Captivating interiors at W Rome by Meyer Davis
Grand architecture with interiors by Meyer Davis reflect the colorful history and vibrant culture of Italy's capital
May 2022: W Hotels Worldwide, part of Marriott International, redefined the hospitality scene in Rome with the recent opening of W Rome. With a spirited spin on luxury, this historic palazzo on the outside meets an unexpected interpretation of Roman design on the inside, in a way that is intriguing, glamorous, and uniquely W. Developed by Omnan Group, along with award-winning firm Meyer Davis founded by Will Meyer and Gray Davis who have spearheaded the design, the hotel will celebrate the spirit of Italy and its unique personality.
Spanning two adjacent 19th-century buildings on Via Liguria with 162 guest rooms and suites, W Rome offers a prime location ideally situated near the famous Spanish Steps and fashionable boutiques of Via Condotti. The hotel also boasts one of the city’s very few rooftop bars with panoramic views across the Eternal City. Meyer Davis has designed a portal where Rome’s past, present, and future effortlessly collide, and old contexts have unexpected pairings. From the juxtaposition of fabrics and surfaces to tempting textures, each detail of every space is intentional.
“The arrival of W Hotels in Italy will offer an unexpected, thought-provoking hotel experience where design risks are taken and playfulness awaits. Meyer Davis have mastered W Hotel’s provocative and fearless signature style with imaginative interiors that create a unique take on a traditional yet contemporary escape while injecting Rome’s charm and culture into every element of the property.” — Candice D Cruz, Vice President, Luxury Brands, Europe, Middle East & Africa, Marriott International.
In a city marked by immense historical heritage, W Rome will see an unapologetically Italian color palette and patterning meet a layered blurring of different eras of standout design. 1970’s Italian glamour oozes throughout the property with traditional architecture melting into color blocking and bold graphic patterns in hues of burnt orange, dramatic red and foliage greens. An eclectic mix of colorful furniture meets stone walls representative of the building’s past, whilst reflective surfaces bring a contemporary feel to the property.
"We typically see projects as an exercise in subtraction, with a focus on editing down our inspiration to find the essence of a property. This project required a different approach, one that emphasized the maximalist approach of W Hotels. We were inspired by the layered history of the city and built our narrative from the incredible collage of cultures and influences – from antiquity through modernity – that make Rome one of the most desirable destinations in the world. This melding of time periods and visual elements creates another realm for guests to discover.” — Will Meyer, Co-founder of Meyer Davis
A Signature W Welcome
Guests are welcomed into the hotel by the W Living Room, featuring a stunning skylight and a window of patterned glass allowing light to flood through the bright and airy open space. Eclectic seating areas are surrounded by elegant sculptural pieces of art, while black and grey marble flooring run throughout.
An intriguing, hand-painted mural wraps around walls that look onto chic reflective stainless steel welcome desk pods. The mural, painted by Italian artist Costanza Alvarez de Castro, is inspired by Roman gardens, and invites discovery by telling the story of the destination’s stunning geography. Transitional spaces are used as palate cleansers from room to room, while a digital gallery screen creates an immersive experience for guests, paying homage to Rome and its rich culture through images that unexpectedly change each time a guest passes through the area.
The W Lounge Bar is centered around a unique bar with a curved reflective mirrored structure complete with a tropical leaf granite counter. The lounge floor displays a large marble mosaic inspired by Italian fashion. Lighting panels throughout the space create a layering effect to the ceiling, which has been carefully crafted to change the atmosphere from day to night.
Boundaries are blurred between public and private spaces throughout the hotel. Guests are invited to discover the unexpected with a hidden door in the public bathroom that leads to the intimate Parlapiano, a secret garden. Inspired by Borromini Church, a traditional Italian stone church complete with kissing benches, lush foliage, topiary and water fountains, this space provides a tranquil escape within the hotel.
Guestrooms
With a bold yet calming color palette, the 162 guest rooms and suites have been designed to make guests feel as though they have their own luxury city apartment. Open-plan living, and stylish design go hand-in-hand while materials naturally clash, with dark oak doors juxtaposed with highly polished brass decoration.
