THE Stylemate, Issue 01|2023: Clarity | English Edition

Essentials

Page 3

Clear mind, clear life

Pages 4–7

LIFE: Richard Branson: Sundowner in Son Banyola

Pages 8–9

Icelandic adventure: The land of fire and ice

Pages 10–13

Franzobel

Page 14

STYLE: All clear Page 15

Creative Industries Styria: Light from all over the world

Pages 16–17

GEBA rug gallery: Rugs just asking to be sat on Pages 18–19

13&9 Design: Celebrating a decade of diversity

Pages 20–21

Kelly Wearstler: A icon of design

Pages 22–24

Wiener Neustadt Tourismus: See sounds. Hear images. Feel dance. Page 25

Art by Tom Wenzl: I don’t paint pictures –I create dreams Page 26

Helder Suffenplan: Pump up the volume! Page 27

Lifestylehotels™

Selection:

Hotel des Horlogers Page LH-Cover 01

Directory Lifestylehotels™ Page LH 02

Hotel des Horlogers Page LH 03

Panoramahotel Alpenstern Page LH 04

dasMAX Page LH 05

Gradonna ****s Mountain Resort Chalets & Hotel Page LH 06

Hotel SEPP Page LH 07

Locanda al Colle Page LH 08

Refugium Lunz Page LH 9

Mia Alpina Page LH 10

Steinach Townhouse Page LH 11

Puradies Page LH 12

Imprint Page 2

Clear language.

What is worth striving for? Success, power, happiness, love, recognition? Love, for sure, and probably happiness as well. But why not also strive for clarity? In our increasingly complicated world, having an unclouded view of things is a huge advantage. We need to learn to understand relationships in a new way – and increase what we demand of everyone. Life is becoming more and more complex, so it’s good to have a clear head. To be able to speak using clear language. But also to be clear about what we want.

In this issue of THE Stylemate, we’re talking about clarity. We want to hear clear language from people so we’re able to understand better. We want to have a clear head so we can have a better grasp on the world, as we find ourselves in an increasingly swift state of transition.

We want to see clear lines in architecture and follow clear visions. Because one thing is clear: nothing ever stays the same. That’s what makes it so important to have an unclouded view of the world. And this view of the world is our greatest passion.

Thomas Holzleithner & Hardy Egger EDITORS

CLEAR SHAPE

Rugs are made for dreaming. No matter whether they’re round, oval or rectangular. A rug is a beautiful complement in any room, in any shape, and is always a true work of art. It quickly arouses all of the senses – when we walk over them with bare feet or run our fingers over the pattern. Geba rugs are made using Tibetan wool and Chinese silk. But the Tibetan wool from high mountain sheep in particular gives them character and charm because it’s not pure white. To make the rugs, Geba works with two different studios that specialise in bringing a range of different designs and shapes to life.

geba-teppiche.com, Karma rug, from approx. € 1.170

Essentials

CLEAR HEAD

The vision of founder Mark Livings is that everyone should be able to drink their favourite drink in their own way – even if it’s non-alcoholic. The result was Australian brand Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic Spirits. No longer is it just in Dry January that non-alcoholic drinks are a welcome alternative. Those who want to keep a clear head avoid alcohol. Gone are the days when you had to put up with water, soft drinks and juice as the only options. These days, there are proper drinks that actually taste good. For spring, we’d recommend the many types of spritz, which already have us dreaming of holidays on the Amalfi coast.

lyres.eu, Lyre’s Aperitif Dry or Lyre’s Orange Sec, approx. € 25,99

CLEAR VISION

New year, new glasses! And that means new designs for the upcoming season, too. Featuring sporty chic, colourful and loud, and pure glitz and glamour, there’s no doubt that the new season promises variety. In his models, David Beckham combines remarkable, contemporary aesthetics with traditional craftsmanship, and in doing so reflects his personal vision and his love of all things vintage. Stylish yet practical. Modern, furnished with a hint of glasses history. Timeless design, British elegance. wutscher.com, EYEWEAR by DAVID BECKHAM, approx. € 188

IN THIS EDITION

CLEAR CUTS

Japanese brand AMBUSH® is principally known for its punk approach to fashion that’s characterised by luxury and streetwear style. Founded in 2008, the Tokyo-based label has caused a stir with its vision and innovative design perspectives. The brand’s idiosyncratic style has led to commissions and collaborations with a list of illustrious names ranging from fashion industry icons to luxury European houses and American streetwear brands. Building on their first collaboration from last year, Levi’s® and AMBUSH® are back with a new collection inspired by motorbike fashion for spring/summer 2023. The new collection consists of two gender-neutral pieces and includes a denim jacket and matching jeans, clearly influenced by biker culture.

levi.com, Levi’s X Ambush trucker jacket, approx. € 435

CLEAR SCENTS

The meeting of water and matter. That’s the story behind the Eau d’Issey Pivoine and Eau d’Issey pour Homme Vétiver fragrances. Fresh, pure and essential water combines with a natural material, a flower, a plant. In doing so, Issey Miyake is celebrating nature in its purest form. The bottles of these two new fragrances are made out of 20% recycled glass, while the caps are made entirely out of natural wood without any plastic inserts. The wood comes from responsibly managed forests, which helps to minimise the impact on the environment. Thanks to these wooden caps, the risk of polluting the oceans is reduced by 99%, and the amount of water required to make them is lowered by over 95%. Added to that, the fragrances are even vegan. What’s not to like?

isseymiyakeparfums.com, L’Eau d’Issey pour Homme Vétiver, Eau de Toilette Intense, 100 ml, approx. € 109

CLEAR AIR

Think clearly, sleep well, generate healthy indoor air. The Dyson Purifier Humidify+Cool Formaldehyde cleans air automatically, recognises and breaks down formaldehyde and uses UV-C technology. This allows up to 99.9% of the dust, allergens and viruses to be removed, as well as up to 99.9% of the bacteria in water vapour.

The automatic mode makes it possible for the device to intelligently react to changing air quality and moisture content, and it can be controlled remotely via the Dyson Link app or activated by voice command. Last but not least: it looks great.

dyson.at, Dyson Purifier Humidify+Cool Formaldehyde, approx. € 799

Clear

2022 was a difficult year – as the clock struck midnight on New Year’s Eve 2021, we said to ourselves that it could only get better next year. After this rather unassuming of years. Who would have thought that it could actually get worse? But it could. War and inflation reared their ugly heads, and even though the pandemic was receiving less attention, COVID-19 was still a constant companion. Last new year, no one dared to even think that it could only get better. Especially now. We no longer believed it – worse still, we had even become superstitious and didn’t want to jinx the new year before it had even started just by saying it. The WHO reported that the coronavirus pandemic has led to a spike in mental illnesses, and it appears as though this trend is continuing to advance. So what can we do to protect ourselves?

Author: Nina Prehofer

WHAT IS THE MOST VALUABLE ASSET IN THE WORLD? YOUR OWN WELL-BEING. AND THAT’S NOT AN EXAGGERATION. BECAUSE WHEN YOU START PRIORITISING YOUR WELL-BEING, EVERYTHING IN YOUR LIFE WILL CHANGE FOR THE BETTER. DON’T BELIEVE THAT? THEN YOU SHOULD TAKE NOTE OF OUR PODCAST TIPS.

– (Jay Shetty)

My space. I invite in everything that is good for me I let go of everything that doesn’t serve me.

It’s my time.

MINDFULNESS, SPIRITUALITY AND LISTENING TIPS

Podcasts are booming, especially those that remind us to do something for ourselves. Former monk and author Jay Shetty is one of the most famous life coaches to be spreading his wisdom via a podcast. And successfully so.

Among his guests are celebs such as Alicia Keys, Khloe Kardashian and Drew Barrymore. If you’re already part of his Genius programme, you can look forward to receiving new input for your own well-being every day. Admittedly, you have to want it, but if you put cynicism aside and commit yourself to it, you can really gain something for yourself. After all, who doesn’t want to be their best self?

As Jay Shetty says, “your best self manifests itself in kindness, creativity, success, love, abundance, optimism and purpose.”

As soon as you recognise how caring,

creative, successful, loving, abundant, optimistic and purposeful life can be, there will no longer be anything holding you back. He promises that something “unbelievable” will happen during his Genius workshops and meditation sessions. People will be changed from the inside out, disbelief will become belief, failure will become success and a lack of direction will become goal focus. It’s a huge promise, but millions of people follow him and listen to him every day.

Alex Cooper is also fortunate enough to have millions of predominantly female listeners. In her podcast Call Her Daddy, you get a mix of advice that’s useful no matter whether you’re in a relationship or not, and can enjoy funny stories and contributions from listeners. Often, Cooper’s content is on the comical side, with crazy stories that tend to revolve

LISTENING TO

ON PURPOSE WITH JAY SHETTY

His name is Jay Shetty, and his purpose is to make wisdom go viral. He’s fortunate to have fascinating conversations with the most insightful people in the world, and on his podcast, he shares those conversations with you. Live life today on purpose.

ALEX COOPER’S CALL HER DADDY

Alex Cooper’s Call Her Daddy is the most listened to podcast by women on Spotify. In a world prone to snap judgment, Cooper cuts through the bullshit, asking the questions you want the answers to. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll feel, you’ll think.

DEEPAK CHOPRA’S INFINITE POTENTIAL

What makes us conscious beings and why does it matter that we are?

In his first ever podcast, Deepak Chopra welcomes a far-ranging group of guests, including Jane Goodall, Russell Brand, Dan Savage, Christopher Wylie, Jean Houston, Dr Sanjay Gupta and many more, who have paved new paths for understanding our present and future. How do we define, harness and elevate our minds? How can we live creatively and purposefully? What makes you… you? Explore your infinite potential.

around sex. A lot of the embarrassing moments described in her episodes deal with things that would be taboo for many people. But incorporated into this humorous and love-filled content, it’s more easily accessible. And it helps people to address their own difficulties with more lightness, where they might otherwise have afforded them too much attention and gravity.

