By Michelle Payer
It’s not every day that we can sit down for a lengthy conversation with the extraordinarily creative Isabel Tragash, principal of STA Architectural Group. Known for her timeless aesthetic and meticulous attention to detail, Isabel blends elegance with functionality to create unforgettable spaces at Acqualina Resort. We caught up with her as she pored over rich fabrics, bespoke rugs and incandescent finishes to take you inside the transformation she led about Acqualina Resort’s Gallery Lobby:
The color palette has changed and brightened significantly. With such a rich legacy of a grand Italian villa Galleria and condominium lobbies, how did you begin to approach this rejuvenation? My team and I did a great deal of research on stately European properties that have modernized while preserving their interior architecture. Our findings inspired us with the use of a fresh color palette bringing life to the architectural features and punctuating them with high-style furniture and bespoke rugs.
Much of the architecture, including the ceiling millwork and custom convex smoked wall mirrors really pops now with even more natural light significantly brightening the lobby. How does this enhance the guest and residence experience? The pearlized walls and the shades of white highlighting the interior architectural details with hints of emerald-green on the furnishings enhance the Acqualina brand’s stately, yet casual experience. The convex mirror domes replace the round latticed medallions on the walls to add an unexpected reflective touch and play with natural light streaming through the oversized windows across the lobby. The lobby’s luminosity highlighted by the fresh color palette, the reflectivity of materials and the natural light lifts the Acqualina Resort experience to new heights.
It has been said that “Details make perfection, and perfection is not a detail.” Two examples are the existing chandeliers refinished in white with silver leaf accents and restored alabaster shades, and the condominium elevator’s rich wallcovering from the Handcrafted Thames collection. What additional striking details coalesce to create the grandest guest and residential experiences? We were challenged to create harmony and distinction between the hotel lobby and the condominium lobbies. In both, we preserved the existing architectural features with shades of white in the hotel lobby and stained oak millwork polished to its original luster in the residential lobbies. The common thread between the two lobbies is the emerald-green accents, the reflective mirrors and the high-style furniture.
The rich green marble that marks the entrance into the hotel and restaurants is striking, set against black marble. Where is it from, and how did you unearth just the right hues? That Irish Green marble was actually sourced in Italy. During our design process, we envisioned carrying it through to the reception desk as a backdrop. The idea thrilled Stephanie Trump and she took it upon herself to search for the perfect green slab that would speak to the existing Irish Green marble. After searching high and low she discovered a remarkable Fusion Green quartzite marble in Brazil that not only relates to the current green marble but also picks up surrounding gold and alabaster tones. This slab’s movement and colors is an amazing representation nature’s extraordinary art.
It looks like you’ve retained the original marble floors and imposing columns, which are reminiscent of a grand Pompeiian estate. How did you bring them to life? Our vision was to retain and enhance the stately architectural elements which contribute to the making of an iconic lobby. The existing Corinthian and Doric columns as well as the rosettes on the vaulted ceiling are highlighted in shades and sheens of white.
How long did the design process take on a monumental project like this? You just made me aware of how quickly time goes by. We began talking and dreaming with Stephanie Trump and Deborah Yager Fleming in April 2020 and had our first design presentation eight weeks later. We continued with the design development drawings and final furniture selections and completed this phase in July 2020.