At Ausonia Hungaria: From Art Nouveau to Modernity
A story of Luxury Hotel Ausonia Hungaria at Venetian Lido, its journey from the early 20th century design to fresh modernity ready to blooming also in 2021.
Venice is usually a synonym of romance, water, possibly Vivaldi (unfortunately only his Four Seasons) and recent discussion about climate effects, or problematic „fast-tourism“. Venice is a place of extremes. Sometimes you will find it too full, then too empty. Sometimes too hot, sometimes damn cold. Some places shine with a beauty, some are rather sad and abandoned. On the other side, it experiences also rare cases of successful transformation. Where is its balance? Is it possible to restore it?
If you like Vivaldi and feel bored by Four Seasons, make sure to explore his Arsilda Regina di Ponto.
If you are curious to see, if it is possible to embrace beauty of Art Nouveau and to bring it to the designful modernity, continue reading.
Truly unusual "street art" or monument - digital print of Vivaldi in a plastic protector. You will find this piece on the church, where was Vivaldi baptized- San Giovanni in Bragora in Sestier Castello.
Back to the question from the start. Is it possible to restor
e the balance of Venice? Whatever the answer is, it is still is one of the most mysterious and original places of the world and it is hard not being enchanted by it.
Since I like writing about beautiful and enjoyable matters, I am going to bring you back to Ausonia Hungaria in the heart of Venetian Lido. We could have already seen its beautiful renovated ambience and the new era, that is experiencing after its renovation of 2019.
Blooming flowers in the area of Ausonia Hungaria. Greenery is undisputable part of Venetian Lido. Particularly in spring and early summer, it offers precious atmosphere and "flavoury" shade.
Imagine breathing fresh salty air at the beach of Lido in the morning, seeing the blooming flowers in the gardens around Liberty Style villas and hearing the most beautiful sounds of laguna´s birds. Are you there?
The world has changed, since the official opening of Grandhotel Ausonia Hungaria in 1907. If we look only at the building itself, it was built in a fashionable style for those years – Art Nouveau/ Secession style and in Italy known as Liberty Style. Since then, the architecture has changed, the society has changed, the needs of travellers and the whole options of hospitality has been changed.
Ladies don´t need to be tied into corsets and men don´t need to wear a hat, or a full suit when in the exterior. Travellers don´t need to take a steamboat or train with long hours, to spend a holiday at Venetian Lido. System of viewing the world of economy, business and services got a completely different approach.
One of the best views on Venice or lagoon is from its roofs or terasses. Ausonia Hungaria has its own spectacular rooftop with such an unique view.
Some things remain. People still want to travel, explore, treat themselves well. They cross the borders to breathe different air than in their home- city. And that is something, that Venetian Lido famously offers. If we have a look at Lido today, it is probably a smaller and more shy version of itself. What was before a pulsing place with top hotels and the best parties and the newest invention of times. Today more calm place, though still hosting Mostra del Cinema and offering places of hospitality. It is often researched for contact with seaside.
Besides Mostra del Cinema, there is rather a calm movement. Many historical sites are being closed and some of the important cultural spots disappeared without a trace.
The challenge is, how Venice or the owners of the properties treat what they have in hands. Should be Venice only „used“ as it remained from the past or can it be gotten into the next level, protected and ready for the next years?
I found this theoretic question in the story behind the renovation of Ausonia Hungaria.
To provide meaningful architecture is not to parody history, but to articulate it.
- Daniel Libeskind
Why? It is a historical spot, but with current reconstruction also managed to „reinvent“ itself. It did not have to forget its hospitality fame and history. It respects the area, where it is placed and already being the natural part of Lido´s ambience. Space respects its former beauty and brings a new lifestyle experience.
Another interesting element, that phenomenon, that is untakable part of Venetian Lido – Mostra del Cinema is demonstrated to the visitor and guest from the first steps. Elements of the historic camera – machinery and on the floor photographs from contemporary years of Mostra del Cinema. It all points to consciously knowing what was before and what can be next.
I had a pleasure to find out more from the background of this interesting event. I don´t know how is it for you, but I don´t experience seeing done such a work in the field of architecture and hospitality too often. And even more so in Venice.
As usual, I was planning to write a short article, but the inputs were way too interesting for me not to share them with you. Maybe it can all inspire the spirit of searching for the quality and creating timeless works, places, experiences.
"The Grand Hotel was designed by the engineer Nicolò Piamonte in neo-Renaissance style, the furnishing was created by the great cabinetmaker Eugenio Quarta, while the ceramist Luigi Fabris (1913), perfectly following the Art Nouveau style, took care of the many decorative elements, including the famous facade in polychrome majolica.
Therefore, due to its original essence, the structure springs from the experimentation that interested the world of art and architecture at the turn of the 19th and 20th century, when art had to abandon its role, lose its aura, and discover itself again in the reality of life, giving rise to the great changes in contemporary society such as cinema and design. "
(From the Press Release Simone Micheli )
We will now have a closer look at the transformation experienced by Luxury ***** Hotel Ausonia Hungaria at Lido di Venezia. Particularly, from the visual side, talking to Simone Micheli, the author of the interior and light design solution.
Can you please explain more the role of Simone Micheli in this transformation?
It was to elaborate on the hotel’s interior design and on the lighting design project, to transform them into a true piece of art. “ By overcoming the typical concept of space and time, my project was directed towards a reinterpretation of the historical element that constitutes the structure, which translates to tearing down the concept of limit, in the concretization of an unusual atmosphere, in an iconic fusion between interior and exterior spaces, directing the beholder’s eye to what has yet to happen”
Did you use some historic resource to study this building? Was there some important or interesting part?
The Ausonia Hungaria hotel opened in 1907 and from the very beginning, it was recognized as a symbol and luxury icon on the Lido landscape. Not only a luxury hotel but also a piece of art born from the meeting between Neo-renaissance Nicolò Piamonte project and Liberty style of the main facade ornate by polychrome tiles of the ceramist Luigi Fabris (1913). The building has, from the beginning, been inscribed in a global sustainable project, a fil rouge of luxury connecting experimentation and innovation in a contemporary project. I bring my work into a new concept of space and time, taking inspiration from the landscape.
Did you decide to use some elements from the history of the building, or, was there something that was decided to leave?
The historical suggestions of the building and of the city are integral parts of the interior qualification project. With Maurizio Marcato’s photography art, some historical elements of the liberty façade were reinterpreted and “reside” in the chambers’ wall covering, in a continuous style between interior and exterior to create a unique atmosphere of continuity and immersion in beauty.
Along the corridors, a tension that binds the opposites is reflected: the city outside and the world inside, full and empty. Aerial photographs of Lido di Venezia compose the floor, giving the visitors the sensation of walking on the city roofs. Along the walls, there are macro photos from Mostra del Cinema di Venezia that remind another notable piece of city history in the visitor’s mind.
In the common areas, historical heritage and projectual avant-garde keep merging with each other, mixing preserved historical assets and furniture with soft shapes, clean spaces and charming details.
When was started the process of reconstruction and finding solutions of interior design for this hotel?
After several leaderships and various attempts at restructuring, in February 2007 the hotel was acquired by Teodoro Russo, current owner and client of the breathtaking restoration work that this precious building went through. Construction started in November 2019 and we finished in only six months. The inauguration was on 21st May 2019. The process of research and study on the interior project and on the lighting design had already started during the winter of 2007.
There are significant areas, where interior decorations on the ceilings were preserved – such as gentle floral and motives with Slavic goddesses, on the ground floor. How was it, to let it conserved and to find a modern interior design solution, that would be in harmony with such a strong element?
In my architectural ideal the past and the future cohabit and generate innovation. The furniture has linear and fluid shapes, the colours are soft and the light effects mix naturally with historical elements, which acquired new glory and a new
meaning.
Each one of us is what they are thanks of their past, we bring it inside of ourselves all the time and it’s the same when it comes to art. That’s why I try to preserve the most significant historical elements in the projects of buildings I work on.
I want to keep their identity intact, and their hidden message as well, and at the same time wrapping this identity in the contemporary and projecting it into the future.
How it is, to be an architect and interior designer in Venice? Both in philosophy and both in practical matters.
Beauty and charm are Venice’s features. A unique place in the world that is marked by symbols of many cultures, a place of exchange among populations, a secular example of an ante litteram kind of multiculturalism. Realizing this project at the Lido was a challenge that I undertook with emotion and a desire to create something unique that could become iconic and bring new meanings. My style is unique and distinctive, my works are a continuous dialogue among past, present and future.
Did you have some significant pieces of architecture/ interior/ furniture custom produced? Why did you decide so?
For each one of my projects, I collaborate with selected companies who realize the interiors and decorations I draw. The interior is unique and specifically designed to meet the requirements of the metropolitan traveller, to make the final result iconic and recognizable. An art-hotel that invites you to reflect on the contemporary art scene, an urban masterpiece between art and architecture that promotes experimentation and progress and also becomes the spark for the requalification of other accommodation facilities.
Which types of „artigiani“ had to collaborate on such a project of reconstruction? Both architecture and interior. Nowadays, it might seem the handcrafts are slowly disappearing, people are tending to start working in a more „electronic“ world. Then, some helpful „handcrafts“ might be disappearing. What do you think about that?
An artisan’s work represents one of the distinctive traits of Italian culture and economics. The Italian craftsmanship is still going strong and is becoming even stronger over time.
The strength that comes from tradition and the quality that brings the Italian excellence to the world represent a huge part of the Italian export. To me, art and knowledge of craftsmanship are essential ingredients to my creative thinking and a “formidable instrument of growth and innovation”.
Do you sometimes visit the spaces, that you work as the architect/interior design for? Or do you collect feedback, after some time passes?
Sometime after the opening, we collect the client’s impressions. A good instruments of comparison for us is that everything we create becomes a subject for publication and often receives important prizes (for example Aquatio cave luxury hotel & spa in Matera has received 8 prizes and international awards as of today).
Do you think potential clients of the architect need to have the idea about the wished result, or should they fully trust their architect or interior designer? How to find the perfect balance of wished results from the client´s side and as well, the architect´s creation?
“When the designer meets an enlightened client an art piece can but take the form”!
People who rely on me as a designer know that they will have a unique and distinctive project. I strongly believe that good architecture is the result of the combination between appearance and function: the form is important and it helps in making the product more performing the product by inserting it in a historical period, but it has to be complementary with the function that the object has to perform.
My clients know that’s my way of thinking, but despite this, my clients and I have opportunities for discussions to choose the right solutions for both. A client who chooses an architect must only take care to find a human being in perfect harmony with his content vision. A client who chooses an architect must only take care to find a human being in perfect harmony with his content vision. In complex construction sites, variations are always possible, becoming a symbol and a stimulus!
Are there any books or resources you would recommend to fans of the architecture in Venice, or perhaps new architects, that would like to explore more of this problematic?
Design and architecture are practices that need constant inspiration and inputs on today’s reality, that’s why I suggest visiting Biennale d’arte e di Architettura, which always offers new ideas and new kinds of interpretations of the world, which we can reflect on.
What do you think about the future of Venice´s architecture?
Venice is one of the most attractive place in Italy and it needs new hospitality solutions that tailored to tourists who want to live a luxurious and artistic experience 360^ angle. In terms of hospitality, it is a city that can offer so much more, beyond the contingency of the operation due to this historical moment - resulting in the absence of booking from abroad - personally, I’m developing 2/3 hotel projects on the lagoon city.
In a conscious mix of past and present time, the coating of the east facade that didn’t have any decoration, has been entrusted to the eclectic British pop artist Joe Tilson, through the application of polychrome panels in Murano glass.
From Simone Micheli Architectural Hero Press Release
We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit.
- Aristotle
I hope you enjoyed a journey to Venetian Lido and also a journey from the start of 20th century until our days. Shall we see more of quality spaces and projects like Ausonia Hungaria in Venetian Lagoon and in Italy in the future!
A big thanks to Simone Micheli for his time and willingness to take us behind the scenes of this spectacular place.
Author of photograph : Andrea Sarti
Courtesy of Simone Micheli Architectural Hero
Text, Photographs: Structures Of Venice 2021