From Rimini to Havana

A sustainable hospitality project blending heritage, creativity, and international design

MODE HOTEL and the “From Rimini to Havana” suite: a collaboration between the Design Department of the Politecnico di Milano and the hospitality sector to rethink sustainability in tourism.

What does it mean to design sustainably? The MODE project seeks to answer this question by fostering a dialogue among thirteen leading architecture studios in the hospitality sector. The aim is to explore new forms of accommodation that combine quality of experience, environmental responsibility, attention to people’s well-being, and the enhancement of cultural heritage.

MODE was born in Rimini as an initiative to regenerate one of the city’s historic tourist structures, the Hotel Arlesiana, transforming it into an experimental venue: a permanent laboratory for contemporary hospitality design. Each room of the hotel becomes a different interpretation of the concept of sustainability, viewed through the eyes of the designers involved.

In this context, the “From Rimini to Havana” suite takes shape, developed with the design contribution of the Department of Design at the Politecnico di Milano and defined by a lively blend of atmospheres from both the Romagna Riviera and Cuban tradition.

Its inspiration draws from the 1960s, an imaginary world filled with vibrant colors, music, conviviality, and optimism. The suite is introduced by a custom-made wallpaper created from a work by Cuban artist Raúl Valdés González, guiding guests into an evocative, multisensory experience.

Materials, furnishings, accessories, and the reuse of vintage elements evoke the warm intensity of Havana’s culture, establishing a dialogue with the lightness and energy typical of the Romagna Riviera. This synthesis gives shape to an immersive environment, designed through a contemporary lens and with deep attention to sustainability.

“From Rimini to Havana” is more than a suite: it is a narrative of places, memories, and cultures, reinterpreted through design to shape a new way of experiencing hospitality.
It stands as tangible proof that sustainability is not merely a technical choice, but a cultural and design approach capable of generating value for the territory, for individuals, and for the communities involved.

A sustainable approach from concept to realization

The principles guiding the project include:

  • Attention to the four dimensions of sustainability: environmental, social, economic, and cultural
  • Flexible design, capable of evolving over time
  • Involvement of young designers, artisans, upholsterers in training, and Italian and Cuban creatives
  • Reduction of environmental impact through water- and energy-saving solutions
  • Selection of certified Made in Italy materials: EPD ceramics, Ecolabel textiles, wall panels made from 100% recycled wood, and low-VOC non-toxic paints
  • Use of second-hand furnishings and accessories, restored and reused
  • Adoption of newly designed furnishings developed according to eco-design criteria, using 100% recyclable materials and local supply chains

The suite thus becomes a replicable model of conscious hospitality, capable of integrating aesthetic quality with environmental responsibility.

The Project

The original concept was developed within a workshop of the School of Design at the Politecnico di Milano, carried out by students Elisa Cattaneo, Benedetta Franci, Rolando Antonio Escobar Hidalgo, Elisa Panizza, and Erika Spanu, under the guidance of professors Cinzia Pagni, Elena Elgani, Francesco Scullica, and collaborator Federico Salmaso.

The project was later further explored and developed by the Department of Design, with Francesco Scullica as scientific supervisor, and with the involvement of Claudia Borgonovo, Elena Elgani, Cinzia Pagni, and Federico Salmaso.

Partners

Photo Credits: Official Website Mode Hotel

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