Dexter Moren Associates unveils wellness-oriented approach at Villa Pamphili Hotel in Rome

After three years, an investment of over 25 million euros and a complete renovation, Villa Pamphili Hotel in Rome has reopened its doors on 1st July. Surrounded by a flourishing urban park in the Valle dei Casali, the interior redesign for Villa Pamphili was devised and delivered by international hospitality design expert Dexter Moren Associates’ (DMA) interiors team and positions the hotel as a reference point for an international clientele looking for the comfort of a resort just a few steps from the centre of Rome.

Villa Pamphili Hotel is owned by Antirion SGR through the Antirion Global Comparto Hotel fund, and is managed by Aries Group, a hotel management company specialising in the management of real estate assets with a tourist vocation.

We were delighted to PR this stunning scheme on behalf of our client and see DMA’s interior design for this scheme showcased in Vanity Fair Italy, Mix Interiors and Sleeper Magazine amongst others.

The four-star hotel showcases more than 230 entirely redesigned rooms, offering a reinterpretation of the Italian style with a biophysical spatial approach, a swimming pool and a spa. The hotel also comprises an innovative 1600sq m conference centre, with 15 meeting rooms and a capacity of over 500 seats. To complete the offer, the hotel opens up to the city with its Terrazza Pamphili restaurant, located on the panoramic rooftop on the fifth floor of the structure.

DMA’s design for the scheme is inspired by the location and its villas, the local seventies architecture and the legendary Italian designer Gio Ponti.

Lindsey Bean-Pearce, Partner, DMA Interiors, explains: “The concept for the hotel was directed by DMA’s ethos of developing a ‘neighbourhood story’ unique to the site – in this case, the location, the Mediterranean vibe and the existing seventies period architecture provided the inspiration for a ‘Miami beach’ feel. This complemented the iconic Italian aesthetic; merging a city hotel (Urban) with a resort (Villa) to create a venue for local and international leisure and business guests to experience Rome’s abundant and multi-layered history while enjoying all the comforts of a wellness-oriented environment.”

To create a strong connection with the outdoor landscape, DMA relocated the hotel’s existing bar to one end of the hotel’s ground floor, into a prominent location with a dedicated entrance, making the bar more accessible not only to guests but also to occasional visitors.

The warm peach ambience of the bar merges into a lobby lounge wrapping around to the terrace at the rear with views of the surrounding park. The rigidity of the existing travertine column grid is softened by the insertion of joinery pieces and benches to create cosy pockets of seating, while bookshelves help to screen the grand bold green staircase that leads to the lower ground restaurant.

Rich earthy terracotta shades, inspired by the local architecture and landscape, and timber finishes bring warmth and authenticity to the à la carte restaurant. The biophilic atmosphere of this F&B space is enhanced by the use of outdoor bistro chairs and planting to echo and connect to the rich foliage of the garden. 

Bold stripes and contrasting Klein blue ceilings work together to ground the volumes of the main spaces, while handmade tiles frame the show kitchen where experienced chefs will complete the unique dining experience.

The standard guestrooms, influenced by the modern Italian design heritage, are composed of mint green and taupe colour blocking to the walls, punctuated by geometric painted artworks. The rectilinear lines of the slatted headboards contrast the curved joinery, itself topped with burgundy glass and accentuated with brass detailing, whilst bathrooms are transformed to provide a resort-style wellness experience.

The top floor suites are surrounded by balconies furnished with sun loungers and dining sets, enabling guests to enjoy the Mediterranean sunsets and the inspiring landscape. The space has been opened to make the most of the view through the floor-to-ceiling glazed windows, amplified by the use of full-height mirrors.

Unexpected geometric murals are the background of the bedroom spaces, utilising soft curved headboards and joinery to create a meandering journey. The curvilinear design sits in contrast with the diagonal stripes used in the bathrooms and walk-in closets, creating a harmonic balance of shapes and colours. These bathrooms feature walk-in showers and bath pods to allow the guests to enjoy views of the outdoors while inside. The pink tones of the textured tiles perfectly match the façade terracotta tones while timber framed vanities and shelving echo the biophilic context of the resort.

Ofer Arbib, CEO of Antirion SGR, comments: "The reopening of the Villa Pamphili Hotel is a particularly significant moment for our company, but also for the city of Rome, which will certainly see the return of a flow of international tourists in the second half of the year. We are proud of the result we have achieved thanks to the collaboration with highly professional and competent stakeholders, and we are also proud to undertake this new adventure with a manager like Aries – a reliable and experienced partner.”

All photography © Lorenzo Franzi