PROJECT - DAMIEN BASTIAT UNVEILS ALMAE COLLECTION'S NEW FLAGSHIP PROJECT: THE TRANSFORMATION OF A PALLADIAN VILLA INTO A LUXURY HOTEL (Italy)
The hotel collection, owned by the Gombault family, is growing in a carefully thought-out way, in line with its exclusive, intimate heritage. |
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PROJECT - DAMIEN BASTIAT UNVEILS ALMAE COLLECTION'S NEW FLAGSHIP PROJECT: THE TRANSFORMATION OF A PALLADIAN VILLA INTO A LUXURY HOTEL (Italy)
The hotel collection, owned by the Gombault family, is growing in a carefully thought-out way, in line with its exclusive, intimate heritage. |
Category: Europe - Italy - Industry economy
- Interviews and portraits
- Hotel projects - Interviews
Interview made by Vanessa Guerrier-Buisine on 2024-10-21
 Damien Bastiat, Managing Director of Almae Collection, is working with Giusi Vitale, the architect in charge of the project
Photo credit © Almae Collection
Since then, his vision and ambition for this collection of intimate properties have constantly grown, with a new milestone: the restoration and transformation of Villa Emo, a Palladian property located in the heart of Italy's Veneto region and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
An exclusive heritage project
Less than an hour's drive from Venice, where Almae opened its Palazzo Garzoni residence in 2022, Villa Emo represents much more than a simple addition to the collection. It is a need identified by Vincent Gombault, owner of the collection. An enthusiast of the residences designed by the architect Andrea Palladio, he was disappointed to discover that these historic treasures could be visited, but ‘not lived in’. Discovering the Villa Emo museum in Fanzolo was an obvious choice, despite the scale of the task. ‘We're working hand in hand with Giusi Vitale, an extraordinary architect, to turn it into a hotel while preserving the soul of the place,’ explains Damien Bastiat.
The project is a perfect illustration of the DNA of the Almae Collection, which combines properties on a human scale with a deep respect for the history and culture of the areas in which they are located. The Villa Emo, known for its frescoes and architecture, will not be entirely transformed into a hotel. “We're going to keep part of the house as a museum, like the National Trust properties in England, which are jewels to be preserved and shared with the public,” explains Damien Bastiat.
This move is part of a strategic continuity for Almae Collection After the opening of Villa Aurea in Ibiza in July 2024, an architect-designed house overlooking the beach at Aguas Blancas, Villa Emo represents a new challenge, combining heritage, luxury and cultural immersion.
The birth of an estate
The transformation of Villa Emo is part of a four-year programme, launched in 2022 and scheduled for completion in 2026. Despite the generosity of the main building, which extends over 900 m², Almae Collection plans to limit the accommodation on offer to twenty rooms, to maintain an intimate and exclusive atmosphere, in line with the group's other properties.
The five-hectare estate will include a spa in the heart of the vineyards, a concept that is currently being studied and could include vinotherapy. The emphasis will be on connecting with nature, as Almae Collection has already done in its other properties. We're still at the research stage’, says Damien Bastiat, “but the aim is to work with Wellness experts to offer an authentic experience in harmony with the local terroir”.
Restaurants, another hallmark of the Almae experience, will also be a pillar of this new project. ‘We'll have two venues: one gourmet and one brasserie-bistro, with a focus on Italian cuisine,’ says Damien Bastiat. This model, based on local produce, has already proved its worth in the collection. Villa Emo will be no exception to this rule, and local produce and other traditional Italian recipes will be offered to guests, for an experience combining cultural heritage and gastronomy.
Strengthen the identity of Almae Collection
Since his appointment, Damien Bastiat has continued to consolidate Almae Collection's identity by placing quality, intimacy and proximity to the terroir at the heart of each property. The choice of this new location fits perfectly with this vision. “The Gombault family starts with their perception as guests, and then turns to professionals to develop their projects,” says the Managing Director, who has the freedom to develop exceptional initiatives that are matured over a reasonable period of time.
With this opening planned for 2026, Almae Collection is continuing to strengthen its brand, developing highly distinctive properties that are always in harmony with the chosen destinations. After the successful opening of La Nauve in Cognac in 2023 and Villa Aurea in Ibiza this summer, which marked a new stage for the collection in a luxurious seaside setting, Villa Emo embodies another facet of luxury hospitality. The project highlights a fusion between respect for an architectural and cultural heritage and a modern vision of exclusive hotels.
This Venetian project embodies the future of the Almae Collection, where every detail is designed to offer a memorable experience, whether for an overnight stay or for a heritage discovery tour. A challenge that Damien Bastiat and his teams are taking up with passion.
 A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Villa Emo will open as a hotel in 2026
Photo credit © Almae Collection
 The frescoes at the Villa Emo museum will be preserved and visitors to the museum will be able to continue enjoying these heritage works
Photo credit © Almae Collection
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