History on the move

Those who want to spend a night in a monument of industrial culture should travel to Turin. For over half a century, the Lingotto neighborhood was decisively influenced by automakers Fiat. Its centerpiece was an enormous concrete factory built in 1923 and crowned by a test track on the roof. After the factory closed down in the 1980s, it was Renzo Piano’s turn to address the industrial structure – during the conversion, he remodeled part of the complex for use as a hotel. Guests at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotels can still trace the building’s history: Expansive spaces, high ceilings and not lastly the extraordinary conversion of the roof point to the former factory’s significance as a trendsetter of the Italian motor industry. Architect Michele Arcarese has now given to the 4-star hotel an up-to-date redesign and fitted them out with furniture by Pedrali.

To challenge the architecture’s bold lines and the coolness of materials such as glass and steel, cherrywood wall panels and brass details were used in the restaurant and bar areas. Exclusive seating comfort is provided by the “Jazz” chairs and barstools designed by Pedrali. With their rounded shapes and soft upholstery in teal-colored velvet, the “Jazz” collection gives the high and deep spaces a truly homely touch. The brass finish on the delicate frames further creates a link to the interior architecture. The chairs are paired with “Inox” tables with tops in both square and round versions on a stainless-steel base frame. The third product on the scene is the chair “Tweet”, designed by Marc Sadler: a velvet upholstered seat shell and a stainless steel base that contributed the rationalist part to this ensemble. (am)