The renovation project by the studio Italia and Partners has transformed abandoned spaces into an exclusive B&B

In the center of Turin, a careful renovation conducted by the architecture studio Italia and Partners has transformed the spaces of old abandoned insurance offices into the Estella Luxury Suite, an exclusive B&B made with great attention to detail to welcome tourists and business travelers in refined spaces with a welcoming domestic atmosphere.

Starting with the original space – about 220 m2 – the internal layout has been totally revised to create the residential units: five elegant soundproofed suites – including three two-room units with living room and bedroom, and two studio apartments – in refined sand tones, in contrast with accents in blue, petroleum green, dove gray and bordeaux, enhanced by details in brass and warmed by surfaces in velvet, with canaletto walnut shelves in the bathrooms.

The client wanted us to create five apartments as well as a small shared lounge, a lobby and a corridor,” says the architect Matteo Italia, “but above all they had one more important desire: namely that future clients, entering this place, would feel right at home, with the sensation of being in an exclusive facility.

Italia and Partners stands out for its particular focus on lighting design.

To make the corridor and the lobby comfortable – spaces without natural light – the Estella Luxury Suite has been outfitted with direct and indirect lighting fixtures. On the ceiling a black groove – a recurring stylistic feature in the studio’s projects – creates a dynamic perspective. Inside it, the laserblade spotlights by iGuzzini vanish completely, creating a sophisticated, soft theatrical effect. Every detail has been honed to perfection: the black color of the groove matches that of the room numbers, precisely lit by small black cubes.

Light is also the protagonist inside the rooms, where different veils have been created with soft indirect lighting, also seen in the bathrooms to accentuate the texture of the wallcoverings. The wardrobes have been custom made and stand out for their original linen-effect finish, also placed on the doors.

Outstanding design companies have been selected for the furnishings. In the living areas the light chairs in polypropylene and suspension lamps are by Kartell, while in the bedroom zones the velvet armchairs and leather beds are by Calligaris. The kitchens, with pure lines and pale colors, are produced by Modulnova based on designs supplied by the architects. To absorb the sound of footsteps and increase the sense of warmth, the corridors feature carpeting in neutral colors.

We have managed to make a magical place,” says Matteo Italia, “where clients feel ‘wrapped’ as if they were at home, where the pale tone of the walls alternates with warmer hues and carefully selected design objects, making this a very exclusive location in the city.”

(Photos by Federico Moschietto for Italia and Partners)