Zaha Hadid Architects Brings Futuristic Lens to Baroque Rome Hotel

Zaha Hadid Architects balances contemporary and restored historic design elements at the reimagined ultra luxury Romeo Hotel Roma in central Rome.

Apr 10, 2025 - 18:02

Zaha Hadid Architects Brings Futuristic Lens to Baroque Rome Hotel

Defined by its elaborate articulation of grandeur and intricate curvature, the 17th century Baroque style was implemented as a counter Protestant Reformation measure intended to draw the masses back to the pomp and circumstance of the Catholic Church. There is perhaps no place where this approach was deployed with more fervor than in Rome, Italy. The ancient city is a palimpsest of history like no other. Traces from various eras of boom and bust are evident if one knows where to look.

Unfortunately, a lot has been lost or covered up in favor of efficiency and other nefarious aims. Like so many Renaissance buildings of its kind, Palazzo Capponi all but lost its original Baroque interiors when unceremoniously turned into a government building during the 1950s. Tasked with its adaptive reuse transformation, powerhouse London firm Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA) worked to revive what would become Romeo Hotel Roma’s meticulously painted ceiling and wall frescos before introducing its distinctly futuristic – and parametric – touch. With ZHA not content to just recreate a disingenuous facsimile, this juxtaposition is both visually appealing and authentic; operating along the lines of patronage: the age-old tradition in which skilled artist and artisans were called up to outfit grand edifices – like this one – with incredibly detailed ornamentation and flex their creative muscles in doing so.

Ornate building entrance with large stone archway, symmetrical windows with shutters, and a small balcony above. Cobblestone street in front.

Portal entrance of Palazzo Caponi \\\ Photo: Jacopo Spilimbergo, courtesy of Romeo Collection

“Rome’s architectural history can be read in its masonry vaults, from the Roman, through the Renaissance and Baroque periods, into the 18th Century,” says Paola Cattarin, the ZHA project lead responsible for the comprehensive conversion. “We took inspiration from this idea, to make a new interpretation of vaults and their intersections. All the different rooms, down to the furniture, are designed with this concept.”

Modern hallway with marble walls and geometric ceiling design, leading to an arched glass entrance. Floor features curved line patterns.

Gallery entrance \\\ Photo: Photo: Jacopo Spilimbergo, courtesy of Romeo Collection

One enters through what was originally a courtyard – a space now covered by a retractable glass roof – before a grand staircase reveals itself off to one side and leads up to the rest of the program. “Generally, the cellular organization of the property promotes repetition, modular design, and the industrial paradigm common in hotels worldwide,” Cattarin explains. “Different spaces in the palazzo’s pre-existing footprint favored an individuated rather than systematic design approach; adhering to the Italian tradition as a culture of the craftsperson’s hand and the artist’s signature. The word disegno (design) itself is derived from the verb segnare (to sign). Our three-dimensional approach to form facilitated a level of idiosyncrasy reflective of Italy’s artisanal tradition.”

A modern interior with a gold, sculptural ceiling resembling scales, marble walls, and sleek black furniture. The design features curved elements and ambient lighting.

Reception \\\ Photo: Chris Dalton, courtesy of Romeo Collection

Elegant restaurant interior with dark wood-paneled walls, arched ceilings, and tables set for dining. A framed picture hangs on a wall, enhancing the sophisticated ambiance.

Bistro \\\ Photo: Chris Dalton, courtesy of Romeo Collection

Modern restaurant interior with round tables set for dining, featuring sleek, reflective ceiling design and contemporary black chairs.

Il Restaurante Alain Ducasse \\\ Photo: Chris Dalton, courtesy of Romeo Collection

Brass-ring vaults delicately delimit the public spaces’ lava stone and ebony floors. On offer is one of the world’s most Michelin-starred chef Alain Ducasse’s Il Ristorante. Sicilian rock salt and tadelakt clad the walls of the basement-level spa. Close to 50 companies were involved in the restoration of the palazzo; submitting 230 applications for historically sensitive alterations. During the painstaking process, a near intact ancient Roman wall was, unsurprisingly, exhumed. Rather than conceal this architectural artifact, it was carefully preserved and programmed as an amenity.

Modern restaurant interior with dark, wooden ceiling and floor. Round tables with white tablecloths and black chairs are set elegantly. An open kitchen is in the background.

Il Restaurante Alain Ducasse \\\ Photo: Chris Dalton, courtesy of Romeo Collection

Luxurious room with two leather chairs, a black coffee table, and curved wood-paneled walls with shelves holding decorative items. Marble accents and modern lighting enhance the design.

Cigar Lounge \\\ Photo: Chris Dalton, courtesy of Romeo Collection

Interior of an archaeological museum with exposed ancient ruins, modern architecture, and skylights casting natural light on the site.

