Aquatio Cave

Matera / Ital

y

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 dwell-

ings 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 bear

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ing traces of fossils, form a calming backdrop, while white screen

s

divide up larger spaces, referencing the milk of lime historically use

d

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.

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