RECIPE FOR SUCCESS:

FAMOUS AND SCRUTINISED Who still remembers the TV series Blossom? It marked the start of the career of Mayim Bialik, who later found further fame in The Big Bang Theory. While many other people might rest on their laurels and the money they’ve earned, she completed a PhD in neuroscience and now delights and entertains us with her podcast Mayim Bialik’s Breakdown.

Intelligent and funny, it’s all about mental health. Her entry point is that there is so much misinformation and great confusion surrounding mental health, and her goal is to break things down so we don’t have to. There is huge stigma attached to mental health, and the purpose of the podcast is to learn together how to heal and how to begin to understand. Because the more we know, the better we’ll be able to help ourselves.

So, what’s the main thing you want to do? Who do you want to be? The answers to these questions will lead us to our goals. That means listening closely to what your heart and the suggested podcasts are saying loud and clear.

CLEAR LANGUAGE

MAYIM BIALIK’S BREAKDOWN

Mayim Bialik’s Breakdown is a quirky, informative and interactive podcast breaking down the myths and misunderstandings about mental health and emotional well-being. Neuroscientist Mayim Bialik combines her academic background with vast personal experience to provide listeners with valuable practical advice focusing on removing the stigma surrounding mental health and encouraging an understanding of the mind-body connection. Nothing is off limits as Mayim breaks it down with an amazing collection of guests.

HUBERMAN LAB

Huberman Lab discusses neuroscience: how our brain and its connections with the organs of our body control our perceptions, our behaviours and our health. It also discusses existing and emerging tools for measuring and changing how our nervous system works. Dr Andrew Huberman is a tenured Professor of Neurobiology and Ophthalmology at Stanford School of Medicine. His laboratory studies neural regeneration, neuroplasticity and brain states such as stress, focus, fear and optimal performance. For more than 20 years, Dr Huberman has consistently published original research findings and review articles in top-level peer-reviewed journals.

life

– (Jay Shetty)

I am present with myself I am investing in myself I am here

WE ASKED VINCENT PADIOLEAU, GENERAL MANAGER OF SON BUNYOLA, ABOUT THE JOURNEY OF CREATING THE HOTEL, ABOUT RICHARD’S IMPACT ON THE PLACE AND HOW THE HOTEL IS CONTRIBUTING TO MAKING THE WORLD A BETTER PLACE.

Please, tell us a bit about the journey of creating the Son Bunyola hotel. The creation of the Son Bunyola hotel has been a long and patient journey –but certainly a very worthwhile one. When Richard originally purchased the estate, it was always the plan to develop the historic finca, and when he repurchased it back in 2015, we were delighted to start work with the local government to get the ball rolling again. Construction of the hotel started in June 2021 with a meticulous reconstruction project focusing on the existing finca buildings and structures, using traditional and local materials. The hotel has been carefully designed to celebrate and showcase the heritage of the original buildings – with traditional features including carpentry, stone arches, wrought ironwork and lime rendering. The combination of the new design with existing historic elements really brings the hotel to life. Although the development of the Son Bunyola hotel has taken longer than we originally hoped and planned, it was incredibly important to us that we got it exactly right. Throughout the development, it has always been essential to us that we

maintain the heritage of the historic finca and the estate wherever possible, and we’ve welcomed all feedback and alterations from the local government, who we’ve worked closely with throughout. Now it’s very nearly complete, it’s a truly stunning and unique place that we can’t wait to share with future guests.

Why exactly did you choose Mallorca for this hotel?

Richard’s love for Mallorca is longstanding, and he has a particular fondness for the northwest coast. This is, of course, where he developed his very first hotel in 1987, La Residencia – a hotel where I also worked over 20 years ago, and where I started my journey in Spain. The region has some of the most historic and picturesque towns on the island, with stunning natural surroundings and crystal-clear sea. Virgin Limited Edition already has three villas on the Son Bunyola estate – Sa Punta S’Aguila, Sa Terra Rotja and Son Balagueret – and it was always our plan to develop the finca on the estate, too. Spanning more than one thousand acres, located on a UNESCO World Heritage Site and surrounded by breathtaking scenery, there’s no question that this is the perfect location for us to have a hotel in Mallorca.

For me personally, I feel incredibly lucky to have the opportunity to return to this spectacular island to take up the role of General Manager for such an incredible and historic estate.

I feel so fortunate to be able to give back to this amazing island that warmly welcomed me from the moment I arrived, and I’ve enjoyed being fully immersed in the wonderful Mallorcan culture and falling in love with it all over again. It’s an incredibly exciting time, and I couldn’t be prouder to be part of this spectacular project.

What is your favourite place at the hotel and what is your favourite thing to do on Mallorca’s northwest coast?

I have a real soft spot for the northwest coast of Mallorca. I love being surrounded by nature, and the Tramuntana mountain range has such breathtaking scenery.

For me, nothing beats a swim in the crystalclear waters in the summer months, and I really do enjoy the cycling opportunities –some of the best in the world are right on the doorstep of the Son Bunyola estate. It’s very hard for me to pick a favourite place at the hotel, but if I really had to choose, it would have to be one of the historic towers of the hotel, dating back to the 13th century. It’s so exciting to bring such a remarkable monument back to life so that future guests can enjoy the incredible views of the surrounding mountains and the sea.

How will you ensure the new Son Bunyola hotel contributes to making the world a better place? And what can we do?

At Virgin Limited Edition, we strongly believe that luxury doesn’t have to come at the expense of sustainability – and this is a huge focus across our whole portfolio.

BRANSON

At Son Bunyola, our commitment to sustainability and maintaining the beautiful surroundings is of paramount importance. For example, hot water for the hotel will be preheated using energy collected from the air conditioning and refrigeration cooling systems, while the installation of a biomass boiler will be powered by recycled wood chippings. We are also cultivating a kitchen garden, vineyards and olive trees on the estate so we can grow aromatic herbs, olives, tomatoes, cucumbers, watermelons and eventually our own wine grapes. I’ve seen first hand as a General Manager at Virgin Limited Edition properties how even the smallest changes can create the biggest impact – an attitude that sits front and centre for every decision we make here. I think this is such an important fact to take note of – and if we can all make every effort to implement whatever small changes we can to make the world a better place, the impact will be colossal.

Sundowner in Son Bunyola

THE NEWEST HOTEL IN RICHARD BRANSON’S COLLECTION IS OPENING IN LATE SPRING FOLLOWING A LONG PROCESS OF RECONSTRUCTING THE EXISTING FINCA BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES USING TRADITIONAL AND LOCAL MATERIALS.

ICELAND IS A MAGICAL PLACE, WITH WILD LANDSCAPES, PICTURE-PERFECT FJORDS AND UNBELIEVABLE NATURAL SURROUNDINGS. IT’S A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN LOSE YOURSELF IN WONDER AND REDISCOVER WHO YOU ARE. BUT IT’S NOT JUST THE LANDSCAPE THAT’S UNIQUE – ICELANDIC CULTURE AND TRADITIONS ARE ALSO LIKE NOTHING YOU’LL FIND ANYWHERE ELSE. ICELAND HAS SOME OF THE MOST BREATHTAKING SIGHTS IN THE WORLD: THE STRIKING GEYSER REGION, THE SPECTACULAR WATERFALLS, THE RUGGED CLIFFS ALONG THE COAST AND THE UNTAMED LANDSCAPES OF THE INLAND AREAS. THERE ARE MANY INCREDIBLE PLACES TO EXPLORE DURING A TRIP TO THIS EXCEPTIONAL ISLAND.

Author: Hannah Stefitz

THE LAND OF FIRE AND ICE

But where should you start and what’s the best way to travel around Iceland? Where are the hidden gems and what do you absolutely have to see? Our guide will help you to see it all a little more clearly.

1. REYKJAVIK

A trip to Reykjavik is always an adventure. Iceland’s capital city is a place that’s brimming with variety and entertainment. Visitors can expect a pulsating metropolis full of culture, beautiful nature and all kinds of exciting activities. From breathtaking natural delights and cultural sights to a vibrant art scene and countless leisure options, Reykjavik is not somewhere you’ll ever get bored.

Top tip: Don’t miss out on taking a look at the street art on a walk through the three main roads, Laugavegur Street, Grettisgata Street and Skólavörðustígur, and pay a visit to the imposing Hallgrimskirkja!

4.

THAKGIL

Green and rugged. Wide fields and deep canyons.

A mix of The Shire and Mordor – that’s the best way to describe Thakgil. It’s the perfect location to take a breather after the first stops, unwind and simply take a walk. The beautiful scenery is of course never out of sight.

Top tip: Spend a night camping in the wilderness and observe the starry night's sky. You might even see some of the Northern Lights.

7. EAST FJORDS

Iceland’s East Fjords are a wonderful destination for anyone wanting to experience a sense of vastness. The East Fjords stretch along the southeast coast of Iceland. No matter whether you go for a hike through the glacier, a kayak tour of the fjords, a boat trip along the coast or a tour of the geysers, Iceland’s East Fjords make for an unforgettable experience.

LET’S GO:

2. THINGVELLIR NATIONAL PARK AND THE GULLFOSS WATERFALL

Thingvellir National Park is one of the most famous conservation areas in Iceland. It is located in the Golden Circle region, which is one of the most popular tourist areas in the country. The park is renowned for its unparalleled landscape, which is made up of lava fields, geothermally active areas and distinctive flora and fauna. Once you’re there, you’ll come across the first waterfall of your road trip. The Gullfoss waterfall is one of Iceland’s most famous waterfalls and perhaps even one of the most popular attractions in the country. The waterfall is an impressive combination of two waterfalls that span 32 metres in width with an impressive 11-metre drop. It’s hard to imagine if you haven’t seen it for yourself.

Top tip: Between October and March, you can observe the incredible Northern Lights from the Thingvellir National Park, lighting up the night sky in a truly magical way.

5.

DYRHOLAEY PENINSULA

Dyrholaey Peninsula is an unbelievable location on Iceland’s south coast. From the lookout point, visitors can enjoy a breathtaking view of the rugged cliffs and the pounding surf. The many puffins you’ll come across on this coastline lend Dyrholaey Peninsula a certain sense of flair, and not far away you can take a stroll on the black sand beach at Reynisfjara.

