WHERE THE OLD MEETS THE CONTEMPORARY
A vibrant, unexpected presence in Piazza Duca d'Aosta, where the old converses with the contemporary, standing with discreet elegance beside the pristine modernity of the Pirelli Tower and presenting itself fearlessly to the city: this is the new Excelsior Hotel Gallia, a building that tells the story of a changing Milan.
Since 1932, the year it opened, the Gallia in Milan has embodied the essence of an imaginary Belle Époque, with the imposing mouldings of its façades and its halls decorated with antique-style marble, alongside some marvels of “modernity”.
Fuda Marmi, in collaboration with Studio Marco Piva, took part in the restyling of the most prestigious areas, including the Katara Suite, the Spa, the Reception Hall and the Terrazzo Restaurant.
Fuda Marmi's know-how and experience supported Marco Piva's studio not only in the execution of the works, but also in turning all the architect's fascinating and prestigious ideas into reality.
In the specific case of the Reception Hall, the company created bespoke flooring with, at its centre, a carpet made of a mix of combined materials, including granite, limestone and brass, all managed by optimising the cuts through the use of CNC machines.
At the entrance to the Promenade, meticulous work was carried out, attending to every detail in the use of very different materials such as granite, glass and brass; combining these materials was difficult to manage, but with experience and technology every request was met, achieving a result that lived up to expectations.
Another special venture was certainly the creation of the pool area and the Spa, which played with different finishes. For the former, the same stone was paired with steel to define the lines and for an interplay of underwater lighting, while in the Spa everything features customised elements from the pencil of architect Marco Piva, who designed specific pieces. One example is the Turkish bath, whose basins were carved from a single solid block, so that the impression this work gives to those seeing it for the first time is of soft, gentle forms, thanks to the changes of finish perceptible to the touch.
Finally, another gem, even more complex to create, is the Master Bathroom of the Katara Suite, where once again artisan skill and innovation are blended.
Here too, masterful combinations of different materials were created that enhanced the project.
The alternation of natural and technological materials made it possible to create bespoke pieces that the human eye perceives as a single block. One example is the bathtub panel in extra-white onyx, “curved” to a single radius without altering the appearance of the new material.
Published in OnlyONE Magazine #4
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