Palazzo Tirso opens in Cagliari with interiors by Poltrona Frau and Studio Marco Piva
Palazzo Tirso – MGallery is a five-star hotel overlooking Cagliari’s Harbour

Palazzo Tirso – MGallery opened in Cagliari, set within a 1920s palazzo and designed by Studio Marco Piva with Poltrona Frau. The building has a historical significance for the Sardinian city, having originally hosted the headquarters of the Sardinian Electrical company before becoming the regional outpost for Intesa San Paolo bank and finally being taken over by Accor Hotels.
Palazzo Tirso’s design: a sophisticated design experience in a historical setting
Studio Marco Piva worked on a sensitive restoration of Palazzo Tirso, leading a project that reveals and maintains the building’s historical features while updating it for a contemporary audience. Creating a new layout from the historical architecture, the architect succeeded in keeping original features while transforming it into a modern hotel blending functionality and a sophisticated design experience.
For the hotel’s interiors, the studio worked closely with Poltrona Frau’s Custom Interiors team, who developed bespoke furnishings for the entire structure. The finished project includes bespoke furniture and objects created for the hotel, as well as customised Poltrona Frau classics, resulting in a modern interior that blends sophisticated silhouettes with the most premium materials in an elegant palette that merges neutrals with touches of pink, yellow and blue.
The project is a magnificent demonstration of Poltrona Frau’s abilities to meet any interior needs: ‘With our custom interiors division, we interpret the desires of our clients and partners by transforming the design concept into concrete results that address every phase of the project. The constant search for innovative solutions, craftsmanship and extreme attention to detail ensures a high level result even in the face of challenges unique to the specific context in which a project unfolds.’
Palazzo Tirso – MGallery: discover the hotel
The hotel’s communal spaces are conceived as flexible areas that guests can use as private or social spaces to enhance their hotel experience. Palazzo Tirso features two restaurants, both defined by an open kitchen design: Terra, on the ground floor and Cielo, on the terrace overlooking the harbour.
The hotel’s offering includes 85 rooms, among which are 8 suites with sea view and one presidential suite - all featuring Poltrona Frau furnishings, finishes and accessories. Palazzo Tirso by L’Occitane Spa completes the hotel’s guest experience: located in the historic vault, the spa is designed as a tranquil oasis, its material and colour palette developed to connect the hotel with its location.
‘Palazzo Tirso is a work of architectural restoration through which the principle of sustainability finds its maximum expression,’ concludes Armando Bruno, founding partner and CEO of Studio Marco Piva. ‘This is reflected in the protection and safeguarding of the artistic and cultural heritage that preserves existing buildings instead of demolishing them, thus giving them new life.’
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Rosa Bertoli was born in Udine, Italy, and now lives in London. Since 2014, she has been the Design Editor of Wallpaper*, where she oversees design content for the print and online editions, as well as special editorial projects. Through her role at Wallpaper*, she has written extensively about all areas of design. Rosa has been speaker and moderator for various design talks and conferences including London Craft Week, Maison & Objet, The Italian Cultural Institute (London), Clippings, Zaha Hadid Design, Kartell and Frieze Art Fair. Rosa has been on judging panels for the Chart Architecture Award, the Dutch Design Awards and the DesignGuild Marks. She has written for numerous English and Italian language publications, and worked as a content and communication consultant for fashion and design brands.
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