Top tip: Spend a night in Vik, “the bay of the valley of the swamp”, and watch the sunrise in the morning from the parish church.

8.

STUDLAGIL CANYON

3. SKOGAFOSS AND KVERNUFOSS

From the National Park, you can go right on to the next natural spectacle – the Skogafoss waterfall. It’s a fantastic spot to experience the beauty of nature and the power of the elements. With its 80-metre-high rock face and width of 25 metres, it is one of the largest waterfalls in Iceland and makes for a stunning backdrop. Just five minutes further on you’ll find a hidden gem: the Kvernufoss waterfall. Just as you can with the Seljalandsfoss, you can walk behind the waterfall and take in the beautiful sight in peace – away from the 300 other tourists.

Top tip: Stop by at sunset to make the most of the Golden Hour.

6. JOKULSARLON

This glacier lagoon in Iceland is one of the most spectacular natural wonders in the world. With its glittering icebergs, impressive waterfalls and unique landscape, it’s a truly one-of-a-kind experience. But it’s not just the natural surroundings that appeal – the animal life is also a particular point of interest. Marine birds, seals and even penguins turn the Jokulsarlon lagoon into something quite special.

Top tip: You can also walk from here to the nearest black sand beach – Diamond Beach – in just five minutes.

9. HUSAVIK

Nestled amid Iceland’s wild beauty lies the charming town of Husavik. With its picturesque streets, traditional timber houses and breathtaking views, Husavik is a veritable gem that simply has to be explored – from the expansive landscapes to the local shops and restaurants.

Top tip: Discover the small town of Seydisfjordur and its handicrafts.

This canyon, deep in the Jökuldalur glacial valley, wasn’t known about just a few years ago because it was still flooded. Thanks to a major dam project, the once grey and wild glacial river is now clear and serene. Surrounded by towering reddish basalt columns, the river shimmers in turquoise blue.

Top tip: Go whale watching! Just book a boat tour in Husavik and you’ll be guaranteed an unforgettable experience. 10.

SKY LAGOON

The final stop, not far from where we started in Reykjavik, is the place to unwind after a long road trip. The artificial lagoon was opened in April 2021 and is located just outside the city centre. In comparison to the popular Blue Lagoon, everything is smaller and quieter, and it also boasts a spectacular view of the sea.

Top tip: A must-try is the seven-step Sky Lagoon ritual –for the ultimate relaxation.

Top tip: Stop by in summer, as the river is made cloudy by the rain and the hiking trail is also easier to complete.

HIRING A CAR

A road trip around Iceland is one of the best options for exploring and experiencing the wild north. The Icelandic landscape is characterised by rugged mountains, impressive fjords and unique, untouched nature. So it’s advisable to book a rental car so you not only have flexibility, but you can also get to remote spots much more easily. You should also factor enough time into your trip to properly explore all of the beautiful sights and natural wonders. We recommend allowing 10 to 14 days to discover the island so you can fully immerse yourself in Icelandic clarity. The route will take you along the famous Ring Road.

FRANZOBEL is an Austrian writer. He has published numerous plays, works of prose and poems. His plays have been produced in countries including Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Denmark, France, Poland, Romania, Ukraine, Italy, Russia and the USA.

His great historical adventure novel “Das Floß der Medusa” (published by Zsolnay) was awarded the Bayerischer Buchpreis (Bavarian Book Award) 2017 and was on the shortlist for the German Book Prize 2017.

Do you like the fog? Damp, grey vapours that make you feel like you’re groping around in the insides of a cloud? Probably not. Yet people crave internal fogginess, which a range of smoking devices are more than happy to help with.

In the Upper Austrian lake region where I grew up, it is both beautiful and creepy and foggy. It spends the whole year in a smoky grey soup. In addition to the natural fog, there’s also industrial fog and smoke from household fires. And if that wasn’t enough, there’s even fog from cooking sauerkraut. The Upper Austrians eat sauerkraut with everything – well, they do draw the line at putting it in their coffee or sprinkling it on cake. The world is also covered in a smoke screen. God has been explained to death and modern physics has taken away all certainty –we can’t even rely on space and time anymore. Global public debt amounts to €66 billion, meaning that every person is born already €8,250 in the red. But that doesn’t matter because the money will never be paid back anyway. We fiends of consumerism take on credit at the expense of tomorrow. Capitalism is marching onwards and is expanding just like the universe, and no one knows when it came into being. The same applies to the internet: in theory, all knowledge is available, but even that’s uncertain. So anyone looking for a path through the fog will be in desperate need of clear explanations.

Conspiracy theories are celebrating a comeback, it’s cool for adolescents to change gender, and all the others are woke, vegan or feel like they’re morally above everyone else in the world. Anything that blurs clarity and makes it uncertain is instantly condemned. Since the pandemic, no matter whether it’s about war or a paedophile actor, any balancing argument is shouted down as whataboutism or trivialisation. Currently, however, people’s purpose is to live, and their main obligation is to respect life rather than directing it. As a writer, I have always tried to understand people, to make life stories understandable in order to comprehend how someone became the way they are. That’s not how it works anymore. Anyone that expresses even the slightest doubt about the measures implemented against coronavirus is an anti-vaxxer, someone spreading misinformation, a parasite to society, and anyone quietly singing the praises of pacifism is defamed as a Putin supporter. And you’ll regret it if you sympathise with the perpetrators. Then it’s all over. The world wants clarity, certainty, and anything that blurs that is condemned. The result is an opinions dictatorship where any nuance falls by the wayside. People like getting intoxicated because when our insides are all foggy, everything appears clear. There’s a lot of talk about work-life balance, but there should also be such a thing as stoned-clear head balance. Everything comes down to balance. Sometimes the fog is beautiful, often it’s not worth being able to see clearly. Now and then, it’s necessary to not allow yourself to be unsettled, then at other times it’s beneficial to differentiate. But no matter whether it's clarity or diffusity, the magic word is tolerance. I also like fog, and not just because I grew up in it.

Fog land

FRANZOBEL

“Capitalism is marching onwards and is expanding just like the universe, and no one knows when it came into being.”

Photo: Hotel Horologers

Blurred Lines

Embedded in the Vallée de Joux and surrounded by untouched nature lies the Hotel des Horlogers with its eye-catching zigzag design. Everywhere you look, the lines between nature and architecture are blurred, and the result is an exceptionally harmonious setting.

Lifestylehotels™ Directory

AUSTRIA

BAD GOISERN AM HALLSTÄTTERSEE Hallstatt Hideaway

Mountain | Lesehotel

DAMÜLS Alpenstern Panoramahotel

FISS Alps Lodge

FÜGEN Mia Alpina Zillertal Family Retreat

GASCHURN Montafon Lodge Design Lodgehotel und Spa

GEINBERG Geinberg5 Private Spa Villas

GRAZ Aiola Living

GRAZ Augarten Art Hotel

GRAZ Kai 36

GROSSARL Hotel Nesslerhof

HALLSTATT Hallstatt Hideaway

KALS AM GROSSGLOCKNER Gradonna Mountain Resort

KALTENBACH Das Kaltenbach

KITZBÜHEL Alpenhotel Kitzbühel am Schwarzsee

LEOGANG Puradies Mein Naturresort

LUNZ AM SEE Refugium Lunz

MARIA ALM Hotel Eder

MARIA ALM Hotel SEPP

MAYRHOFEN ElisabethHotel Premium Private Retreat

MELLAU S onne Lifestyle Resort

MÜHLDORF La Petite Ivy

NAUDERS Arabella Retreat & Spa

OBERGURGL The Crystal VAYA Unique

SAALBACH HINTERGLEMM Alpin Juwel

SALZBURG Hotel Goldgasse

SALZBURG Hotel Stein

SCHLADMING Stadthotel Brunner

SEE Bergwiesenglück

SEEFELD dasMAX

SEEFELD/MÖSERN Nidum Casual Luxury Hotel

SERFAUS Alfa Hotel

SÖLDEN Bergland Design and Wellness Hotel Sölden

SÖLDEN T he Secret Sölden

STAINACH-PÜRGG Gästehaus Krenn

UDERNS IM ZILLERTAL Sportresidenz Zillertal

VIENNA Hotel Das Tyrol

ZELL AM SEE Senses Violett Suites

BELGIUM

ANTWERP Hotel August

ANTWERP Hotel Julien

Stylish retreats for inspiring timeouts.

Hotel des Horlogers , Le Brassus (Cover, LH 03)

Alpenstern Panoramahotel, Damüls (LH 04)

dasMAX, Seefeld in Tirol (LH 05)

Gradonna Mountain Resort, Kals am Großglockner (LH 06)

Hotel SEPP, Maria Alm (LH 07)

Locanda al Colle , Camaiore (LH 08)

Refugium Lunz, Lunz am See (LH 09)

Mia Alpina, Fügen im Zillertal (LH 10)

Steinach Townhouse Meran, Merano (LH 11)

Puradies, Leogang (LH 12)

CROATIA

BALE/ ISTRIA Meneghetti Wine Hotel & Winery

BRAČ Hotel Lemongarden

STARI GRAD/HVAR Maslina Resort

GERMANY

GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN Das Graseck

PIRNA Laurichhof

TIMMENDORFER STRAND Sand

TIMMENDORFER STRAND SeeHuus

GREECE

AMALIADA/PELOPONNESE Dexamenes Seaside Hotel

SIFNOS Verina Astra

SIFNOS Verina Terra

INDONESIA

SUMBA Nihi Sumba

ITALY

APUGLIA Paragon 700 Boutique Hotel & Spa

CAMAIORE Locanda al Colle

CALABRIA Praia Art Resort

LIMONE SUL GARDA EALA My Lakeside Dream

MATERA Sextantio Le Grotte della Civita

MERANO Steinach Townhouse Meran

MONTEFOLLONICO Follonico

NAZ NEAR BRESSANONE Seehof Nature Retreat

RIMINI i-Suite

RIPOSTO Zash Country Boutique Hotel

SANTO STEFANO DI SESSANIO Sextantio Albergo Diffuso

SICILY Monaci delle Terre Nere

ST. LEONHARD Apfelhotel Torgglerhof

VENICE Hotel Heureka

The demand for aesthetics and quality is central to LifestylehotelsTM vision of a modern hotel industry and it is inextricably linked to its commitment to sustainability and mindfulness.

