You Can Now Stay in Rome’s Most Stunning Private Apartments
“We at the Grand House approach design as storytellers,” Massimo Micangeli says of the new hospitality brand he and his brother Maurizio have just launched in Rome. Conceived as a cross between a high-end apartment rental agency and a hotel company, the Grand House cherry-picks the best of each typology and combines them. For guests who choose to stay in one of the seven apartments currently available, that means having not only the sprawling space and privacy you’d expect from an apartment but also 24/7 concierge service, access to exclusive tours, daily housekeeping, and meals by Michelin-starred chef Cristina Bowerman—in short, the amenities you’d expect from a five-star hotel. Not to mention that each apartment features its own uniquely stunning design.
“The houses in our portfolio are selected keeping in mind how the synergistic design elements work together with the beauty of the exteriors and how said design elements can accomplish more together than they could alone,” Micangeli tells AD. “We pay attention to the environs where the houses are located and expect that the interiors entice seasoned travelers to experience Rome like a Roman, even when they are at home.”
Of course, these are no ordinary apartments. The Grand View Suite overlooking the Pantheon is in a 17th-century building designed by Giacomo della Porta—the architect behind the Trinità dei Monti church at the top of the Spanish Steps. The Grand Emperor Suite in Palazzo Ruspoli was once home to Napoleon III and was restored by Jerome Vermelin. The interiors are like a time capsule of 19th-century design, with elaborate coffered ceilings, parquet floors, period furniture, damask wallpaper, heavy curtains, and gilded antiques.
The Grand Art Gallery and the Grand Academy—both owned by art collector and dealer Ines Musumeci Greco—feature more modern interiors that contrast with the historic buildings. The former is housed in Palazzo Bennicelli, which was originally designed by Borromini in 1660 and completed by Gaetano Koch in the late 1800s. Musumeci Greco has filled the house with design pieces like Mies van der Rohe sofas and art by Marina Abramović, Alighiero Boetti, Agnes Martin, and others. The latter occupies the 15th-century aristocratic residence of Diego Meléndez de Valdés, chamberlain of one of the Borgia popes, and features pieces by contemporary artists. The Grand Penthouse seems to float above the city with a glassed-in living room that makes you feel like you’re in a greenhouse.
Last but not least is the Grand Palace, which has been the seat of the aristocratic Costaguti family for centuries. Here, contemporary art and vintage furniture by Verner Panton, Charles and Ray Eames, and Achille Castiglioni create a lively contrast with historic architectural details like frescoes by Cavaliere d’Arpino, Caravaggio’s master, as well as elaborate crown moldings, terra-cotta floors, and a marble fireplace.
“The layered juxtaposition of modern and historic showcases how we approach design as a brand, and we look for that when selecting residences to add to our cluster,” Micangeli says.
The Grand Club, which will function as a lounge, co-working space, and luggage deposit where guests can stop by for tea or meet with a concierge, debuted on May 9. Though the brand is starting small in Rome, it plans to add apartments in Florence and Milan by the end of 2020.
Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest
