Natural Semantics: Boscolo Hotel Exedra Nice, Nice

The luxury hotel is set in a majestic building of elaborate stuccos and façade decorations. The property is in the heart of Nice, along the Victor Hugo grand boulevard. The project entailed remodeling the building's right part. On its ground floor are the hotel's common spaces, including a bar, conference center and breakfast room.

The concept that informed the project was to create a contemporary version of the Belle Epoque lines of the lavish historic envelope. Comfortable materials were used to merge the two styles, evoking the rich atmospheres of Italian style. A recurring design element is the lighted surfaces and installations along the walls and ceilings on several floors, underscoring the space's qualities.

The bar space on the ground floor is positioned to be immediately visible, distinctly evoking nature and its gentle, harmonious lines. The sculptural bar counter finished in white Corian welcomes guests in an appealing atmosphere of Burma teak boiserie walls and lighted ceilings. The colors of the breakfast room are warmer, including teak wood floors, concealed lights of warm hues and boiserie. The buffet counter's material dialogues with the large colombino stone fireplace, the space's true focal point.

The conference center maintains the use of harmonious forms, adding a Venetian-style floor with red glass inserts that physically asserts itself in the rooms. However, its style is more dynamic, in keeping with the kind of work done inside.

The project also extends to part of the exterior, affecting the main façade with a remodeling of the building's front part. This is where the bar's outdoor terrace is located with a spectacular roof and umbrellas attached to contoured tube sections.

The project's other large space is the roof terrace, which holds the sundeck, a restaurant with a view, and a swimming pool, whose subtle hidden light effects create suffused bands of light.

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