Direct contact with the hotel. Information straight from the source.

best price.

MEXICO CITY La Valise Mexico City

SAN MIGUEL La Valise San Miguel

TULUM La Valise Tulum

PORTUGAL

ALENTEJO Sublime Comporta Country Retreat & Spa

ALGARVE Vila Valverde

AZORES Santa Bárbara Eco-Beach Resort

AZORES White Exclusive Suites & Villas

LISBON Torel Palace Lisbon

MADEIRA Quinta da Bela Vista

PORTO Torel Avantgarde

PORTO Torel Palace Porto

PORTO Torel 1884 Suites & Apartments

SPAIN

ARTÁ Es Racó d ’ Artàa

MALLORCA Convent de la Missio

MALLORCA Fontsanta Hotel Thermal Spa & Wellness

MALLORCA Hotel Can Simoneta

MALLORCA Pleta de Mar

MALLORCA LJs Ratxó Eco-Luxury Retreat

TENERIFE Ecohotel El Agua

SWEDEN

LAPLAND Treehotel

SWITZERLAND

LUCERNE Hotel des Balances

VALLÉE DE JOUX Hotel des Horlogers

ZERMATT Hotel Matterhorn Focus

MEXICO USA

ARIZONA AmbienteTM Sedona

Bringing the outside in

Nestled in the Vallée de Joux, surrounded by woods, mountains and lakes, Hotel des Horlogers has broken down the boundaries between nature and architecture – creating a space of harmony. We asked the architects of Hotel des Horlogers how they came up with the concept and how exactly they brought the two together.

Lifestylehotels: How did you come up with the zigzag design of the slabs?

Bjarke Ingels Group: The hotel celebrates the Vallée de Joux’s topography; the zigzagging slabs gradually descend towards the valley, tilting slightly to embrace the site and create a visual path between nature and architecture. While the Audemars Piguet museum located just a few steps away (also designed by BIG) defines a visitor experience inspired by the centripetal and centrifugal forces of time through the spiral form, the hotel welcomes its guests into the “time” journey by reimagining the historic winding watchmakers’ trail that the region is known for. In the interior, the building’s zigzag fivefloor layout forms a single, continuous ramping corridor – connecting the interior spaces and facilitating both guest and service circulation. This layout also provides all guest rooms with views of the surrounding Risoud Forest.

LH: What were the main materials that you used for the hotel?

BIG: The materials were very much selected for their performance and natural properties. In a similar way to watches, the interplay between finishes and structural or mechanical properties is what gives the design its unique character. For example, the hotel’s sustainability commitments can be seen in the careful selection of materials and design. Solid timber is used for the roof structures in the hotel rooms. This holistic, eco-friendly approach has enabled Hotel des Horlogers to obtain the Minergie-ECO® certification based on its energy efficiency and building ecology. The hotel is equipped with 86 photovoltaic panels, which fulfil part of the building’s energy needs. As guests transition from the main entrance into the reception area, the visual

language becomes more sinuous and rustic, with materials such as glass, concrete, stone and wood blurring the delineation between the constructed and the natural.

LH: How did you manage to incorporate nature within the hotel?

BIG: In the same vein as the BIG-designed Musée Atelier Audemars Piguet next door, we knew that we had to design the hotel with the same sensibility to the landscape and the valley. We thought about the two buildings as part of the same landscape, guided by the idea that visitors and guests seamlessly move between the village, the hotel and the museum – blurring the boundaries between landscape and building. There is a local cross-country trail just in front of the building, so we instantly felt that visitors should be able to arrive and enter the building from the valley. So, we designed the roofscape as a continuation of the valley, with trails and native planting.

HOTEL DES HORLOGERS Switzerland / Vallée de Joux / Le Brassus hoteldeshorlogers.com

The connection between architecture and nature.

Time for two

What makes the Alpenstern in Damüls

THE place to be between the mountain and the valley? We’ve put together our top three justifications.

A retreat with picturesque views.

Finally, you can have time for one another. Time to devote yourself to your favourite person in total tranquillity, in a setting simply made for well-being. At the four-star Alpenstern Panoramahotel in the Bregenz Forest, anyone longing for togetherness will find the ideal retreat. Embedded in the picturesque landscape of Damüls, in the heart of the Damüls-Mellau skiing and hiking resort, the wellness hotel boasting the prestigious Leading Spa Award is home to everything you need for a couple of days dedicated to love, relaxation and the finest cuisine.

Location Cuisine

The striking mountain panorama surrounding the hotel at 1,600 metres above sea level provides the perfect backdrop for starting the day relaxed and excited about an active day in the mountains. Right outside the hotel, alpine athletes will find the very best kind of winter holiday: top-class ski in, ski out. For those who would rather use the snowy landscape as a place to recharge, the best way to do this is during a romantic snowshoe hike or a winter hike starting from the hotel itself. Summer is brimming with hiking experiences and a variety of cycling routes, summit tours and delicious food at the mountain restaurants.

The half board Alpenstern is all about exclusive, award-worthy dining. The breakfast buffet offers freshly prepared eggs, and in the evening there’s a gourmet set menu with five courses to provide a feast for both the taste buds and the eyes. A further option for connoisseurs is the Alpenstern’s fine dining restaurant, where everything from cocktails to a tasting menu are served. The exclusive Novum hotel bar, which was recently mentioned in the Falstaff bar guide, a wine cellar with more than 1,000 options for tastings and the Genusshalde à la carte restaurant with a sun terrace will be a treat for all discerning foodies.

Relaxation and togetherness

Being the winner of the Leading Spa Award guarantees that wellness at the Alpenstern will meet all requirements. Guests seeking peace and quiet will appreciate the heavenly SPA on the third floor, with its various saunas, cosy and calm oases, sun terrace and vitamin bar. The stylish infinity pool on the ground floor has a stunning panoramic view and tempts you in from both inside and out to swim a few lengths and relax in the weightlessness of the water. The masseurs at the Alpenstern will treat you to an excellent selection of exclusive massages. Expert knowledge, skill and a focus on personalisation ensure the ultimate relaxation. The state-of-the-art gym rounds off the wellness experience at the Alpenstern Panoramahotel.

It’s time to create shared memories and give love more room to blossom. Grant your wish for comfort and togetherness in Damüls’ romantic mountain setting.

ALPENSTERN PANORAMAHOTEL Austria / Vorarlberg / Damüls hotel-alpenstern.at

ALPENSTERN PANORAMAHOTEL Austria / Vorarlberg / Damüls

Let's have a drink

At the dasMAX lifestyle hotel in Seefeld in Tirol, there’s a bar. Nothing special about that, you might say. But oh, how wrong you would be! Because the philosophy of the Honesty Bar at the dasMAX is “Sisters (and brothers) are doing it for themselves”, and that means you can pour and mix your own drinks or cocktails 24/7.

Sometimes, the craving for a refreshing drink, savoury snacks or a sweet treat just comes out of nowhere. Thank goodness there’s the Honesty Bar. As well as nonalcoholic drinks, you’ll find beer, wine and various spirits that you can help yourself to. What’s more, guests can put their bartending skills to the test and mix their own cocktails. And if you’re feeling a bit peckish between meals, there are sweet and savoury snacks available.

The self-service bar is straightforward and always open. Simply grab what takes your fancy at the time and write it all down on the Honesty Bar list, then you can pay when you check out. Then what? Take your drink out to the roof terrace and marvel at the view across Seefeld and the mountains. Or just enjoy your drinks and snacks in your room! So, got the urge to make a homemade cocktail?

Don’t forget that if making your own drink doesn’t sound all that appealing, you can order one from the dasMAX Bistro, where you’ll also find breakfast, delicious drinks and tasty snacks to keep you going.

Jobs with an outlook

Lifestylehotels: What makes the working environment at the Gradonna****s Mountain Resort so special?

Thomas Krobath: The hotel itself is already quite special on its own. It’s unique for its exceptional architecture, its position in the skiing and hiking resort, the top quality and above all the friendly atmosphere up here at 1,350 metres above sea level. Many guests have been coming back to us for several years, and they hold our staff in high regard – that’s clear to see. And of course, as employers we offer many benefits, such as fixed working hours and time off, the option to bring your kids to work and have them looked after, and a free season ski pass for the Ski)Hit resort. Plus, it goes without saying that there’s free food and lodging.

LH: Are the demands greater if the location is as isolated as the Gradonna****s Mountain Resort?

TK: I believe so. Here, it’s even more important that every cog is perfectly aligned with the next. The pay, accommodation, free time and of course the work need to be right, otherwise we wouldn’t be able to retain our staff up here. We also put a lot of effort into our trainees and always try to give them a few days off in a row so it’s worth their while travelling back home. For this reason, our nine trainees come from East Tyrol itself. In addition to chefs and hotel managers, we also provide training on reception duties and to become a restaurant specialist.

LH: What are the prospects for promotion for Gradonna employees?

TK: The Gradonna is a large hotel of an international standard. There are a great many attractive options for employees. Whether people are looking for a leadership role, something in hotel, events or front desk management or various positions in marketing – we look specifically at the development potential and the skills of our staff and are very flexible. The employees in our multicultural team come from 16 different countries and are just as flexible and eager to learn. At our hotel, everyone learns from one other – on a personal and a professional level.

LH: Why is it worth working in tourism?

TK: The guests appreciate us and the staff so much. The satisfaction of both guests and staff is dependent on the other. And that’s really clear to see here, because when the employees are happy, the guests are happy, too. We make sure that’s the case! Our many returning guests will also confirm that.

The architecturally visionary resort combines four-star superior luxury and generous spa indulgence with unique views of the Großglockner and the surrounding mountain landscape.

Quite literally! The 140-person team at the Gradonna****s Mountain Resort works where others take their holidays. Employees at the four-star hotel don’t just get a whole load of benefits for doing so, they also enjoy the appreciation of the hotel management and every one of the guests. Hotel director Thomas Krobath tells us all about it in this interview.

