KINGLY COFFERING

The architects and engineers of Ancient Rome were the first to implement the idea of a ‘coffered’ ceiling; a surface of hollow recesses that saw a significant mass reduction in domed stone structures.

Its genesis was simply functional, however, the criss-cross vaulting became heavily ornamented during the Renaissance as tastes leaned more towards the aesthetic. Since then, modern-day designers have played with classical forms of coffering that can be appreciated in private residencies, villas and hotels, not only all over Europe, but across the world.

In this Five on Friday, we’ve hand-selected five hospitality projects that make use of this time-honoured building practice. Here are this week’s picks…