Architect and designer Marco Piva was a cofounder of Studiodada Associates in 1978, one of the leading design offices of the Radical period. Studio Marco Piva opened in 1984, becoming a multidisciplinary practice for architecture, interior, product and industrial design and exhibitions.

He develops projects all over the world, and realizes residential and tourist facilities for developers and tourist operators worldwide.

In 2001 Piva established Atelier Design, a design cell within his own practice, where research and development are the fundamental keys of design. Since 1999 Piva has combined his practice work with teaching at universities and design institutes both in Italy and abroad, and the organisation of the MA programmes at the Politecnico di Milano, Polytechnic School of Design and the Istituto Europeo di Design in Milan.

The Marco Piva Studio is a multidisciplinary practice with projects in its portfolio from Dubai to Siberia, as well as at home in Italy and in a huge range of sectors. How much are you able to personally get involved with projects such as the interior design of the Move Hotel in Treviso?
I like to be always involved in my projects, and I am thanks to my team of highly qualified professionals who give me punctual feedback about the status of works and developments. Even when I’m abroad, I’m in touch with them constantly, keeping the project leadership while delegating executive aspects.

What input into the architectural design of the Move Hotel did you have? Is the arc shape of the building something that the developer requested, or how did it come about?
The Move Hotel is the second design-episode for a client for which we had already done the Laguna Palace in Mestre [Italy], a great project that had a huge success both in terms of public appreciation and from recognisability of the project. That’s why, for the Move, we have thought to keep the basic elements of this previous work: simplicity, elegance, harmony, continuity of space, materials research.

As we have developed the project together with our friends at DHK Architects, we were also able to create a continuity and harmony between architecture, interior, and their dialogue with the territory, creating an highly recognisable atmosphere and pleasant place.

The arc idea was developed during the masterplan concept. With that, we want to represent the architecture in a hug with the territory, like the protection of the historical villa at Zerman, near Move Hotel.

The interiors of the Move hotel are very contemporary yet very tranquil. Is this a difficult balance to strike?
When I tackle a project, I relate it to its local surroundings. Even although we exploit modern and contemporary technologies to the full, I want to maintain strong roots with the place in which the project belongs. The Move Hotel project is born of the emotional concept of the moment, and it wasn’t difficult to find a balance between the contemporary and what the surroundings suggested to me.

What was the main design influence driving the interiors of the Move Hotel?
There isn’t a main design influence, but a general design concept that was to develop a place that was elegant, harmonious, functional and recognisable. Each design element in an hotel’s project is significant, and its meaning lies in the relationship that it can build with the other elements.

You work with several universities and design institutions. What do you believe are the most important elements of a good design education?
It is fundamental that students are full of curiosity and are open-minded, that they try to reach sincere and authentic solutions, and recognise that research is necessary to generate them.

Of all the different types of design and development work that your practice is involved with, what is your personal favourite?
Each project is a new and exciting adventure in itself; my aim is always to achieve excellence, to produce works that will be remembered for their quality and style.

If I have to indicate one, I particularly loved the Tower Hotel (T-Hotel) in Cagliari, on the island of Sardinia, in a large square in the centre of the city. The T-Hotel is a combination of architecture and interior design – a ‘live’ place, that works for both guests and residents of Cagliari. It is dynamic and elegant with contemporary architecture, and an interior that is particularly strong, comfortable, colourful and magical.

You have designed interiors for hotels all around Italy, in Dubai and Russia, and stayed in a lot more besides, no doubt. If you could design interiors for a hotel anywhere, where would it be?
It would be in London for sure, because is a city that I particularly love. I used to live there. It is cosmopolitan, friendly, open, I would love to have an interior design project there.