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Rome, Piazza Verdi: Enel and a Chinese hotel in the former Zecca

28 March, La Repubblica

New tenants for the majestic palace of the former State Institute for Printing and Minting, also known as Zecca, one of the symbols of the beginning of the 20th century eclectic architecture. There are negotiations going on between Cassa Depositi e Prestiti, the owner of the building, and Enel. There have been interventions in the recent months to turn the building into the new operational quarter of the Italian multinational.

Enel, in fact, is intending to optimize its offices scattered around Rome and it’s looking for a new central office. The location in Piazza Verdi, not far away from the company’s headquarters in Regina Margherita, would be perfect.

The project is nearly completed but it won’t concern the whole surface of 54 thousand Sq m, but only a part. In fact, the building in Piazza Verdi will also accommodate the Chinese five-star hotel. The plan launched by Rosewood International Limited is going on. The company is owned by New World China Land Ltd, and it has announced the agreement with Cassa Depositi e Prestiti to open its first hotel in Rome. It will be a luxury hotel featuring 200 rooms, a congress centre, restaurants, a swimming pool, a spa, and also a couple of private residences.

All this should be compatible with Enel’s proposal after the company gave up to the plan of replacing Tim in Eur. Enel has turned to Cdp to transfer tens of its minor offices and branches all over Rome, resulting in an obvious saving in terms of costs in the medium term. We’re waiting now for the official signing of the agreement, expected before the summer. Then, if the agreement is successful, the reorganization works may start.

In the meanwhile, also the other Zecca branch in Via Principe Umberto might be reconverted and turned into a museum dedicated to historical coins. The material currently stored in the offices in Salario will be exhibited. The exhibition will be divided into thematic areas: from coins to medals and graphic arts, along with a bookshop, a cafeteria, a library and an archive. There will be also temporary expositions, a conference room and a space hosting craft art, all facing an internal yard, worth a visit after having checked the museum.

The bid was launched by the State Institute for Printing and Minting and the deadline is set for 3rd May. This is public tender worth 3 million euro for the total renovation of the building inaugurated in 191 by Vittorio Emanuele III.

Source: La Repubblica

Translator: Cristina Ambrosi