Aquatio Cave
Matera , Italy

Creating a contemporary, luxurious spa and hotel in one of the most unique historic sites in the world. That was the challenge to architect Simone Micheli in his design for the Aquatio Cave Luxury Hotel & Spa in the UNESCO World Heritage site of Matera. Occupied since the Palaeolithic period, the site contains over a thousand troglodyte dwellings carved into the rock, harmoniously integrated into the natural terrain. He took inspiration from the shape of a water droplet, the force which gradually formed the caves, letting this organic shape inform everything from the furniture to the lighting. The stone walls, still bearing traces of fossils, form a calming backdrop, while white screens divide up larger spaces, referencing the milk of lime historically used by Materans to clean their walls. To maintain the air of timelessness and simplicity, the luxuries of the modern world are cleverly concealed, from large mirrors which cover in-room technology to the cutting-edge cleaning system of the GROHE Sensia Arena shower toilet with its sleek exterior silhouette.

Architect: Simone Micheli
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Project address:
Sasso Caveoso
Via Conche
12 75100 Matera
Italy
Date of completion: 2018