Local materials are used to tell the story of the hotel with traditional wooden herringbone patterned floors effortlessly blurring into modern marble as guests reach the bathroom, offering a thoughtful blend of both past and present throughout the space. Wine red velvet curtains dress the guest room windows from ceiling to floor creating a sense of bold luxury and a statement finish to the rooms. A selection of the guest rooms offer private balconies and terraces with iconic views of the city, some overlooking famous landmarks such as the Istituto Svizzero.
Providing a next-level glamorous experience, the property offers Extreme WOW Suites offering unparalleled urban gardens and expansive terraces, adding rare and much-sought-after inside and outside living. The suites’ décor sees historical Roman architectural elements mixed with cutting-edge in-room technology and custom designed modern furniture.
Giano Restaurant
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Foodies can rejoice as unrivaled culinary offerings at the hotel will be spearheaded by celebrated Italian chef, Ciccio Sultano, as he brings his take on Sicily to W Rome. Driven by a passion for flavor and combining traditional Italian ingredients with a touch of today, Giano Restaurant offers a taste revolution in an indoor-outdoor space. Layering of stone patterned flooring, dark wood walls and lush green foliage wraps the restaurant space, while soft velvet sofas provide guests with a relaxed feel to their dining experience.
Rooftop Oasis
The rooftop terrace is home to the WET Deck and Otto Rooftop, offering guests the perfect space to kick back and enjoy the Roman sun while soaking up the panoramic views of the city. Otto Rooftop features a space where guests can relax on large sofas in a lounge style seating area, which are expected to be surrounded by lemon trees and greenery covered walls. Blue and white jovial Gio Ponti tiles line the plunge pool and vibrant sunshine-yellow umbrellas frame the patterned sunbeds. This adults’ playground presents the alternative side of Rome, where everything is designed to create a sophisticated and social but laid-back feel.
Please find a comprehensive gallery of images here, and for more information and to book, please visit https://www.marriott.co.uk/hotels/travel/romwv-w-rome/.
About Meyer Davis
Meyer Davis was founded in 1999 by Will Meyer and Gray Davis. The award-winning firm, which maintains offices in New York City, Los Angeles, London, Dubai, and Miami, is known for its work on residences, hotels, restaurants, retail experiences, and workplace environments, as well as product development. The studio has recently completed a number of noteworthy hospitality projects, including the redesign of both the iconic Rosewood Little Dix Bay resort in Virgin Gorda and the expansive Auberge Mauna Lani on the island of Hawaii. Meyer Davis has become a go-to designer for luxury brands like Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental, Dream Hotels, and Ritz Carlton. Impressive in its breadth and depth, the firm’s portfolio also includes residences for former J. Crew Creative Director Jenna Lyons and philanthropist Jorge Perez and restaurants such as Carna at Baha Mar Resort for Chef Dario Cecchini and the James Beard award-winning St. Cecilia for Chef Ford Fry in Atlanta. Meyer Davis’ public projects boast a welcoming, residential quality, and the studio’s residential projects offer a generous warmth and comfort that only seasoned hospitality designers could fashion. It is this harmonious marriage of seemingly disparate elements—public and private, old and new, uptown and downtown—that is quintessentially Meyer Davis.
www.meyerdavis.com / @meyerdavis / www.mrwilliamgray.com / @mrwilliamgray
About W Hotels Worldwide
Born from the bold attitude and 24/7 culture of New York City, W Hotels, part of Marriott International, Inc., has disrupted and redefined the hospitality scene for over two decades. Trailblazing its way around the globe, with nearly 60 hotels, W is defying expectations and breaking the norms of traditional luxury wherever the iconic W sign lands. With a mission to fuel guests’ lust for life, W ignites an obsessive desire to soak it in, live it up and hit repeat. The brand’s provocative design, iconic Whatever/Whenever service and buzzing Living Rooms create an experience that is often copied but never matched. Innovative, inspiring and infectious, the brand’s super-charged energy celebrates guests’ endless appetite to discover what’s new/next in each destination, to see more, feel more, go longer, stay later. For more information on W Hotels, visit whotels.com/theangle or follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. W Hotels Worldwide is proud to participate in Marriott Bonvoy, the global travel program from Marriott International. The program offers members an extraordinary portfolio of global brands, exclusive experiences on Marriott Bonvoy Moments and unparalleled benefits including free nights and Elite status recognition. To enroll for free or for more information about the program, visit MarriottBonvoy.marriott.com.
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