage innovation.

Key facts

  • Hotel dei Barbieri in Rome and Savona18 Suites in Milan are two recently opened boutique hotels.
  • Hotel dei Barbieri is located in Palazzo Cavallerini Lazzaroni, a 17th-century building near Teatro Argentina in Rome's historic center.
  • The hotel was designed by architecture studio MORQ.
  • The project involved adaptive reuse of two floors, preserving frescoes, stone portals, and other artistic elements under Soprintendenza and UNESCO constraints.
  • MORQ divided two large frescoed salons into five rooms using a pyramidal skylight to frame portions of the frescoes.
  • Savona18 Suites in Milan was designed by CIBIC Workshop, led by Aldo Cibic.
  • The building was formerly a 'casa di ringhiera' and a squatted social center (ex Bottiglieria) until 2010.
  • Each room at Savona18 Suites has its own color palette, and the lobby features custom furniture and the Lucky Eye mirror.

Entities

Artists

  • MORQ
  • Aldo Cibic
  • Emilia Antonia De Vivo

Institutions

  • Hotel dei Barbieri
  • Savona18 Suites
  • Palazzo Cavallerini Lazzaroni
  • CIBIC Workshop
  • Artribune
  • Soprintendenza
  • UNESCO

Locations

  • Rome
  • Italy
  • Milan
  • Teatro Argentina
  • Tortona Design District
  • Navigli

Sources