Open door

Lifestylehotels: Why adults only?

Hotel SEPP: The Eder Collection consists of several hotels, and we want each of them to appeal to a specific target audience. The Tante Frida hotel, for example, is the wacky, family-friendly equivalent of the SEPP. With the SEPP, on the other hand, we want to provide a retreat for those over 21 – with no families or frantic kids running around, so there’s a really tranquil, cosy feel to the place. That means the boutique hotel doesn’t just feel exclusive – it IS exclusive.

LH: Summer or winter?

HS: It’s so difficult to choose. We’re open all year round. The infinity pool is heated so it can be used in winter, plus there are of course saunas for our guests. And no matter what time of year it is, summer or winter, there’s always something going on in the area around Maria Alm. In spring and autumn, you can get around by hiking or on an electric bike. In summer, it’s all about biking, hiking and wine, with the option to hike to the summit and be treated to a wine tasting at the top. For the more adventurous, there are also mountain bikes so you can cycle around the mountains and forests, and for those who enjoy things a bit more on the comfy side,

open mind

there are the SEPP Classics – a classic car tour around the beautiful nearby areas of Kitzbühel, Königsee and beyond. In winter, the ski lifts are running to whisk you off to ski and tour, before you settle down at our hotel to toast marshmallows over the fire or stay into the evening for the DJ set. Then the next morning, it’s time for the floating brunch in the infinity pool. What more could you want?

LH: Open door, open mind: what does this saying mean?

HS: Open door, open mind simply means that we’re open to everyone and that everyone can feel at ease when they stay with us. Even in the kitchen and in the services we provide, we are open-minded. Our employees come from all over the world, and in addition to the refreshing caipirinhas made by our Brazilian bartender, there are vegan and vegetarian dishes, plus traditional sausages and beer. In the evening, top chefs from across Austria serve up their creations on the rooftop of the hotel and open the show kitchen for guests – bartender included. Sustainability is also a huge priority for us. The hotel is heated via district heating and was constructed using recycled scrap timber and natural stone sourced from the Rauris Valley, which we’ve used inside and out. For us, all of that is the essence of open door, open mind.

The SEPP boasts Alpine charm, modern twists and delightful coolness – you might call it exSEPPtional. The hotel doesn’t just blend old and new, tradition and contemporary influences – it also brings all of its guests together, in line with the philosophy that you’re never alone when surrounded by others.

We found out why the hotel is only open to those over 21, whether SEPP is better in summer or winter in Maria Alm and what they actually mean by “open door, open mind”.

Lifestylehotels: How do you devise a new menu every day?

Gian Luca: The process of creating the menu mostly depends on what’s available at the market. We propose a small number of options that change every day. I usually buy the ingredients first and then write the menu based on what I’ve bought fresh no more than two days in advance. We are only a small hotel and we want to serve fresh food. I prefer to buy less and more often, as nowadays it’s important to avoid unnecessary waste. With this in mind, we never repeat the same course or a similar preparation two days in a row. Every day we try to serve some fish or seafood, some meat and a vegetarian course, so that guests staying with us every evening during a week can enjoy several different dishes. It’s also important to consider guests’ dietary needs; if I know in advance, I can decide on a menu that will be suitable for someone with food allergies, intolerances or other special dietary requirements.

LH: What ingredients do you use? Is regionality or local produce a big factor for you?

GL: We don’t buy anything that is already prepared, for example we bake bread and pastries in house, we make our pasta and ravioli and only use our own homemade fresh tomato sauce. It’s a lot of work but being a small hotel, it helps us to maintain a high standard. It’s a great pleasure to serve food that is completely homemade, but of course buying local food also plays an important role in our kitchen. The vegetable market nearby provides most of the vegetables and fruit we use. The nearby city of Viareggio is by the sea and it’s famous for fishing, so anchovies and other local fishes are always present on our menu. The corn we use is also milled in town. Even the charcuterie is prepared by our local butcher, who also selects the meat I use. Obviously, not everything is sourced locally but the majority of the products I use are from Tuscany.

LH: What do you like most about being a chef?

GL: There’s a kind of alchemy to the cooking process. You have some ingredients and you combine them together to create something totally different to what you started with, and that’s always fascinated me. Doing it at Locanda al Colle is an even greater pleasure, as I have direct contact with the guests and that’s an amazing feeling. People passing by going to the pool or having a coffee can watch me roll out the croissant dough and have a chat. I have learnt a lot. I have the opportunity to talk with people from all over the world, and there’s always an interesting story to hear, or sometimes it’s just a friendly greeting. It’s a human touch that isn’t really possible in a restaurant kitchen.

LH: What do you like about the cooking classes and what can participants expect?

GL: They can expect fun. The cooking class must be an experience, a moment where I can share some tips, teach something new while people get stuck in, but it has to be relaxing, too. I like to tell my students stories about what they’re cooking and share some jokes. They have to feel like they’re at home preparing dinner with the family, and of course at the end of the class we always have a toast. What I like most about the cooking classes is this human touch, this exchange. They learn something about my cooking, and I have the opportunity to learn something from them. It has changed me in so many ways; it has opened my mind and it’s something I really treasure.

Gian Luca and his cuisine

High up on a hill, overlooking Camaiore in the province of Lucca, you will find Locanda al Colle – an ancient farmhouse that has been restored into a contemporary guest house. Not far from the sea, surrounded by the Apuanian Alps and close to surrounding cities, the country home offers activities for everyone. In the evening, once the guests return from their adventures, they are greeted by chef Gian Luca’s exceptional dishes. We asked how he comes up with new recipes every day, what ingredients he likes to use and what he loves most about being a chef!

LOCANDA AL COLLE Italy / Tuscany / Camaiore locandaalcolle.com

From former farmhouse to guesthouse with feel-good factor.

There’s a kind of alchemy to the cooking process. ”

You come home in the evening exhausted from work, from the traffic, from stress. You need a holiday, relaxation, to unwind. What if there were a hotel, a home away from home, a retreat where you could feel at ease? A place where the fox and the hare wish you goodnight, where it’s calm and you can do what you like, but also don’t have to do anything at all? Such a place does exist: Refugium Lunz.

( + )

REFUGIUM LUNZ

Austria / Mostviertel / Lunz am See refugium-lunz.at A place of wellness and rejuvenation.

A home away from home

The story of the Refugium takes us back to a snowy winter’s night. Joachim Mayr, born and raised in Lunz, was trudging through the snow in the main square with Heinz Glatzl, past his favourite building, and noticed a for sale sign. He decided that very evening that he was going to transform this building into a bed and breakfast. But Joachim Mayrlikes to think bigger and better, so the bed and breakfast quickly became a hotel – because an upgrade is always better than a downgrade. The idea of the hotel was established and, during the planning process, carpenter and interior designer Joachim and Heinz weren’t just able to capitalise on the full spectrum of expertise of their interior design and construction planning company M&G – they were also able to draw on the experience of their Vienna-based design forum FORMDEPOT, a cooperative for craftsmanship, architecture and design. At that point, all that was missing was everything else, but that was never cause for concern.

Because they live by the saying: Chance treads paths that intent could never even reach. And it was by chance that Stefanie Metzger and her husband Christian Metzger were suddenly in their path – along with their experience of the hotel and food industries. What wasn’t by chance was that the couple had been successful in running their restaurant Die Metzgerei in Vienna.

The concept of the Refugium Lunz blends 20 years of collective experience of bringing to life ambitious architectural and residential projects with a great deal of passion for hospitality and delight. From the paint colours to the parquet flooring and the infinite details, everything is of the highest quality. As hosts, people always go the extra mile. The architects also created a balance between old and new, and in doing so were able to preserve the character of the building. They are especially proud of the heart of the hotel, the Salonküche. It’s a genuine kitchen in the hotel that looks like one guests would have at home. That way, you can feel like you’re really at home. You bring back ingredients after a stroll, and suddenly there’s an apple strudel in front of you. You can watch head chef Christian while he cooks, ask him questions and listen to his answers. You can even cook, bake and of course chat alongside him. The ingredients for the dishes you can later savour at the Refugium are sourced from the region.

By doing this, Refugium Lunz wants to make a contribution to maintaining sustainable agriculture and traditional production in the area, and drive it forward in future.

It’s now not long until the historic building opens its doors in April 2023. As a place of tranquillity and well-being, the Hofhaus and the garden are the ideal spots to unwind. But you can also go hiking, swimming and walking, before paying a visit to the hotel’s own sauna in the evening, or you might find inspiration among the yoga and exercise options. Entirely in keeping with the motto of the Refugium: “You don’t have to do anything. But you can do a lot.”

And that’s where the adventure started. With the primary focus on designing the ideal hotel where people could finally feel like they mattered – and that’s so obvious here.

REFUGIUM LUNZ Austria / Mostviertel / Lunz am See

Photos: Sophie Kirchner, Gregor Hofbauer

ALPINA

A family retreat with a successful blend of lifestyle and tradition, set amid the breathtaking Zillertal Alps.

One for all

SO NEAR, SO GOOD

An unwritten rule for all families with small children is that the shorter the journey, the better. After all, the holiday doesn’t start at the destination – it starts in the car, on the plane or on the train. So it’s great that the Mia Alpina is so easy to get to. From Munich, it’s just a 90-minute drive, and the closest airport is barely 45 minutes away. Short travel time = happy children AND parents.

EVERYONE HAS THEIR OWN TIME

Time spent together is made all the more enjoyable when everyone gets to treat themselves to a little time out on their own every now and then. The Mia Alpina has plenty of options to make this happen. Even the suites, which measure up to 105 square metres, seem to be purpose-made for lavish comfort on holiday. Variety and huge amounts of fun are guaranteed in the 4,000-square-metre family play zone. And while the kids let off steam there under the best possible supervision, mum and dad can relax in the exclusive adults-only PenthouseSPA.

