HOTEL NOLINSKI VENEZIA : THE TEMPTATION OF VENICE

"Nobody escapes the temptation of Venice. Politician in search of election, writer in search of inspiration, curious vacationer... each of us feels the need to discover the Serenissima. And then, to Emmanuel Sauvage, the co-founder and director of Evok Collection, has also experienced this attraction for the city of the lagoon, to the point of considering setting up a hotel there. With addresses as prestigious and original in their diversity as Nolinski, Brach, Sinner and Cour des Vosges, Evok Collection displayed an assertive Parisian character.The year 2023 marks the group's first international opening with Nolinski Venezia .

If Venice is an attractive destination, nothing is simple. And it took five years of work (and negotiations...) for Evok's new nugget to open its doors, just in time for the summer season. Multiple adventures that Emmanuel Sauvage brushes aside elegantly with the back of his hand, preferring to be delighted with the result: "We have put all our energy into offering a haven of peace, elegant, comfortable and sophisticated open to all lovers of Venice, a setting where pieces steeped in history are skilfully mixed with contemporary creation. »

Precisely, what does this haven of peace look like? At an authentic protected historic monument, the former Bourse du Commerce, ideally located in the city's most chic thoroughfare, with neighboring brands such as Gucci, Saint-Laurent, Dolce & Gabbana. ... A two-minute walk from Piazza San Marco and the Grand Canal, Nolinski Venezia has settled behind the elegant facade of this tall building, a symbol of maritime power and the wealth of the city. Italian architect Alberto Torsello was commissioned to transform the commercial building into a luxury hotel. A wise choice, because this star of architecture, settled in Venice since 2006, is famous for his talent in the protection of architectural and cultural heritage. A specialist in Aver Cura (which means "taking care"), Torsello was also awarded the Compasso d'Oro in 2018, the equivalent of the Nobel Prize for design...Here, he knew how to highlighting the volumes and all the architectural elements that made the beauty of the building: the large interior staircases, the
colonnades, coffered ceilings... His work was then magnified by the two interior designers, the Frenchman Yann le Coadic
and the Italian Alessandro Scotto. The duo who had already distinguished themselves with the decoration of the charming Cour des Vosges in Paris, is also distinguished by its sense of detail, its respect for the history of the place, its choice of traditional craftsmanship. Stepping into Nolinski Venezia is a bit like stepping into the history of Venice, which is expressed in each decorative object, from the ornate door handles to the famous Medusa lights on the grand staircase, via the works of the famous Avem House of Murano, exhibited in the windows. Made by master glassmaker Andrea Salvagno and engraved by Giacomo Barbini, one of the few connoisseurs of the glass grinding technique, they are part of an exclusive collection that was designed for the hotel by Maria-Pia Bellis in tribute the marine-inspired Art Nouveau decoration of the former Bourse du Commerce...

With their unique volumes and architecture because they are all different, the 43 rooms (including 13 suites) spread over the five floors, combine elements of contemporary design with the most traditional aspects of Venetian craftsmanship. Large circular mirrors, Murano light fixtures and colorful terrazzo floors in the bathrooms coexist with designer metal and velvet armchairs, herringbone parquet floors and soft rugs.

Here, no petty mini bar, but a real bar with a selection of branded spirits and soft drinks available free of charge to guests. We appreciate the generosity! Whether they open their tall windows onto the spectacle of the street or the interior cortile, they all offer an atmosphere of refinement and serenity. Like suite 301, which continues with a huge terrace with deckchairs for sunbathing and having breakfast while listening to the distant noise of the city. The attention to detail that characterizes the Evok Collection establishments has been pushed to its climax here. The Emmanuel Sauvage team has made it a point of honor to entrust each location to the talent of artists or specialists. This is particularly the case of the magnificent bar on the third floor. Under the "sea sky" of its ceiling, it combines the cozy side of an Italian bar (carpet and red velvet), with the warmth of a library. Covering 64 linear meters, the four thousand works that make it up have been selected by independent curator and bookseller Anatole Desachy and one of the walls is adorned with a work in ink and acrylic by Simon Buret. The artist, who also designed the fresco on the ceiling, is also the co-founder (with Olivier Coursier) of the Aaron group, known for its mind-blowing music...At the bar, the musical atmosphere bears the signature of the two sound designers regulars of the Evok group, Fred Viktor and Jerry Bouthier. As for the selection of works of art that punctuate your journey within the hotel, it is due to Amélie du Chalard. It was she who commissioned Valeria Nascimento to create the large ceramic bas-relief placed above the conciergerie. Entitled Dark Waters, in homage to the Venetian canals, this work which uses Venetian red pepper consists of a hundred tiles decorated with ceramic fragments.

For relaxation, the hotel has two wellness areas. A pretty treatment room for treatments using La Colline products, on the third floor, and, on the top floor, an astonishing pool decorated with a golden mosaic to laze around in the bubbles while admiring the roofs of La Sérénissime..."

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