Palazzo Petrvs in Orvieto — winner of the Elle Decor Italia Best Renovation Award — where architect Giuliano Andrea Dell'Uva and owner Raffaele Tysserand collaborated with local artisans and used clay to restore the building's Renaissance character.
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about this project
Tucked away in the narrow alleys of Orvieto, Palazzo Petrvs stands as a masterful example of conservative restoration, honored as Best Renovation at the inaugural Elle Decor Italia Best of Interiors Awards. The project was born from a shared vision between the young owner, Raffaele Tysserand—guardian of an intimate, territory-driven hospitality concept—and architect Giuliano Andrea dell’Uva. Together, they transformed a 1475 noble palace into a high-end boutique hotel. The architectural concept is rooted in “decorative modernity,” drawing inspiration from the iconic bichromy of Orvieto’s Cathedral and the Umbrian genius loci. It is a journey back in time, defined by an absolute formal purity that revives the original frescoed ceilings, allowing them to engage with contemporary living solutions in a seamless embrace across eras.
The excellence of the restoration lies in its dedication to craftsmanship and the selection of zero-mile materials. Dell’Uva and Tysserand collaborated with local artisans capable of preserving centuries-old knowledge, turning the construction site into a workshop of authenticity: from the ancient kilns producing two-tone bucchero terracotta and natural earth mosaics to the hands of restorers committed to unveiling traces of the past. Within this framework, MATTEOBRIONI finishes play a central role in defining the interior identity. For the vertical surfaces, MB Terra Natural Wabi fine-grained clay plaster was selected and applied in various shades. The walls vibrate with the natural tones of Cipria, Pepe Nero, and the deep warmth of Melograno, while a sophisticated note of green—a custom shade designed to echo the bichromatic bands of the Cathedral—acts as a visual bridge to the surrounding urban landscape.
From the panoramic suite nestled within the ancient tower to the restaurant housed in the adjacent de-consecrated church, guests at Palazzo Petrvs interact with a space that stimulates the senses. In this balance between memory and design, the intervention remains almost imperceptible, allowing the soul of the palace to whisper its history once more and restoring the magnificence of a bygone era.
Photography: Nathalie Krag
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