NO TIME TO BE BORED

At the Mia Alpina, it’s not a matter of what to do, it’s what to do first. Indoors and outdoors, there is so much to explore! For example, the large wellness area for the whole family, the play zone with adventure play areas, bowling lanes, bouncy castle, zip line, trampoline and so much more – at the Mia Alpina, adventure is the order of the day, every day.

FOOD IS THE SOURCE OF HAPPINESS

Every family has different requirements, including when it comes to food preferences. In this case, it’s not just tastes that are taken into account at the Mia Alpina but also nap times and early wake-up times. And not just that: families decide whether to go for a cosy family table or to switch to a romantic dinner for two. And the kids? They get to eat dinner with their friends in the kids club. That way, everyone is happy.

Holiday time is precious. Holiday time spent together is priceless. That’s exactly why it’s all the more important on family holidays to make sure the conditions are absolutely right. Like they are at the Mia Alpina, the hotel for young and old alike. Here are four good reasons to spend your family holiday in Zillertal.

MIA

Austria / Tyrol / Fügen im Zillertal mia-alpina.at

A neverending

THE PERSONAL TOUCH IS THE NEW CHIC

The Steinach Townhouse is less of a hotel, and much more of a very lovingly and personally furnished private home, where every picture, every piece of furniture and every decorative object has a story to tell. Designer pieces have been skilfully combined with the latest in modern comfort by the owners. As Roger Botti reveals, it “brought great joy to renovate and furnish the old house”.

SUITES FOR MY SWEETS

As Benjamin Franklin once said, “Early to bed and early to rise makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.” Great attention has been paid to the eight suites at the Steinach Townhouse. Measuring between 55 and 65 square metres, the individually designed suites offer ample space, they all have the perfect indoor climate whether it’s summer or winter, and of course the double beds are extremely comfortable. Soft duvets and a range of pillows ensure the sweetest of dreams.

THE WAY TO THE HEART IS THROUGH THE STOMACH

Breakfast isn’t just a meal. On the menu at the Steinach Townhouse are culinary delights like pancakes, porridge with nuts and fresh fruit, smoked fish with horseradish and chutney, freshly pressed juices and sausages from South Tyrol. Great emphasis is placed on the origin of the individual products –they have to be regional and seasonal. Everything is served by the international Townhouse team in the hotel’s bistro, or in your suite on request.

LOCATION IS (NEARLY) EVERYTHING

Have you been to Merano? No? Then what are you waiting for?! The Steinach Townhouse is located in the oldest part of Merano, away from the hustle and bustle but only a stone’s throw from the lively Laubengasse and the beautiful promenade along the Passer. The Steinach neighbourhood around the Townhouse is popular mainly with artists, and the paths leading towards it draw you up the hill for extended strolls with spectacular views.

TRUE LOVE IN ALL SEASONS

The Steinach Townhouse is the perfect holiday destination in spring, summer, autumn and winter! Open all year round for its guests, you can keep discovering Merano and the surrounding area anew at any time of year. Spring and early summer are ideal for long mountain or bike tours, golf and shopping. At the peak of summer, the many lakes, the high mountain areas and the warm city nights are what attract visitors. In vibrant autumn, you can enjoy Merano’s natural surroundings in all their colourful glory, and in winter you can go snowshoe hiking, skiing, ski touring or cross-country skiing, and experience everything that your winter heart desires. After all of that exertion, the Therme Meran thermal baths, a trusted partner of the Steinach Townhouse, is then the perfect place to unwind.

love story

Merano: for many, it’s love at first sight. That’s exactly how it was for Milan native and designer Roger Botti who, many years ago, fell in love with what was then a run down Merano townhouse. What became of it? It was transformed into a romantic hideaway in the heart of the old town. We present five townhouse facts that are sure to set guests’ hearts aflutter.

Since the family-run Embachhof in Leogang was modernised and stylishly extended in 2016 and reopened as the Puradies, it’s been clear to hotel managers and brothers Michael and Philipp Madreiter that the day would come when they would have to expand the wellness facilities. Now, after a few years of careful planning, it’s time: from 1 June, Puradies guests will be able to explore, experience and enjoy the extended Heaven Spa and restaurant.

When planning the new wellness area, the topic of water was top of the list of guest requests – and those of the two hotel managers.

Michael Madreiter: “For a number of years, our Innere Mitte sauna building has provided a range of saunas and relaxation rooms. With the new extended Heaven Spa, it’s possible to enjoy a bathing experience at a pleasant temperature while looking out at the mountains 365 days a year.”

The Garden of Eden

In addition to an outdoor pool that can be accessed from inside, a shallow children’s pool and cosy new relaxation rooms, the Heaven Spa also offers a light-filled yoga studio with direct access to the garden.

MM: “It was important to us to be able to give our guests more space for relaxation while remaining true to our principles, so the new Heaven Spa has been carefully set into the landscape. We wanted to keep any interference with nature to a minimum. Some of the roofs and walls are planted, geothermal energy ensures a sustainable sense of well-being, and large expanses of glass allow in the light and the landscape. The view from the new wellness spaces of the Steinernes Meer is fantastic. And the new sauna building also provides unobstructed views – our goal was to refine the view, to focus on the essentials, as it were.”

The icing on the cake – in the truest sense of the words –of the new spaces is the restaurant that’s also open to external guests, located on the upper floor. The restaurant, with its open kitchen and large terrace, is affectionately known as the Bistro, and offers exquisite cuisine with a focus on sustainability and an informal atmosphere at lunch and dinner.

Could wellness be a sin? Not at the Puradies: the extended Heaven Spa was embedded into the landscape with great care and regard for sustainability. The new sauna building with a restaurant will open its doors from summer 2023, not just for Adam and Eve but for all guests at the nature resort in Leogang.

When it comes to clear design language, beauty lies in the simplicity and purity of forms. It’s about removing unnecessary elements and focusing on the essence of the design. Here, less is certainly more. Rather than using a plethora of colours and patterns, designs tend towards clean lines and spaces so as to draw the eye towards the key components. Calmness and order set in and the observer is able to concentrate on the beauty of simplicity. Anything superfluous is eliminated and functionality is placed front and centre. Clarity prevails, and distractions are avoided. As a result, it’s a case of ensuring that clarity doesn’t equate to boring or simple, but rather a question of balance of form and function. Various forms can be found at the Geba rug gallery, clear design is the norm at 13&9 Design, and we create clarity at home thanks to lamps from Creative Industries Styria.

BUNA TABLE LAMP FROM MEXICO

Designer: bandido studio, € 258

AVO CEILING LIGHT FROM AUSTRIA

Designer: Johannes Scherr Design, € 298

The juxtaposition of wood and glass is what lends the Avo lights their unique charm. Avo boasts a simple yet classic spherical shape and is a subtle combination of two materials: wood for stability, and glass for brightness. The complicated manufacturing process requires a high degree of skill on the part of the woodturners and glass blowers. The base of the Avo is made up of lots of small pieces of solid wood that have been glued together to form a cube. The semi-transparent glass sphere protects the light bulb and is housed in a glass form with a conical indent. The lampshade features a specially designed, complex shape, in which the glass is mouthblown and intricately worked. It is available in oak or beech, finished with oil, and can be used as a ceiling, table or floor lamp.

The name of the Buna Table Lamp was inspired by the buna shimeji mushroom. Mushrooms can be found in a variety of ecosystems in Mexico, which is why Mexican design company Bandido Studio has long been working with a number of species of mushroom. Similar to a lamp, which also comes in lots of shapes and spreads light, the main function of a mushroom is to spread its spores. The final design of the lamp is the result of many observations and experiments, and imitates the soft, rounded proportions of the buna shimeji. The lamp provides living spaces with subtle and soft illumination.

MILKYWAY GARDEN LAMP FROM TURKEY

Designer: Anıl Tontuş and Limay Türkkan, € 310

Milkyway is a smart light made from an aluminium alloy with an LED primary light source. This is complemented by an RGB LED strip around the upper part, which allows the ambient light to be configured in various colour combinations. The designers were inspired by the stars and constellations in the sky and tried to emulate the Milky Way – a unique natural source of light. The aim was to create an object that is both useful and pleasing to the eye. It is also a perfect technical lighting solution for outside spaces. It is available in a range of colour temperatures and has a wide beam angle for increased scattering and illumination. The main body is made up of a small number of parts that are all connected by sophisticated yet simple details. Milkyway is a sustainable and environmentally friendly product thanks to the use of smart materials and well-designed manufacturing processes.

Lights don’t just add brightness to a room, they also bring freshness and transparency, depending on the design. In this issue, Creative Industries Styria presents three different lights from three vastly different regions that will make our homes somewhat clearer in an instant.

Rugs just asking to be sat on

A WEALTH OF DESIGNS

The Geba rug gallery showcases a wide range of designs, colours and styles for customers from all over the world to adorn boutique hotels, offices and private homes. But before the Geba rug gallery gets started with the design process, they offer an exclusive service that involves assessing the location in order to be able to create the perfect rug for the space. It is then designed in collaboration with the customer and can be tailored to their wishes – be it modern or traditional, free design or aligned with the branding of the hotel or company. The Geba colour palette comprises 256 individual shades that can be used in any combination in any design. A special feature of the company’s service is that the rug that’s designed can be

visualised in the space virtually, or even left in place for a short time to check in advance that it will definitely suit the room.

UNCOMPROMISING QUALITY

When it comes to quality, the manufacturers at the Geba rug gallery accept no compromises. The wool processed in Nepal comes from the high mountain sheep of Tibet. Very long fibres and a lot of wool grease are particular characteristics that protect the animals in their harsh habitat and form the basis of a long-lasting rug. This means the rugs are not only extremely hard wearing and resistant to dirt, they’re also incredibly warm and quite literally make people want to sit on them.

THE GEBA RUG GALLERY HAS ITS ROOTS IN THE ANCIENT TRADITION OF HAND WEAVING. THE GALLERY HAS BEEN LOCATED IN THE OLD TOWN OF GRAZ SINCE 1987 AND IS AN INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED SYMBOL OF QUALITY AND SKILL WHEN IT COMES TO RUG DESIGN. HARALD GEBA WAS A TRAILBLAZER IN AUSTRIA, REVOLUTIONISING THE CLASSIC ORIENTAL RUG AND IN DOING SO, CASTING ASIDE OLD-FASHIONED IDEAS BY COMBINING MODERN DESIGNS WITH TRADITIONAL CRAFTSMANSHIP.

