Designing a hotel climate control system for a historic building means balancing requirements that can be difficult to reconcile: thermal comfort, quiet operation, changing demand throughout the day, limited space for equipment and respect for the existing architecture.
This was the challenge behind the renovation of Borgo Monchiero Heritage by Atmosphere, in Piedmont’s Langhe region, where a former monastery has been restored and transformed into a luxury hotel.
The building’s plumbing and heating and cooling systems were completely renewed using an EMMETI solution comprising 8 Mirai 17 kW heat pumps connected in parallel, 3 etiKa Power 115 boilers in cascade and concealed Silence THIN ETI fan coil units in the guest rooms.
The aim was to design a system that could respond to the hotel’s actual heating and cooling needs while fitting discreetly into an architectural setting of exceptional character.
Project overview
At Borgo Monchiero, the climate control design started with the specific needs of a luxury hotel in a historic building: a wide capacity modulation range, acoustic comfort, continuity of service and minimal visual impact.
The system uses 8 Mirai 17 kW heat pumps connected in parallel, supported during winter operation by 3 etiKa Power 115 boilers installed in cascade. In the hotel’s 19 rooms and suites, Silence THIN ETI fan coil units are integrated into bespoke furniture.
As energy performance certificates from before and after the renovation are not currently available, the energy improvement cannot be expressed as a change in energy rating. The project nevertheless illustrates the value of designing building services around the actual characteristics of a property and the way it is used.
What does a luxury hotel need from its climate control system?
A hotel climate control system must respond quickly to demand that changes throughout the day and varies from room to room, while maintaining high standards of thermal and acoustic comfort.
A hotel operates very differently from a private home. Rooms may be occupied or vacant, guests may prefer different temperatures, and the building’s thermal load can change rapidly with weather conditions, occupancy and the use of shared spaces.
For this reason, EMMETI identifies adaptability to different operating conditions, individual comfort settings, responsiveness and quiet terminal units as key requirements for hotel climate control.
At Borgo Monchiero, there was an additional challenge: the system had to fit into a historic building whose restoration placed particular emphasis on preserving its architectural identity.
Why was Borgo Monchiero a particularly demanding project?
Borgo Monchiero developed around the former monastery and the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Rosario, founded in 1752, on a hill overlooking the Langhe landscape. The monks’ former cells now form part of the guest accommodation, retaining a connection with the site’s history while providing the comfort expected of a contemporary hotel.
The property has 19 rooms and suites, ranging from approximately 19 to 44 m². The layout and the different characteristics of these spaces called for a system that could adapt its output to the building’s actual demand. The hotel’s published information also describes the different room and suite types created within the restored complex.
The architectural restoration received the 2025 R?gula Award in the Hospitality category, recognising the project by architect Stefano Tardito. The award acknowledges the restoration and its integration of modern comfort and technology while preserving the monastery’s historic character.
The building services design followed the same approach. Technical equipment had to fit discreetly into the overall project and remain sympathetic to the interiors.
Why choose a hybrid system with heat pumps and cascade boilers?
The hybrid configuration was chosen to provide a wide capacity modulation range while meeting the hotel’s heating demand throughout the winter.
The heating and cooling plant therefore combines two groups of equipment. The first consists of 8 Mirai 17 kW heat pumps connected in parallel. The Mirai range’s inverter technology progressively adjusts output to match system demand, rather than relying solely on on/off operation.
Explore Mirai SMI 4.0 heat pumps
These units are supported by 3 etiKa Power 115 condensing boilers installed in cascade, which help meet the hotel’s heating demand during winter.
The cascade arrangement follows the same design principle. Using several heat generators allows the system to adapt its operation to different load conditions.
The etiKa Power boiler range includes the 115 model used in this project and offers a wide modulation range, helping match heat production to actual demand.
How do Mirai, etiKa Power and the guest room fan coils work together?
The system was designed so that the heating and cooling plant and the terminal units serve a common purpose: delivering the energy each space needs when it is needed, while maintaining a high level of comfort.
The Mirai heat pumps form the electrically powered part of the plant and can provide both winter heating and summer cooling. During winter, the etiKa Power boilers complete the hybrid configuration, providing support when the hotel’s heating demand requires it.
A hydronic distribution system carries heating or cooling water to the guest rooms, where Silence THIN ETI fan coil units transfer energy to the room air.
The coordination between these stages creates an integrated system. Plant capacity and modulation respond to demand, while the terminal units deliver heating and cooling to individual spaces.
This is also the principle behind EMMETI’s approach to integrated HVAC systems: overall performance depends on how the heating and cooling plant, distribution network and terminal units are designed to work together.
How can climate control be integrated into the guest room design?
At Borgo Monchiero, the terminal units were fitted into bespoke furniture, making their integration part of the interior design from the outset.
The project uses Silence THIN ETI fan coil units, the concealed version in the EMMETI range. Their slim 130 mm depth helps minimise space requirements, while DC inverter technology allows progressive adjustment of fan speed.
In this installation, the units fit within furniture designed specifically for the guest rooms. This keeps the equipment visually discreet and preserves the character of the interiors.
Explore Silence THIN ETI fan coil units
This is particularly relevant in luxury hospitality. Comfort extends beyond room temperature: equipment noise and visual impact also influence the overall quality of the guest experience.
What did the renovation achieve?
The main outcome is a climate control system designed around the specific needs of a luxury hotel, combining modulating plant capacity, support for winter heating demand, guest room comfort and architectural integration.
The project involved the complete renewal of the building’s plumbing and heating and cooling systems. The 8 Mirai heat pumps connected in parallel and the 3 etiKa Power boilers in cascade provide heating capacity across multiple units. The Silence THIN ETI fan coils deliver heating and cooling discreetly within the guest rooms.
The outcome reflects the project’s core design objectives: matching output to variable heating demand, quiet operation in occupied spaces, accommodation within limited equipment space and integration of terminal units into the interior design.
HIT.E.CO SOC. COOP. carried out the system installation.
What does Borgo Monchiero teach us about hotel HVAC design?
Borgo Monchiero demonstrates the importance of considering hotel climate control as a complete system, particularly when working with a historic building.
The starting point is the building’s demand, how its spaces will be used, variations in load, the comfort guests expect and the constraints imposed by the architecture. These requirements guide the choice of equipment and the overall system design.
At Borgo Monchiero, this approach led to a combination of heat pumps, condensing boilers and concealed terminal units suited to the hotel’s needs. Their integration allows the technology to provide comfort discreetly, preserving the atmosphere and character of the guest spaces.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best climate control system for a hotel?
There is no single solution for every hotel. The choice depends on the size of the property, room layout, occupancy patterns, local climate, heating and cooling requirements and expected comfort levels. The design should therefore begin with an assessment of the building’s actual demand.
Why install several heat pumps in parallel?
Connecting several heat pumps in parallel allows the total installed capacity to be distributed across multiple units and can help the system adapt to different load conditions. At Borgo Monchiero, the installation comprises 8 Mirai 17 kW heat pumps.
Why combine heat pumps with condensing boilers?
In a hybrid system, heat pumps and boilers contribute to heat production according to the operating conditions and control strategy defined by the design. At Borgo Monchiero, the 3 etiKa Power 115 boilers installed in cascade support the heat pumps in meeting winter heating demand.