NEWH - Summer 2020 - 60

PROJECT | LA SUITE

Rock On
Studio Marco Piva connects past, present, and future in an Italian hotel
By Alia Akkam
Photography by Andrea Martiradonna

O

nce rife with poverty, Matera, in southern Italy's Basilicata
region, was named a European Capital of Culture last year.
Interest in the ancient city-famed for its Sassi area of two
distinctive districts carved out of caves-unsurprisingly surged.
Not far from this maze of cinematic stone dwellings, a UNESCO
World Heritage Site, is La Suite, a minimalist hotel evocative of Italy's
circa-1920s and '30s rationalism movement, that captures Matera's

60 www.newh.org

transition into modernity. Designed by Milan-based Studio Marco
Piva, it subtly recalls the city's troglodyte roots, embracing an arch
motif on the façade, plus in the 40 suites at the entrances and on
headboards, and in the mirrors and custom armchairs.
For the firm's founder Marco Piva, La Suite is a contemporary
ode to the surroundings. "It wasn't possible to work on such a
project without being influenced by the material and the light of the
place, internalizing its spirit and socio-cultural
references," he says, noting how the property
overlooks landmarks like the Aragonese-style
castle and rock churches.
To forge a connection between past and future,
Piva chose traditional, local, durable Mazzaro
stone to clad the exterior and heighten "the play
of light created by alternating metal sheets and
glass panels along the entire perimeter of the
façade." Likewise, the historic entry arch salvaged
from the site's original building was restored and
reassembled, establishing a new, urban context.
Inside, the natural-chromatic palette continues
with additional uses of Mazzaro stone as well as
dark wood, metal, and Fenix NTA laminate. By
placing an importance on integrating "indirect,
warm, and enveloping light" into the furnishings
and volumes, says Piva, La Suite mimics Matera's
nighttime ambience. The magic of light is crucial,
he adds, bringing "dynamism and animation and
enhancing the architecture's alienating, almost de
Chirico-like effect of suspended time."
Beyond the suites, which showcase such colors
as pink, black, and deep blue, guests retreat
to the petite spa or hang out in the restaurant,
which stands out for its bar fashioned from black
marble and polycarbonate blades. This social hub
is bolstered by a large, glazed winter garden that
"extends the lounge towards the city square," says
Piva, "as a filter between the external and internal
environment."



http://www.newh.org

NEWH - Summer 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of NEWH - Summer 2020

