The Eco Mood Hotel concept is a sustainable hospitality blueprint devised by entrepreneur Mauro Santinato to revitalise the traditional guesthouses of the Rimini coast. This innovative model aims to transform existing buildings into modern hotels that offer “an innovative blend of comfort, functionality and care for the environment”.
The first concrete expression of this vision is the MODE Hotel in San Giuliano a Mare, near the port of Rimini, created through the conversion of the former Hotel Arlesiana. Twelve architectural practices were commissioned to oversee this transformation alongside the Milan Polytechnic’s School of Design, with each practice responsible for a distinct area of the hotel. The firms involved were Rizoma Architetture, architect Laura Verdi, HUB48, Roberta Studio, OTTO Studio, Lombardini22, the ne[s]t, NOA, ovre.design®, GLA Genius Loci Architettura, Alessia Galimberti & Partners and Comfort Hub. The result is an engaging, innovative combination of nine unique suites, a laundry, an outdoor lounge and a co-working space. With styles ranging from vibrant and colourful to minimalist and pure, the interiors cater to a diverse clientele and encourage year-round tourism rather than just summer stays. Energy is sourced from renewable resources, while the materials are predominantly natural or upcycled.
One of the most distinctive spaces is the Estate Italiana suite designed by OTTO Studio with Paola Navone, which stands out for its extensive use of ceramic surfaces from ABK. “Channelling a 1960s aesthetic with neon wall signage, the suite features porcelain floor tiles from the Poetry Stone Lines collection in the colour Grey, alongside majolica-effect tiles from the Poetry Colors collection in Blue, Pearl and Smoke, a range developed through a partnership between ABK and Paola Navone OTTO Studio.
The From Rimini to Havana suite, the result of a workshop at the Milan Polytechnic’s School of Design coordinated by Francesco Scullica, is equally vibrant. “The design draws on a lively fusion of the Romagna Riviera and Cuban tradition,” notes the design team. “Inspired by the 1960s, it evokes an era of bright colours, music, conviviality and optimism. Materials, furnishings and curated vintage elements capture the warm intensity of Havana, creating a dialogue with the lightness and energy typical of the Adriatic coast.”
In the Mare 3.0 suite by GLA Genius Loci Architettura, shades of blue serve as an explicit reference to the marine context, from the wave motifs of Marazzi’s Crogiolo Scenario porcelain stoneware floor tiles through to the living area ceiling.
Finally, the Green Side suite (The Ne[s]t) has a more discreet, understated feel, while the evocatively named Silenzio Sfrenato (“Unbridled Silence”) suite stands out for its sophisticated, minimalist bathroom. Overall, the project succeeds through the freshness of its contemporary language and its distinctly experimental approach.
