It’s no secret that dual-branded concepts are one of the buzziest ideas out there. But, The Garibaldi Blu Hotel Florence provides a fresh take. Rather than introducing multiple brands, the 64-room, 3-star property is crafted with two separate personalities under one flag (housed in separate buildings). On one side, there’s the classic elegance of frescoes and pale walls. On the other, guests are as likely to encounter a life-size Batman figure as they are to find a painting on a wall.
The use of natural and luxury-type materials helps tie the whole approach together without losing the distinct essence of each. Tanganyika walnut furniture and marble provide a flexible material palette that goes from classic to quirky with equal ease.
Projects like this go to show that sometimes two really is better than one. Synthesizing different visions into one property is a design challenge that today’s hospitality designers need to anticipate. It can be as literal as Garibaldi or as subtle as crafting a look with multi-generational appeal, but designers can’t rely on catering to just one target customer these days.
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