Palomba Serafini Associati adds vaulted suites with 11-sided bathtubs to Palazzo Daniele

Architecture studio Palomba Serafini Associati has renovated the former olive oil mill of Palazzo Daniele in Puglia, Italy, to create four new suites for the hotel alongside a communal lounge, incorporating some of the original millstones.

The studio, headed by husband-and-wife duo Roberto Palomba and Ludovica Serafini, was tasked with reclaiming a second wing of the palazzo after overseeing its initial transformation into a hotel in 2019.

Located in the village of Gagliano del Capo near the southern tip of Puglia's Salento peninsula, the building was originally designed in 1861 by local architect Domenico Malinconico to serve as a private residence for an aristocratic family.

Much like the first stage of the renovation, Palomba Serafini Associati's latest intervention focused on removing all unnecessary elements from the interior to highlight its original features, including neoclassical design details, mosaic floors and 19th-century frescoes.

The three newly added Royal Suites and the prime Executive Suite are defined by vaulted ceilings with patinated walls and dramatic bathrooms.

Several of them incorporate rainfall showers that cascade into 11-sided tubs, made bespoke for the hotel from traditional cocciopesto mortar and stone.

As part of the project, Palomba Serafini Associati also created a series of connected common spaces in the former oil mill, including a lounge and dining hall that open onto a garden.

The whitewashed rooms make a feature of the mill's original hydraulic presses, one of which now contains a small bar.

A red Osaka sofa by Pierre Paulin creates a bold statement at the heart of the space, which is used to host a monthly dining series celebrating Apulian cuisine.

According to Palomba, the design philosophy for the hotel focused on the guest experience rather than seeking to establish a specific style.

"It was very important for us not only to design the architecture or the interiors, but to design the experience of the place," said Palomba in a video produced by Dezeen for the 2019 AHEAD Europe awards, where Palazzo Daniele was awarded Hotel of the Year.

"We didn't want this place to look like a hotel. You're not visiting, you're living the experience."

Palomba and Serafini founded their Milanese studio in 1994 and have worked on a range of interior projects as well as designing furniture for brands such as Poltrona Frau and products for companies including bathroom brand Ideal Standard.

The photography is by Matteo Verzini.

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