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By Manos Angelakis and Barbara Penny Angelakis.
Le Meridien Lingotto Art+Tech
Via Nizza 230
Turin 10126
Italy
Tel: +39-011-664-2000
Fax: +39-011-664-2004
www.lingottoartandtech.lemeridien.com
Our first impression on approaching the entrance to the Le Meridien Lingotto is that our taxi had mistakenly brought us to a factory complex… and we were not far from wrong. We were brought to the wrong hotel but the right complex. Two hotels are located in what used to be the massive FIAT automobile factory that initiated Italy’s industrial age in 1920. In the ‘90s, FIAT moved its manufacturing facility to a further southern suburb of Turin and they were left with a huge empty building (when the Lingotto factory was initially built, the Lingotto area was a Turin suburb which later became almost a factory-town when FIAT built housing for workers and middle management around the plant). A decision was made to convert it to a Trade Fair and Convention complex that includes a conference and exhibition center, a shopping mall, two luxury hotels, a multiplex movie theater, a giant supermarket, a modern art museum featuring the art collection of the Agnelli family, a library, a heliport, jogging tracks that incorporate what used to be the unique rooftop car testing track, a botanical garden, and offices for numerous companies. In addition, in a separate building in front of the Lingotto complex, the Palazzina FIAT, the automaker’s corporate offices remain in place.
The first hotel converted from the Lingotto complex is the 4-star Le Meridien Lingotto and serves well the needs of trade shows and conferences at the Trade Fair and Convention Center. The 5-star Le Meridien Lingotto Art+Tech hotel, at the other end of the complex, is where extreme Italian design and ingenuity have joined together to create a hotel so unique that a stay here becomes a walk into the future. Andrea Prevosti, the General Manager of both hotels, was part of the development of the Art+Tech and worked closely with the considerable talents of designer Renzo Piano in developing this unique expression. By bringing his years of hospitality experience to the table Mr. Prevosti was instrumental in instituting  practices that make staying at Art+Tech such a pleasurable experience. For instance, the hotel takes into consideration the special needs of women travelers and caters to those needs, such as full length mirrors in every room and night cream packets instead of bonbon’s left on the pillow. All bedding is by P&C Pedersoli and is not only comfortable and of the finest quality but is also guaranteed to be allergy free. The amenities package was stunning with full sized Hermes soap bars and Hermes cologne plus pyramid-shaped bottles of shampoo, shower and bath gel, body lotion and mouthwash. The bathrobes were of the finest Egyptian cotton and there were matching slippers.
One of Renzo Piano’s goals was to incorporate Feng Shui, the Chinese philosophy of positive energy flow, into the existing industrial design. In many ways his vision was successful, as in the 20 plus foot ceilings in the rooms, which provide a feeling that space and time intersect. The exposed glass elevators that greet you as you enter the hotel give new meaning to the genre.  Here even the doors are thick double glass and the only metal is the free standing pole outside for the call buttons and the panel inside which contains the floor buttons. Hanging art by the Italian artist Claudio Massini is themed and repeated throughout the hotel in minimalist panels set off by the exquisite cherry wood walls that are a signature design element employed by Mr. Piano. They feature alternating vertical and horizontal acoustical panels that become a work of art in themselves. To complete the Art + Tech theme, furniture, lighting and carpets were custom designed by internationally renowned Italian artists and represent the highest quality in materials and industrial design.
Our over 1400 sq. ft. suite offered interactive Internet capabilities with high speed Wi-Fi connection with a wireless keyboard through two 30” plasma TV screens and a dedicated ADSL line if needed; the plasma screens also offered TV programming including CNN and Bloomberg International feeds. The bedroom had a beautiful all-glass desk in front of the floor-to-ceiling windows; there were 3 chocolate (white, milk and dark) FIAT 500 cars and a Modern Art chocolate bar all by the famous Torinese chocolatier Guido Gobino waiting for us on  the desk. There was a large dressing area with closet-space that could accommodate an entire family; a pantry with some cooking facilities, a service bar and en suite ice-cube maker; a powder room; an exceptionally large living room; and in the large marble-lined bathroom a multi-jet glass-paneled shower by PHARO featuring a free standing column with removable sliding overhead shower-head plus two other adjustable heads on the column’s body providing full coverage, large his and hers sinks, hair-drier and a Jacuzzi. The ceiling lighting has, as part of the overall design, exposed integrated circuitry; exterior window shades and floor to ceiling drapery are operated electronically.
But there are luxury hotels and there are luxury hotels and Le Meridien Lingotto Art+Tech while it has many outstanding qualities in the physical plant design area, it has a few deficiencies, namely, in-house services. There are plans afoot to build a spa but so far none exists, nor is there a pool or exercise facilities, except for the above-mentioned running track on the roof. There was no concierge service; instead the multi-lingual reception staff, usually only a single person, provided for all the clients’ needs between responding to other inquiries, answering phones and  checking in other guests. There is no separate dining room; one huge flexible gallery area serves as breakfast room, lunch room, dining room and bar and is also converted as needed to accommodate special events, such as a recent Mahler Chamber orchestra performance. There was no nightly turndown service or linen mats placed at bedside. These are small issues but loom large when classifying a hotel as a 5 star property. More serious is that the dinning experience left much to be desired. While the restaurant staff was outstanding, very attentive but not intrusive, and the food presentation was artistic with great eye appeal, it  was lacking in taste. With few exceptions the fish and meats were overcooked, rice and pasta dishes uneven and gave new meaning to the term al dente. In one case the rice tasted as if it was barely passed through a cooking medium and was in a virtually uncooked state. Given the fact that there is a plethora of excellent master chefs in Piedmont, all highly rated by Guide Michelin, Gambero Rosso, Espresso and Veronelli to name a few culinary guides, there is no reason for the kitchen at Le Meridien Lingotto Art + Tech to produce the results of the tasting menu we experienced.
© May 2005. All rights reserved.
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