Portrait Milano, a luxury hotel in Milan, offers guests the quintessential Italian hospitality in a prime location.

Housed in a former Archiepiscopal Seminary dating back to 1565, Portrait Milano is the third in the Portrait Collection. Opened in December 2022, the 73-room hotel has carried out a large-scale audio system integration.

The hotel required a solution that seamlessly integrated with the elegant interiors while providing a moderately high sound pressure level (SPL). To achieve this, system integrators A3 System and Next Domus worked closely together to design and implement a system that complemented the guest experience in this luxury hotel.

The project covered three unique areas within the hotel, along with a subdivisible meeting space and audio integration in the hotel spa. The largest space to consider was the 10_11 Bar, Giardino, Ristorante, a long area divided into three zones for dining, drinking, and socializing. In this space, ultra-thin aluminum speaker units were placed on poles attached to the walls to provide uniform coverage. Subwoofers handle low-frequency reinforcement, either embedded in the walls or hidden under built-in seating, while eight-channel amplifiers provide system power and control.

The main challenge was adapting the system to achieve a moderately high SPL without touching the walls, using speaker mounts attached to elegant poles instead of directly on the walls, due to the acoustic finish of the wall surfaces.

At the heart of the property is the Porticato, a long and narrow outdoor space with original stone columns. Here, a combination of speakers and subwoofers continues, installed in pairs on the interior wall, interspersed with individual speaker units.

The remaining two hospitality areas, an outdoor dining area, and its adjoining garden, required a different approach. To achieve maximum audio coverage with wide dispersion, compact point source speakers were selected, along with subwoofers attached to ceiling beams. In the garden, a system composed of one-meter-long stainless steel speaker line elements and additional subwoofers creates an immersive soundscape.

Portrait Milano also offers a subdivisible event room. Users can enjoy a single spacious room or separate the space into three private areas using two sliding walls. Each room features its own sound system with individual inputs, and for larger gatherings, the control system can be configured to ensure all speakers work as a single system.

The hotel also hosts The Longevity Suite, Europe’s most advanced biohacking and anti-aging brand. This spa combines the latest technology with a holistic approach to wellness. It includes a pool, a wet area, a gym, and treatment rooms located beneath the property’s ancient vaults. This area required an audio system that provided high-quality sound without distracting from the carefully selected interior design.

An amplifier system provides the power for the spa’s audio system. Acoustic simulation tools allowed for designing a system that meets the aesthetic requirements of the project with maximum performance, while the system’s fine-tuning capabilities and room correction ensure the best possible sound quality, exceeding client expectations.

Portrait Milano is now equipped with a complete audio system that enhances the guest experience, whether dining in the restaurant, enjoying an aperitif in the garden, or relaxing with a treatment in the Longevity Spa.