In addition to sheep’s wool, the Geba rug gallery utilises materials such as nettle, hemp and linen, which are ideally suited to those with allergies.

A RUG FOR EVERYONE

A customer initially gets to know a Geba rug through their eyes: they see the pattern, the colours and make first contact. Then they enter a hotel, an office or a home and instantly feel welcome – it’s become an oasis of well-being. But rugs aren’t just a highlight of interior design or a work of art you can walk on – they also improve acoustics and the indoor climate.

Martin and Anastasija Lesjak with the Geometric Collection Diamond Shades, a limited edition glasses collection in collaboration with Martin Lasnik and winner of the Red Dot Award.

Photo right: Well-being concepts were implemented at INNOCAD's recently completed MAM Competence Center, including 13&9 product ranges such as the BuzziPleat acoustic solution, the Active Furniture BuzziBalance stool and board for BuzziSpace and the Relaxing Floors carpet collection for the Mohawk Group. The fractal pattern on the floor was developed in collaboration with Professor Richard Taylor.

Photo top right: HEX-O modular lighting and acoustic solution for XAL at the EANS Flight Control Centre by KAMP Arhitektid.

TEN YEARS AGO, PRODUCT DESIGN STUDIO 13&9 DESIGN INITIATED A COLLABORATION BETWEEN DESIGN, SCIENCE AND ART FOR THE FIRST TIME AT NEW YORK DESIGN WEEK, WITH THE INTENTION OF FINDING NEW CREATIVE SOLUTIONS THROUGH A HOLISTIC, TRANSDISCIPLINARY APPROACH. 13&9 DESIGN WORKS ON PROJECTS AROUND THE WORLD AND WAS FOUNDED IN GRAZ BY ARCHITECTS MARTIN LESJAK (CO-FOUNDER AND MANAGING DIRECTOR OF ARCHITECTURAL FIRM INNOCAD) AND DR ANASTASIJA LESJAK. THE TEAM CREATES COLLECTIONS OF PRODUCTS IN COLLABORATION WITH SPECIALIST PARTNERS – ALL THE WAY FROM CONCEPT THROUGH TO PRODUCTION – IN THE FIELDS OF LIGHTING, FURNITURE, FLOOR COVERINGS, ACCESSORIES, EXHIBITIONS AND SOUND DESIGN, AND ALSO HAS ITS OWN LABEL. ON THE OCCASION OF THEIR ANNIVERSARY, THE FOUNDERS TAKE A LOOK BACK AT THE CREATIVE PROCESS AND THEIR DIVERSE PROJECTS.

Celebrating a decade of diversity

in the team were, the rounder and more beautiful the overall result was. This gives me hope that interpersonal essence is an important ingredient and cannot be substituted in the product development process. To finish, I must admit that I find the projects centring around health and well-being to be particularly interesting.

Anastasija, you have a very diverse and impressive background. How do you bridge the gap between science and design?

On the other hand, we have developed a holistic working philosophy and strategy that relies on several pillars. This places people’s critical requirements front and centre, at the same time as being responsible towards society and the environment, and seeks to find answers to the social challenges of our time. As soon as a concept aligns with this approach, we see it as innovative, because it also generates added value on top of its original use.

You’re celebrating an anniversary this year. What have been the highs and lows of the last decade?

Anastasija Lesjak: Since we started the company in 2013, our approach has been to constantly search for what’s real and beautiful, but indeed also what’s extraordinary and unconventional, so as to design products with added value, or as we poetically call it, with a soul. To design products that are as flexible, transformable and reusable as possible, we consider diversity and integrate several disciplines into our working processes, which is also reflected in our long-standing access to series production. Maintaining this access for a decade with the same development and production partners is a valuable feature of our company, but at the same time has been a constant challenge. That was the case for almost all new products, but we built on our tendency towards perseverance paired with a certain sense of lightness so that we didn’t lose the joy of developing, even on tricky projects. Looking back, I feel extremely grateful

that we’ve been able to work in a holistic way and that we’ve now been able to evolve into an international design studio alongside our partners. At this point, I’d also like to express my sincere thanks to all of our colleagues and partners that we’ve had the pleasure of working with over the last ten years!

What is one of your favourite projects that you’ve developed together in the last decade?

Anastasija Lesjak: When I look back, I don’t really have one project that stands out more than the others. The reason for that is that we support each development with the corresponding planning, infrastructure, production and communication, and consider all parameters so that we can ultimately focus on the creative heart of the project. At the start, it obviously wasn’t always clear if something would be “relevant”, no matter how innovative the idea was. Our work also usually involves a group of contributors and from my perspective, the more open and profound the people

Anastasija Lesjak: When learning, researching and designing, my existing knowledge combines with new ideas. During the creative process, my expertise from the medical field often acts as a connector in the case of multidisciplinary collaborations, for example on the ScienceDesignLab with Professor Richard Taylor from the University of Oregon/Fractals Research and with his expert psychology team from the University of Wales. Together, we pursue the development of design concepts and product applications that are based on scientific findings on reducing stress in the built environment, and that are intended for modern working environments and healthcare and educational establishments in particular. If anyone wants to delve into the topic further, I would suggest reading the Aesthetics and Psychological Effects of Fractal Based Design study, which was published in the journal Frontiers in Psychology.

13&9 Design focuses on holistic concepts. What is the process for these concepts and how do you remain innovative?

Martin Lesjak: On the one hand, holistic access is quite naturally a result of the diverse backgrounds of our team: architecture, interior design, product design, fashion and music, paired with a research-based working process supported by scientific collaborations.

Your approach to work encourages environmentally friendly concepts. How do you find small, local producers to support your production?

Martin Lesjak: Our sustainability strategy aims to consider the principles of the circular economy and sourcing materials and producing locally from the very beginning, and extends all the way through to packaging and shipping efficiencies. Thanks to this early focus, we often have the opportunity to collaborate with smaller, local producers without succumbing to price pressure.

Anything else to finish off?

Anastasija Lesjak: The wonderful thing about this anniversary for me is actually that I’ve been able to build 13&9 Design with my husband Martin. It’s a personal point, but it’s part of how I look back on it all.

Martin Lesjak: A lot of the work carried out by 13&9 is a brilliant example of the fact that creativity and commitment can make it possible to achieve social, environmental and economically viable sustainability.

WITH DESIGN

ICON

OF

THE MALIBU SURF SHACK

Imagine an old, secluded house from the 1950s transformed into the perfect summer surf shack. Kelly Wearstler refurbished the house keeping many of the original interior elements intact, like kitchen and bathroom fittings that were still in good condition, but replaced things like the shag carpet with seagrass. She was inspired by the architectural shell of the house, its earthy and rustic tones, and wanted to furnish it with handmade, rustic and raw objects. Vintage and contemporary designs make the property feel new yet still tell its untold history, with Isamu Noguci lamps, comfortable Soriana sofas by Afra and Tobia Scarpa and a blackened wood console by Base 10. Kelly Wearstler also “borrowed” a number of pieces from her warehouse in downtown Los Angeles, which are vintage treasures she has found throughout her career. “I have a huge collection of items that I’ve bought over the years at auctions and online,” she says. “I stock them in my inventory for exactly this type of project.”

VINTAGE VOLTAGE

In its previous incarnation, it took a lot of imagination to see through this home’s imperfections to envision its full potential. This California bungalow, with brown ceiling beams and white walls, was remodelled and expanded into a large modern home with an open but strangely divided floor plan. Creating a cohesive space began with removing unseemly details that had been added by previous owners and adding subtle yet meaningful architectural elements that were better suited to the style of the house. The furniture spans styles and eras, from bespoke to avant-garde contemporary pieces, often featuring dramatic shapes and vibrant colours that celebrate the client’s love of art and sculpture.

THE WEARSTLER-KORZEN RESIDENCE

Kelly’s family home for the past fifteen years was originally built in 1926 as a Spanish Colonial Revival, and was remodelled five years later by “architect to the stars” James E. Dolena in a classic Georgian style. They bought it from the Broccoli family (Cubby Broccoli created and produced the James Bond films), but had to reassure them that they wouldn’t tear it down. The two-storey main house retains many original, refined details, from the intricate Georgian, Federal and Neoclassical mouldings, to the handsome marble bathrooms and even the solid, boiserie panelled doors. Kelly was intent on preserving the historic integrity of the home and took steps to ensure it was listed as a historic property and protected going forward. She remained true to her belief in mixing styles, eras and mediums, bringing together the stars of the past with today’s emerging artists to create environments – indoors and out – that are at once inviting, comfortable and evocative. KELLY WEARSTLER IS AN AMERICAN DESIGNER WITH HER OWN DESIGN STUDIO WHO CREATES DIVERSE AND EXPERIENTIAL RESIDENTIAL, HOSPITALITY, COMMERCIAL AND RETAIL ENVIRONMENTS, AS WELL AS AN EXTENSIVE COLLECTION OF LIFESTYLE PRODUCT DESIGNS. SHE HAS NOW BECOME AN INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED DESIGN ICON. MULTILAYERED, IMMERSIVE, SENSORY EXPERIENCES ARE AT THE HEART OF WEARSTLER’S APPROACH TO DESIGN. EXPLORING MATERIALITY, COLOUR AND FORM, INTUITIVELY JUXTAPOSING MODERN AND CLASSIC, ARCHITECTURE AND ORGANIC, GRAPHIC AND INSTINCTIVE, SHE INJECTS A WEALTH OF EXPERIENCE INTO EACH SPACE. HER RECENT PROJECTS ARE FURTHER PHENOMENAL ADDITIONS TO HER PORTFOLIO, AND WE TOOK A CLOSER LOOK AT THEM!

WHAT

In the role of artistic director, clarinettist Christoph Zimper is bringing innovative concert formats and a variety of artists to the city that’s daring to revolutionise the traditional concert. During eight specially created concerts with eight different approaches, audiences will be treated to concert experiences like they’ve never experienced before.