Archeology finds, under the transparent water basin in the garden \\\ Photo: Chris Dalton, courtesy of Romeo Collection

Modern interior featuring dark wood paneling, a black chair with a beige cushion, a small round table with plates, and a wall-mounted TV in a sleek, reflective environment.

Premier Suite \\\ Photo: Chris Dalton, courtesy of Romeo Collection

Modern bathroom with a large white bathtub, wall mirror, sink, and a closet with hanging clothes. The design features sleek surfaces and a minimalist aesthetic.

Premier Suite \\\ Photo: Chris Dalton, courtesy of Romeo Collection

Spacious modern bedroom with sleek wooden walls and flooring, a large bed with white bedding, contemporary furniture, and ambient lighting. Large window with a sheer curtain.

Premier Room \\\ Photo: Chris Dalton, courtesy of Romeo Collection

Each of the 75 guest rooms are worlds onto their own; tailor-made with abundance and intensified materiality in mins but with light as a sobering adjacent. Many of the implemented finishes – Carrara Statuarietto and Nero Marquina marble paired with Makassar ebony, cedar, and chestnut woods, as well as Porcelenosa’s engineered Kiron solid surface – have the added quality of acoustic attenuations, helping to drown out the noise of Vespas zipping by outside. Suites on the piano nobile level are imbued with the aforementioned 17th century frescoes. Those on higher levels come with balconies and terraces framing panoramic views of the surrounding city.

Modern bedroom with a curved glass partition separating a freestanding bathtub and wooden interiors, featuring a bed, wooden floor, and soft lighting.

Premier Room \\\ Photo: Chris Dalton, courtesy of Romeo Collection

Luxurious modern hotel room with polished wood furnishings, a large bed, a sleek design featuring smooth curves, and ambient lighting.

Deluxe Room \\\ Photo: Chris Dalton, courtesy of Romeo Collection

Bed frames that undulate from their 45-degree orientation into integrated nightstands, lacquered finished paneling with near anthropomorphic formulation, and wildly striated archways with iridescent sheen are the icing on the cake; decidedly future-forward interventions that evoke the abundantly decorative nature of the historical style evident in restored details. This sophisticated decadence also alludes to the bohemian nature of the surrounding area. “Piazza del Popolo was the salotto of Rome in the 1950s and ’60s. Federico Fellini and Marcello Mastroianni regularly met at the Bar Rosati,” say, Alfredo Romeo, the founder of Romeo Hotels who oversaw the listed destination’s metamorphosis for well over a decade.

Modern wall-mounted fireplace with a sleek, curved black hood against glossy wood paneling, emitting a small flame with logs.

Deluxe Room \\\ Photo: Chris Dalton, courtesy of Romeo Collection

A pair of black high heels on a glossy wooden shelf with underlighting. Above the shoes, a black and white striped fabric hangs.

Deluxe Room \\\ Photo: Chris Dalton, courtesy of Romeo Collection

A modern closet with wooden panels containing various jackets and robes on hangers. Below are neatly folded white towels. A small desk is partially visible on the left.

Deluxe Room \\\ Photo: Chris Dalton, courtesy of Romeo Collection

Modern hotel room with two twin beds, glossy wood paneling, and a sleek desk. A small table holds champagne glasses, and natural light filters through a large window with sheer curtains.

Deluxe Twin Room \\\ Photo: Chris Dalton, courtesy of Romeo Collection

Modern bathroom with wooden paneling, a white freestanding tub, glass-enclosed shower, and a vanity with a chair. A potted orchid and artwork are on the counter.

Superior Room \\\ Photo: Chris Dalton, courtesy of Romeo Collection

Modern interior with ornate coffered ceiling, curved staircase, and a brown sofa. The room blends classical and contemporary design elements.

Fresco Suite \\\ Photo: Chris Dalton, courtesy of Romeo Collection

A bedroom with a large bed, beige bedding, and elaborate wall and ceiling paintings. The room has warm lighting and a dark wood floor.

Fresco Suite \\\ Photo: Chris Dalton, courtesy of Romeo Collection

Luxurious hotel room with ornate ceiling and wall frescoes, featuring a modern bed, neutral bedding, and a plush chair on dark wood flooring.

Fresco Suite \\\ Photo: Chris Dalton, courtesy of Romeo Collection

Modern gym interior with wooden ceiling and flooring, featuring various exercise equipment like weights and machines, lined up symmetrically along the walls.

Gym \\\ Photo: Chris Dalton, courtesy of Romeo Collection

What: Romeo Hotel Roma
Where: Rome, Italy
How much: Rooms starting at $2,600
Design draws: A fully restored Renaissance-era palazzo in center of Rome with Baroque interior fully restored and translated through Zaha Hadid Architect’s equally exuberant futuristic design vocabulary.
Book it: Romeo Hotel Roma

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Photography courtesy of Romeo Collection.