By David Shiller
Grazing enhances material textures and architectural details, bringing attention to the façade’s symmetry and grandeur.
Photos: Leo Torri
Nestled in the heart of Rome, the Bulgari Hotel Roma stands as a tribute to the illustrious legacy of Sotirio Bulgari, the legendary jeweler famed for adorning the world’s stars of stage and screen. As the ninth addition to the Bulgari Hotels & Resorts collection, this luxury resort opened its doors in June 2023, embodying the essence of the Eternal City by seamlessly integrating rich history with modern sophistication.
The new Bulgari Hotel Roma occupies a rationalist architecture building, built circa 1937, that faces two of Rome’s important landmarks: the Ara Pacis and the Mausoleum of Augustus, the first Roman Emperor. A major restoration incorporated refined, Italian elegance into every detail of the hotel’s design, including its 110 rooms and suites, five distinctive restaurants, indoor pool, spa and boutiques. Imbued with the history and richness of Rome, the project earned the title of “Best Hotel 2024 In the World” by Virtuoso Travel. The restoration required over 300 skilled workers, with construction occurring seven days a week for more than three years.
The hotel’s interior is decorated in sumptuous materials and rich textures—further accentuated by the lighting scheme—and in striking contrast with the disciplined, rectilinear architecture of the building’s exterior. Interiors feature Mediterranean marble and adhere to four traditional Roman color palettes. For example, in the entrance foyer, an opulent hand-blown chandelier, together with adjustable projectors, enhance the three-dimensional glow of a 2,000-year-old statue of Augustus. A custom floor lamp was commissioned to enhance the design, featuring a bronze column-shaped body, crowned by a satin glass diffuser, casting soft and delicate illumination. At the bar, light directs the gaze and shapes perception with a variety of luminous levels. The bar counter is brightened with precise grazing that highlights the textured bar front.
A handblown chandelier and adjustable projectors accentuate a 2,000-year-old statue.
Marinella Patetta, architect and founding partner of Metis Lighting, emphasized the importance of the lighting design in elevating the hotel’s architectural narrative. “The lighting design principles were well-defined from the beginning to respect the immense historical heritage of the place and elevate every architectural detail with the correct contribution of light.” Patetta added, “Our intent in the lighting design was very clear: seamless integration with the architectural project in order to balance the aesthetic rigor of stone materials with rich textures and finishes, while highlighting art masterpieces.”
This custom floor lamp combines a bronze columnshaped body crowned by a satin glass diffuser to create a soft ambience.
In keeping with this intent, an in-depth study of light fixtures was performed to meet requirements of maximum efficiency, high quality and deeply shielded light sources. The incorporation of customizable pre-set lighting scenes creates a variety of intensities and effects, allowing optimal use of the space, visual comfort and energy savings.
From the concept phase, the major restoration of the nearly 100-year-old building imposed numerous constraints. One such hurdle was hallway illumination: the ceiling height was low and required accommodating mechanical and plumbing elements within it. The solution was to illuminate all the corridors with discreet downlights positioned inside a dark linear cove, also housing various mechanical, electrical and plumbing components. Patetta shared, “This dark trace creates a luminous rhythm, while simultaneously illuminating the precious Bulgari Heritage artwork on the walls.”
Reflecting on the impact of the illumination on the overall atmosphere, Patetta noted, “The hotel embodies quintessential Italian character and Roman identity. Light plays a crucial role in emphasizing and elevating the brand’s values and pillars, creating a poised, gentle atmosphere that characterizes the spacious rooms and suites, creating relaxed luxury and, ultimately, ensuring an exceptional experience for the hotel’s guests.”
Inside the guest rooms, a serene and intimate atmosphere is achieved through carefully curated lighting accents. Diffused light gently outlines the curtains, while concealed low-profile illumination within round ceiling features emphasizes the geometric motifs of the design. Multiple layers of indirect light sources contribute to a sophisticated and intimate environment, where deeply shielded downlights blend seamlessly into the backdrop, drawing attention to art pieces and points of interest.
Recessed lights, integrated into timber, plaster and marble ceilings, provide dramatic illumination in both public and private areas. The innovative use of building information modeling allowed for the development of bespoke solutions that integrate lighting harmoniously throughout the space, adding depth, warmth and visual hierarchy.
Exterior lighting highlights the grand sculptural character of the hotel façade, utilizing tailored color temperatures to bring out mosaic narratives, relief carvings and Latin inscriptions. Careful attention was devoted to re-lamping historic lanterns and ensuring magnification of reliefcarvings, with grazing light profiles. Grazing accentuates and enhances material textures and architectural details, bringing attention to the façade’s symmetry and grandeur.
The hotel’s namesake, Sotirio Bulgari, was renowned for his mastery of the ancient “Cabochon” gem-cutting technique, which captures and enhances the natural beauty of gemstones. In a similar fashion, the lighting design at the Bulgari Hotel Roma is meticulously crafted to enhance the facets of elegance and character of the hotel’s artwork, stone textures and architectural details.
Pictured Left and Right: In guest rooms, light adapts to guests’ preferences, with fully customizable, pre-set selection of scenes, enhancing beautiful details while encouraging wise energy use.
This luxurious establishment is not just a hotel; it is a finely crafted gem, echoing the legacy of its namesake and celebrating the art of la dolce vita, within the heart of Rome. With every detail, the project invites guests into a world where history and modern luxury intertwine, creating an unforgettable experience that resonates with the soul of the Eternal City.
THE AUTHOR | David Shiller is president of Lighting Solution Development, a leading business development consulting firm to the lighting industry. He is also publisher of LightNOW, an online lighting industry trade publication, as well as a 20-plus-year veteran of the lighting industry and a member of the American Lighting Association.
THE DESIGNERS | Marinella Patetta is architect and founding partner at Metis Lighting.
Eugenia M. Marcolli is industrial designer and project manager at Metis Lighting.