Hotel Delta on Via Labicana

Designed by Giuseppe Perugini between 1972 and 1975

THEDelta Hotel, now known as Mercure Rome Center Colosseum, is an interesting example of modern hotel architecture in the heart of Rome. Designed by the architect Giuseppe Perugini between 1972 and 1975 (with the collaboration of the architect Alberto Tonelli), represents a testimony to the dialogue – never simple – between contemporary buildings and the historical monumental fabric.

Urban integration and respect for the context

The building stands in Via Labicana 144, a few steps from the Colosseum and the Oppian Hill. Perugini chose to respect the “H” plan of the previous building, so as to preserve the tree-lined avenue and the historic palm trees that characterised the street.

Perugini – despite the fact that the construction had to be carried out in proximity to the archaeological area of the Colosseum and the existence of constraints regarding the volume, which meant that it was necessary to completely reproduce all the characteristics of an already existing project – still managed to give the building a charge
innovative expressiveness.

Source: Final report on the first phase of the reorganization and inventory of the Giuseppe Perugini and Uga De Plaisant archive. Report by Anna Cristina Denittis
Management and Coordination: Dr. Elisabetta Reale (Archival Superintendency for Lazio)
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Architectural features

The Hotel Delta presents itself as a compact and regular volume, articulated by horizontal stringcourse bands and from a rhythm marked by vertical openingsThe architectural language is essential, almost severe, with references to rationalism and neo-brutalism Roman of the seventies. Unlike the more well-known and experimental Experimental House of Fregene, here Perugini works with greater sobriety, privileging functionality and urban integration.

Le light facades They contrast with the warm, textured colors of the surrounding historic architecture. The two internal courtyards, created by the H-shaped layout, provide natural light and spaciousness to the interiors, in keeping with a modern concept of hotel comfort.

Prismatic windows

One of the most distinctive elements of the hotel is the prismatic volume protecting the internal corner windows. Made of semi-transparent plastic material, probably methacrylate or polycarbonate, are intended to filter light inside hotel rooms.
These almost black glass volumes counterbalance the force of the horizontal ribbon openings vertically.
In the evening hours, the artificial light filtering in gives the prismatic volumes the appearance of suspended bodies, which stand out brightly against the walls.

This design choice reveals the attention of Perugians for geometric experimentation and for innovative materials, even within a building that, overall, maintains a sober and rational language. The diamond-shaped windows thus become a real hallmark of the Hotel Delta, a detail that helps strengthen its architectural identity in the Roman panorama of the 1970s.

A building with a unique view

The distinctive element of the hotel is the visual relationship with the Colosseum: from the terraces and the roof you can enjoy a privileged view of the Flavian Amphitheater. Today this quality is enhanced by the famous pool overview on the rooftop, which has become a true icon of the place and a symbol of the building's ability to dialogue with one of the most famous monuments in the world.

Transformations and current events

Over the decades, the hotel's interior has undergone several renovations, adapting to the needs of the international hotel chain that manages it. However, Perugini's original design has remained recognizable, and the building retains its architectural identity as a significant example of Roman architecture from the 1970s.

THEHotel Delta by Giuseppe Perugini It represents an important chapter in contemporary architecture in Rome: a project that combines compositional rigor, attention to context, and the ability to establish a unique visual dialogue with the Colosseum.

The photo gallery we offer aims to convey the expressive power of the building, the purity of its volumes, and the attention to detail in its construction, offering a close-up look at a modern architecture that continues to engage with the memory and vitality of the heart of Rome.