Where history meets design

Overlooking the centrally-located Piazza Castello in Turin, the Madama suite is one of the nine Q71 Timeless Suites created in the summer of 2023 with the aim of offering guests an authentic contemporary living experience in the most spectacular and historic area of Turin. The suites are modern, functional accommodation units located on the first floor of a late 19th-century building at the corner between Via Accademia Albertina and Piazza Castello in the heart of the city’s historic centre. These fully furnished residential units were converted from former office spaces in a project by the Turin-based architect Marco Pecchio Chiariglione. Located in the historic square, the suites are close to major landmarks such as the majestic Palazzo Reale, the church of San Lorenzo, the Regio theatre, and the iconic Palazzo Madama, a building whose history is closely intertwined with that of the city itself. Initially a Roman gate, it was transformed into a fortress and subsequently a castle for the princes of Acaja, later becoming the residence of the princesses of Savoy in the 17th and 18th centuries. In the 19th century, it housed the first senate of the Kingdom of Italy, and finally in the 20th century served as the home for the Museo Civico’s ancient art collections. The suites are named after the city’s most iconic buildings: Madama, Superga, Vittoria, Regina, San Lorenzo, Carignano, Barocco, Accademia and Regio. The remodelling project involved replacing all the doors and windows, upgrading the utilities and installing an automated electric heating system. The design firm aimed to capture what it refers to as the “Turin style”, a blend of seriousness, rigour, elegance and discretion, combining functional and contemporary design with a splendid view of the historic surroundings. At the same time the designers focused on creating a strong Italian identity by choosing major Italian brands for the furnishings, kitchens and lighting systems, thereby giving international visitors a taste of the world-famous Italian interior design. In particular, this included Italian porcelain stoneware, a product that offers a unique combination of performance and beauty, including wood and marble-look tiles from Keope, Atlas and Supergres used on the walls in all the suites. The Madama suite, which consists of a spacious living room with kitchenette, a large bathroom with shower and a mezzanine, uses Freedhome wood-effect tiles from Supergres.