A mosaic of artistic expression and cultural wealth, where ancient ruins, Renaissance brilliance, Baroque dynamism and modernity intermingle, Rome is a city where art is not just observed but lived in allowing for a vibrant exchange between the ages. Rhinoceros Roma, home to Alda Fendi’s contemporary arts foundation, Fondazione Alda Fendi Esperimenti, builds on the city’s ‘living museum’ sensibility bringing together 25 apartments, an art gallery and a bar-restaurant within a 17th century palazzo in Velabro in the heart of what was once Imperial Rome.

Meticulously restored by acclaimed architect Jean Nouvel, the six-storey building is an ode to the passage of time with historic features and aged surfaces coexisting with contemporary interventions and state-of-the-art amenities. Nouvel’s approach, which can be described as a fruitful discourse between past and present, extends to the gallery’s experimental ethos that sees ancient and contemporary art conversing with theatre, literature, music and performance. With exhibition spaces distributed across the palazzo’s six floors, including air shafts which can host visual and sound installations, Rhinoceros’ boast that guests actually "live immersed in art" is no exaggeration.

Harking back to imperial Rome, the caput mundi where marvels from distant lands were showcased, the name "rhinoceros" references a passage from historian Suetonius’ "The Life of the Caesars" where he writes about emperor Augustus showing off a rhino in the Saepta, where Romes’ citizens gathered to cast votes. This fearsome yet fascinating animal exemplified the empire's ability to bring the world's wonders to its heart, captivating the Roman populace with unparalleled spectacles, something which the modern-day Rhinoceros also vies for, albeit in terms of art and design rather than endangered species.

Externally, the building's original features have been meticulously preserved wherever feasible giving no indication of the revitalized spaces inside. Adopting an archaeological approach, Nouvel has meticulously revealed the building’s various historical layers which he has contrasted with contemporary elements, most notably in the form of stainless-steel volumes that serve to discreetly delineate or conceal kitchenettes, bathrooms and wardrobes.

Flaking plasterwork, crumbling bricks and worn-away decorative floor tiles purposefully preserved in their weathered state evocatively capture the building’s storied past imbuing the rooms with a lyrical sensibility, further enhanced by floor-to-ceiling panels depicting the spaces before the renovation work. Contrasting modern materials such as cement, iron and steel inject industrial vibes, while a muted colour palette and a sparse collection of mid-century and contemporary furniture convey a sense of understated elegance. Equipped with all the modern amenities a guest would expect, the apartments create a unique living environment that evocatively bridge past and present.

With exhibition spaces interspersed amidst the accommodation and glorious 360-degree views of Rome’s historic centre from the rooftop Rhinoceros Restaurant & Bar, Rhinoceros is an inspiring and contemplative environment for discerning travellers seeking to immerse themselves in Rome’s unparallel cultural richness and global radiance.

Rhinoceros Gallery's latest exhibition, the first under the directorship of Alda Fendi's daughter, Alessia Caruso Fendi, is a solo show by French artist and designer Ronan Bouroullec. Organised in collaboration with Galerie Kreo in Paris, the show brings together unpublished artworks and design objects that showcase Bouroullec's creative exploration of colour and form across various mediums as well as his fascination with movement and organic shapes. On display are vases crafted in Tajimi, Japan, previously unseen bas-reliefs that blend ceramic forms on anodised aluminium frames, abstract drawings, and new design pieces, including candlesticks and tables crafted from forged steel, glass, and granite. Blurring the boundaries between painting, sculpture, and design, Bouroullec's work evocatively reflects the concept of Gesamtkunstwerk that underpins Rhinoceros.