On the Grand Canal, a luxury hospitality project breathes new life into a historic palace, transforming restoration into a dialogue between preservation, international vision, and guest experience.
Studio Gascón has completed the restoration and interior design project for Palazzo Giovanelli, the historic Venetian residence overlooking the Grand Canal. The intervention was conceived to enhance one of the city’s most evocative landmark properties while supporting its evolution into a distinguished high-end hospitality destination
Palazzo Giovanelli is more than a historic building; it is a living presence within the fabric of Venice, a place where architecture, memory, and urban identity have been intertwined for centuries. The project was driven by the responsibility of restoring new vitality to this heritage, preserving the soul of the palace while guiding it into a new era of international hospitality.
The ownership sought to preserve a classical spirit consistent with the building’s history, while introducing an international feel and touch capable of meeting the expectations of a sophisticated global clientele. Alongside this ambition was the need to maintain strict cost control and uphold the highest quality standards, in line with the property’s positioning within The Leading Hotels of the World collection.
The project evolved as a highly complex, “open-heart” intervention, made particularly challenging by the requirement to keep the palace fully operational throughout the works. This condition demanded careful management of construction phases, logistics, scheduling, and the continuous coordination between design, site supervision, ownership, hotel management, and day-to-day guest operations.
Palazzo Giovanelli is more than a historic building; it is a living presence within the fabric of Venice, a place where architecture, memory, and urban identity have been intertwined for centuries. The project was driven by the responsibility of restoring new vitality to this heritage, preserving the soul of the palace while guiding it into a new era of international hospitality.
The ownership sought to preserve a classical spirit consistent with the building’s history, while introducing an international feel and touch capable of meeting the expectations of a sophisticated global clientele. Alongside this ambition was the need to maintain strict cost control and uphold the highest quality standards, in line with the property’s positioning within The Leading Hotels of the World collection.
The project evolved as a highly complex, “open-heart” intervention, made particularly challenging by the requirement to keep the palace fully operational throughout the works. This condition demanded careful management of construction phases, logistics, scheduling, and the continuous coordination between design, site supervision, ownership, hotel management, and day-to-day guest operations.
Working on a historic Venetian palace means engaging with a layered, fragile, and invaluable heritage. For this reason, Studio Gascón worked in close collaboration with local authorities and heritage preservation bodies, coordinating a process designed to respect the building’s historical identity while responding to the technical and functional requirements of a contemporary hospitality structure.
Every design decision was guided by the intention to create a harmonious dialogue between past and present. Decorative stuccoes, frescoes, and Venetian terrazzo floors were restored with artisanal care, treated as living testimonies of the palace’s memory. Alongside these historic elements, the guest rooms introduce a more contemporary interpretation of hospitality: curated furnishings, refined textiles, integrated technologies, and functional details coexist with the historic character of the interiors.
The result is a delicate balance between classicism and modernity, where the comfort expected by an international traveler does not erase the depth of the place, but rather makes it more accessible, livable, and part of everyday experience. The guest journey is shaped through a sequence of atmospheres, materials, and details that evoke Venice without relying on decorative clichés, instead offering an authentic sense of belonging.
Every design decision was guided by the intention to create a harmonious dialogue between past and present. Decorative stuccoes, frescoes, and Venetian terrazzo floors were restored with artisanal care, treated as living testimonies of the palace’s memory. Alongside these historic elements, the guest rooms introduce a more contemporary interpretation of hospitality: curated furnishings, refined textiles, integrated technologies, and functional details coexist with the historic character of the interiors.
The result is a delicate balance between classicism and modernity, where the comfort expected by an international traveler does not erase the depth of the place, but rather makes it more accessible, livable, and part of everyday experience. The guest journey is shaped through a sequence of atmospheres, materials, and details that evoke Venice without relying on decorative clichés, instead offering an authentic sense of belonging.
Between 2025 and 2026, the design vision was extended to the building’s common areas as well: the lobby, restaurant, and shared spaces were transformed into environments designed to celebrate Venetian grandeur while redefining the concept of luxury hospitality within the palace. These are places of welcome, interaction, and stay, where the history of the building can meet the expectations of an increasingly international audience attentive to identity and experiential quality.
“Venice cannot be designed: it must be listened to. Every Venetian palace holds a profound memory that requires respect, sensitivity, and vision. Our goal was to restore Palazzo Giovanelli’s natural luminosity, allowing the city itself to guide the transformation process”, says Gabriele Gascón, founder of Studio Gascón.
With Palazzo Giovanelli, Studio Gascón reinforces its role within the world of high-end hospitality through an approach that combines cultural sensitivity, technical precision, and strategic vision. In a context such as Venice—where every intervention demands restraint and awareness—the project demonstrates how design can become a tool for preservation, enhancement, and economic value creation.
Restoration is not interpreted as mere conservation, but as a living process: a way to allow history to continue speaking, welcoming new guests, new habits, and new forms of beauty.
“Venice cannot be designed: it must be listened to. Every Venetian palace holds a profound memory that requires respect, sensitivity, and vision. Our goal was to restore Palazzo Giovanelli’s natural luminosity, allowing the city itself to guide the transformation process”, says Gabriele Gascón, founder of Studio Gascón.
With Palazzo Giovanelli, Studio Gascón reinforces its role within the world of high-end hospitality through an approach that combines cultural sensitivity, technical precision, and strategic vision. In a context such as Venice—where every intervention demands restraint and awareness—the project demonstrates how design can become a tool for preservation, enhancement, and economic value creation.
Restoration is not interpreted as mere conservation, but as a living process: a way to allow history to continue speaking, welcoming new guests, new habits, and new forms of beauty.
Project: Palazzo Giovanelli
Category: Hotel
Location: Venezia, Italia
Year: 2023/2027
Status: on going
Scope: Restoration and interior design
Phases: Concept design, technical design, and construction management