NEWH - Summer 2020
TABLE OF CONTENTS
NEWS
GUEST PERSPECTIVE: SAMUELSON FURNITURE
GUEST PERSPECTIVE: PEOPLE MATTER
WHO’S WHO
CONFERENCE ROUNDUP
HAVE YOU SEEN?
SCHOLARSHIPS
SCHOLARSHIP HEROES
INTERVIEW
SUSTAINABILITY
PREMIUM BUSINESS MEMBERS
Q&A: TERI UROVSKY
Q&A: NATASHA GOMEZ
Q&A: JULIE ZANELLA
ON THE COVER
PROJECT: LA SUITE
PROJECT: MAHANAKHON BANGKOK SKYBAR
PROJECT: THE HENRY
PROJECT: THE ARMSTRONG HOTEL
PROJECT: STAR CINEMA GRILL
CHAPTER HIGHLIGHTS
SAVE THE DATE
NEW MEMBERS
NEWH - Summer 2020 - NEWH - Summer 2020
NEWH - Summer 2020 - Cover2
NEWH - Summer 2020 - TABLE OF CONTENTS
NEWH - Summer 2020 - NEWS
NEWH - Summer 2020 - 5
NEWH - Summer 2020 - GUEST PERSPECTIVE: SAMUELSON FURNITURE
NEWH - Summer 2020 - 7
NEWH - Summer 2020 - GUEST PERSPECTIVE: PEOPLE MATTER
NEWH - Summer 2020 - 9
NEWH - Summer 2020 - WHO’S WHO
NEWH - Summer 2020 - 11
NEWH - Summer 2020 - 12
NEWH - Summer 2020 - 13
NEWH - Summer 2020 - 14
NEWH - Summer 2020 - 15
NEWH - Summer 2020 - 16
NEWH - Summer 2020 - 17
NEWH - Summer 2020 - 18
NEWH - Summer 2020 - 19
NEWH - Summer 2020 - 20
NEWH - Summer 2020 - 21
NEWH - Summer 2020 - CONFERENCE ROUNDUP
NEWH - Summer 2020 - 23
NEWH - Summer 2020 - HAVE YOU SEEN?
NEWH - Summer 2020 - 25
NEWH - Summer 2020 - 26
NEWH - Summer 2020 - 27
NEWH - Summer 2020 - 28
NEWH - Summer 2020 - 29
NEWH - Summer 2020 - 30
NEWH - Summer 2020 - 31
NEWH - Summer 2020 - SCHOLARSHIPS
NEWH - Summer 2020 - 33
NEWH - Summer 2020 - SCHOLARSHIP HEROES
NEWH - Summer 2020 - 35
NEWH - Summer 2020 - INTERVIEW
NEWH - Summer 2020 - 37
NEWH - Summer 2020 - SUSTAINABILITY
NEWH - Summer 2020 - 39
NEWH - Summer 2020 - 40
NEWH - Summer 2020 - 41
NEWH - Summer 2020 - PREMIUM BUSINESS MEMBERS
NEWH - Summer 2020 - 43
NEWH - Summer 2020 - 44
NEWH - Summer 2020 - 45
NEWH - Summer 2020 - 46
NEWH - Summer 2020 - 47
NEWH - Summer 2020 - 48
NEWH - Summer 2020 - 49
NEWH - Summer 2020 - 50
NEWH - Summer 2020 - 51
NEWH - Summer 2020 - Q&A: TERI UROVSKY
NEWH - Summer 2020 - 53
NEWH - Summer 2020 - Q&A: NATASHA GOMEZ
NEWH - Summer 2020 - 55
NEWH - Summer 2020 - Q&A: JULIE ZANELLA
NEWH - Summer 2020 - 57
NEWH - Summer 2020 - ON THE COVER
NEWH - Summer 2020 - 59
NEWH - Summer 2020 - PROJECT: LA SUITE
NEWH - Summer 2020 - 61
NEWH - Summer 2020 - 62
NEWH - Summer 2020 - 63
NEWH - Summer 2020 - PROJECT: MAHANAKHON BANGKOK SKYBAR
NEWH - Summer 2020 - 65
NEWH - Summer 2020 - 66
NEWH - Summer 2020 - 67
NEWH - Summer 2020 - PROJECT: THE HENRY
NEWH - Summer 2020 - 69
NEWH - Summer 2020 - 70
NEWH - Summer 2020 - 71
NEWH - Summer 2020 - PROJECT: THE ARMSTRONG HOTEL
NEWH - Summer 2020 - 73
NEWH - Summer 2020 - 74
NEWH - Summer 2020 - 75
NEWH - Summer 2020 - PROJECT: STAR CINEMA GRILL
NEWH - Summer 2020 - 77
NEWH - Summer 2020 - 78
NEWH - Summer 2020 - 79
NEWH - Summer 2020 - CHAPTER HIGHLIGHTS
NEWH - Summer 2020 - 81
NEWH - Summer 2020 - 82
NEWH - Summer 2020 - 83
NEWH - Summer 2020 - 84
NEWH - Summer 2020 - 85
NEWH - Summer 2020 - 86
NEWH - Summer 2020 - 87
NEWH - Summer 2020 - 88
NEWH - Summer 2020 - 89
NEWH - Summer 2020 - 90
NEWH - Summer 2020 - 91
NEWH - Summer 2020 - 92
NEWH - Summer 2020 - 93
NEWH - Summer 2020 - SAVE THE DATE
NEWH - Summer 2020 - 95
NEWH - Summer 2020 - NEW MEMBERS
NEWH - Summer 2020 - 97
NEWH - Summer 2020 - 98
NEWH - Summer 2020 - 99
NEWH - Summer 2020 - 100
NEWH - Summer 2020 - 101
NEWH - Summer 2020 - 102
NEWH - Summer 2020 - 103
NEWH - Summer 2020 - 104
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NEWH - Summer 2020 - Cover3
NEWH - Summer 2020 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/newh/2023Winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/newh/2023fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/newh/2023summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/newh/2023spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/newh/2022winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/newh/2022fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/newh/2022summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/newh/2022spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/newh/2021winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/newh/2021fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/emerald/newh/2021summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/newh/2021spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/newh/2020winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/newh/2020fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/newh/2020july_v2
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/newh/2020july
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/newh/2020summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/newh/2020spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/newh/2019winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/newh/2019fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/newh/2019summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/newh/2019spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/newh/2018winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/newh/2018fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/newh/2018summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/newh/2018spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/newh/2017winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/newh/2017fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/newh/2017summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/newh/2017spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/newh/2016winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/newh/2016fall
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https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/newh/2015winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/newh/2015fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/newh/2015summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/newh/2015spring
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/newh/2014winter
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/newh/2014fall
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/newh/2014summer
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/newh/2014spring
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com