luxury hotel

Scaffolding around the Giorgio Armani Milano showing the planned look

La Dolce Vita lives on in Milano.

Amongst all the bad news, stories of canceled projects in Dubai and lawsuits involving Donald Trump, it is good to be able to report on one company, at least , that does not seem in any way affected by the current financial crisis.

Giorgio Armani, in partnership with Dubai-based Emaar Properties, has started work on the Giorgio Armani Hotel Milano. The project is scheduled for completion in 2010, and is situated above the designer’s megastore in Via Manzoni, in a building dating back to 1937 and originally designed by Venetian architect Enrico Agostino Griffini.

I feel a very special involvement in the project for the Armani Hotel Milano, as it is located here in my hometown. Every aspect of the hotel is a reflection of my aesthetic philosophy, and its position, above the Manzoni 31 concept store, will offer my guests the chance to experience a complete Armani lifestyle. I believ the hotel’s design will fit the spirit of Milan as a capital of style, whilst offering a new experience of hospitality within its fashion district. Giorgio Armani

The Armani Hotel Milano will cover the top seven floors of the existing building and in addition to its 95 guest rooms and suites, will house a business center, a restaurant, a lounge bar, a spa and wellness facilities.

The stores and restaurants already in place will stay open and trading throughout the construction of the hotel.The first two floors and the basement will continue to house the existing Armani/Via Manzoni 31 retail area, which comprise the the Emporio Armani Café Armani/Nobu restaurant. Emporio Armani, Armani Jeans, Armani/Casa, Armani/Fiori and Armani/Dolci brands.

An image resembling the new exterior façade - designed by Giorgio Armani - has been put up to cover the scaffolding. The image, which is an exact replica of the building’s exterior will remain in place throughout the process of converting the building.