First completed in 1919, Terme di Saturnia is a world-renowned resort and spa in Italy that is steeped in history. Now, the property has completed a sustainable renovation thanks to London-based studio THDP. The new design concept celebrates the natural conditions of the original thermal spring with preserved wooden furnishings, décor crafted by local artisans and green spaces.
“The initial briefing strived to achieve a visible and perceived renewal, while retaining the original internal architectural structure and maintaining the high-quality furnishings as part of the former design project by the architect Lorenzo Bellini,” said Manuela Mannino of THDP. “We have employed terms such as reflection, corrosion, erosion, layering, ripples to convey the visual and emotional language of interior design.” The designers selected a color palette that matched the resort’s natural surroundings, including blue tones to mimic the property’s thermal waterfalls.
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For the reception area, they collaborated with local artisans, from the Ragnini workshops in Pitigliano, who crafted oxidized tables and bronzed handles. To maintain a dedication to the property’s historic ties, a number of the existing wooden furnishings were restored and preserved in private rooms and common spaces as well. The designers utilized high-quality Tuscan crafts, such as ND Dolfi vases and tiles, to decorate the bronze metal dividers created by workshop Officine Ragnini di Pitigliano; the craft workshop has been in the same family for seven generations.
There is a green “living wall” incorporated into the interior décor to indicate the dining area as well as a central patio surrounding an internal garden and olive tree. The entrance is fixed with suspended lanterns and large light installations to replicate the feeling of water. Several finished metal plates designed with different oxidation effects help reflect the balance between the waterfalls and earth. All 124 guestrooms have also undergone a renovation with a focus on guest comfort.
Photography by Giorgio Baroni via THDP
