The definition of a building which dialogues actively with its urban surroundings thanks to an open architectural volume was the primal aim of Studio Marco Piva. For this to be realised, light has to be used as an architectural element, allowing the building to appear like a visually communicative constituent. The play with transparency is created with the use of glass on the ground floor and mezzanine floor, therefore creating a fluid dialogue between the city and the hotel, and vice versa. The effect attained is one of an expansion of the public space, spilling into the hotel interiors.

The building structure, situated in the particularly dynamic urban context of Bologna city center, was totally restored, maintaining the volume and parts of the structure.