Artistic director Christoph Zimper: “I really respect the task ahead of us –above all, the fact that it doesn’t take place just anywhere, but rather ‘at home’. At the same time, I’m immensely looking forward to the performances from all of the amazing artists from the fields of music, film, dance, painting and more, who have now come together to create something in the form of Milch & Honig.”

Music, the spoken word and the art of sand animation join forces to tell the story of The Little Prince in a totally new way.

Tibetan Buddhist culture meets Mozart’s Gran Partita for a deeply relaxing concert on yoga mats, or perhaps you would prefer a concert in absolute darkness, or outdoors in the park equipped with a bulging picnic basket? Also taking part are renowned classical musicians, singer songwriters, dancers and artists from a wide range of disciplines, all with one declared vision: making sounds visible, images audible and dance tangible. Anyone wanting to use the Milch & Honig festival as an excuse to rediscover Wiener Neustadt will find the best option is to go for one of three weekend packages: the Prince Weekend, the Sound & Healing Weekend and the King Weekend.

See sounds. Hear images. Feel dance.

CONCERT DATES AND TICKET INFORMATION: +43 2622 373311 milchundhonig-wn.at

THE LITTLE PRINCE: 14 April, 19.30, Kasematten/Neue Bastei

CONCERT IN THE DARK: 15 April, 19.30, MÄX

PAINTING SONGS: 23 April, 19.30, Kasematten/Neue Bastei

NEW ART ON OLD WALLS: 28 April, 19.30, historic Kasematten

THE MOZART SOUND HEALING: 30 April, 19.30, Kasematten/Neue Bastei

SCHUBERT AS I KNOW HIM: 5 May, 19.30, historic Kasematten

SILENT CONCERT: 7 May, 11.00, outdoors at the Kasematten café Tscherte

THE BLISSFUL NIGHT – AND HOW IT CAME TO BE…: 12 May, 19.30, Kasematten/Neue Bastei

IN WIENER NEUSTADT, A NEW CULTURAL FESTIVAL WILL BE TAKING TO THE STAGE IN SPRING 2023 BETWEEN 14 APRIL AND 12 MAY: MILCH & HONIG (MILK & HONEY).

Photos: Harald Hoffmann, Tim Cadavini, Yiorgos Mavropoulos

Top soprano Marlis Petersen

Artistic director Christoph Zimper

Vision String Quartet

HAPPENS WHEN A CONCERT IS NO LONGER JUST A CONCERT, BUT RATHER MUSIC MIXED WITH OTHER INGREDIENTS LIKE PAINTING, FILM, DANCE, POETRY, SAND ANIMATION OR EVEN TOTAL DARKNESS AND MEDITATION?

TOM WENZL, AKA WENZO, A BODYWORK SPECIALIST AND PAINTWORK TECHNICIAN, STARTED HIS ARTISTIC CAREER IN A SMALL BASEMENT STUDIO. THE TRAINED METALWORKER TOLD HIMSELF TO STICK TO WHAT HE KNOWS, AND ELEVATED HIS TASTEFUL CRAFT TO THE LEVEL OF ART. THEN, AROUND SEVEN YEARS AGO, HE STARTED PAINTING FULL TIME – POP ART WAS HIS CHOSEN GENRE. ARTISTICALLY, HE IS NOW AT HOME BETWEEN MONACO AND CALIFORNIA, AND HAS ALSO CREATED PIECES FOR ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER. “TRUST YOURSELF AND YOUR PASSION; BE HONEST AND CORRECT,” IS ONE OF HIS SAYINGS. WE ASKED HIM WHAT MAKES HIS POP ART PIECES SO DISTINCTIVE, WHERE HE GETS HIS INSPIRATION FROM, WHAT HIS FAVOURITE PIECE IS AND HOW LONG THE CREATIVE PROCESS TAKES BEFORE THE FINISHED WORK CAN BEEN SEEN BY THE (ART) WORLD.

Tom, tell us a little about yourself: how did you get into this form of art?

When I was younger, I often used to travel from my home town of Judenburg to Tarvisio. I was always captivated by the bustling markets and the vivacity of the place, and I was especially taken with these bold leather jackets. But I didn’t want a black one, I wanted a bright blue one instead, which at the time was only available in the women’s section. Of course, I wouldn’t buy something like that these days, but it just shows the weakness I had for loud colours back then. I then trained as a bodywork technician and was soon spraying my mopeds and Vespas in bright colours like purple, pearl, pink and neon colours. Several years later, I was in Miami and walked past a gallery – where I had my first real encounter with pop art!

The images in there were garish and brightly coloured, depicting Karl Lagerfeld or Marilyn Monroe. From that point on, I’ve always been fascinated by galleries.

I don’t paint pictures ...

All the more considering I was working for a company at the time that was working intensively and professionally with graphics and Photoshop. I desperately wanted to “recreate” an intriguing image, so I asked if I could take a photo. When I got home, with the photo for inspiration, I immediately put together an art collage, used it as a background and at the end, I coated the whole image. That’s how it all started, and my experiments were actually an immediate hit.

What or who are you inspired by?

I love any environment with creative colours and elements. I’ve also experimented with that many times over. And I got over the concern or anxiety that I can’t paint “properly” when I had the opportunity to draw Dominic Thiem at a live event and it was received really positively. I then tried more and more frequently to creatively embellish common objects with a different vibe and additional elements, mostly using new techniques –digital printing, spray painting, acrylic and glazing. Actually, as the “pop art kid”, as I was known, it was my wish to “import” a bit of California and a bit of New York to Austria. There’s a hint of Andy Warhol in there, plus Mr Brainwash, genius French pop art and street artist Thierry Guetta, and Banksy, the unmatched British street artist. I like things that are expressive, sometimes even loud, jarring and eccentric. Images like these in particular aren’t just

there to be looked at, their main purpose is to inspire. It’s not by chance that they attract so many fans worldwide.

Which techniques do you use for your images?

I used to mainly use graphics, digital printing and collages. Now, I use brushes and spray paints, and I usually collage the background around the image. At the end, everything is coated so that the surface looks like a sheet of glass, but is also UV resistant.

How long does that process take?

It can take anywhere between two days and two weeks – it really depends on what I’m doing, and mostly on when the famous wow moment happens, when I know that I’ve finished the image. The coating then normally takes another two to three days.

What is your favourite piece of art?

At the beginning, there was always a piece that I’d grown particularly fond of. It would hang in my home for a while and I never wanted to sell it. But at some point, I stopped thinking like that because there was always something new and creative that came after it. But there are also artworks that have a human story attached to them, like if there’s been an opportunity to collaborate with celebrities – like Arnold Schwarzenegger, or Dominic Thiem at the Tennis Open at the Wiener Stadthalle in 2019, among others. These pieces include artbywenzo.com

any images that were created for the Licht ins Dunkel charity event, which were inspired by Arnie’s phrase “When you take something, you have to give back”. They’re all really special to me – not because of the images themselves but because of the story behind them and what they represent.

What are you looking forward to this year?

There are some more exhibitions scheduled, mostly in Switzerland and nearby regions. I currently have exhibitions planned in Zug in Switzerland, at Schloss Gamlitz in southern Styria and at Schloss St. Martin in Graz. There might also be something exciting happening in Leogang at the Puradies hotel quite soon! We’ll have to wait and see…

If you don’t want to see, taste or hear, you can keep your eyes, mouth and ears closed. The nose has to remain clear though, otherwise you’ll suffocate! There’s no escaping scent molecules, and they trigger our emotions and memories. That’s why I think about my first great love whenever I smell Cool Water somewhere – there’s nothing I can do about it.

While the sense of smell is the most immediate, we often lack the words to talk about it. For that reason, we like to borrow terms from music: we talk about fragrance notes and accords, and the ephemeral nature of a perfume creation is even reminiscent of a symphony.

Loud fragrances drown out their surroundings, and you have to listen closely to the quiet ones – sorry, smell closely.

So, just like there’s a perfect moment for Highway to Hell and Pour Elise, there’s also a right time for loud and quiet perfumes –when the crowd is sweating in a club, you need something with a bit of punch, but for a tête-à-tête beneath the stars, more subtlety is required.

It’s the ingredients that make a fragrance loud or quiet. Some take over entire rooms and cause people to keep their distance, while others invite you to move in closer. But a loud scent doesn’t necessarily have to be vulgar; perfumes are often simply mirroring their time.

Until the 1960s, a respectable woman was prohibited from sending erotic

signals through their outfit; showing your décolleté, flowing hair and heavy make-up were reserved for actresses and prostitutes. For housewives and women who worked, sharply tailored suits and very little skin on show was expected. But a sensual, animalistic perfume gave them the opportunity to send subtly seductive messages. Revlon’s Intimate from 1955 already had this in its name and promoted the use of two animal-derived secret weapons: the secretions of the civet cat and the territory markings of the beaver, castoreum.

The sixties therefore meant new olfactory territory for men in particular. Before then, they were able to play the cleanliness card in order to smell good: soap, aftershave, Brilliantine – barber shop fragrances, essentially. Gender clichés were now put to the test. People with long hair wearing frilly blouses in the Woodstock documentary literally wafted around in a haze of patchouli and musk, and even today, Patchouli by Crabtree & Evelyn is still considered the Holy Grail among Goths. However, witnesses reported hostility towards women in communes and agitprop groups – you could still be a vain macho even if you were wearing a flowery shirt, it seems. How apt that the vibrant men’s fashion of the 70s was retrospectively named Peacock Revolution.

The restorative 80s, on the other hand, saw the arrival of power dressing: big hair, oversized jewellery for women, shoulder pads and wide ties for men.

These extremes found their match in potent powerhouse fragrances that took no prisoners. Unforgotten firecracker classics are fougère trailblazer Azzaro and the animalistic chypre Antaeus (Chanel) for men, the white blossom Giorgio (Giorgio Beverly Hills) and the ambergris bombshell Obsession (Calvin Klein) for women. I can remember a girl in my advanced English class who liberally applied Poison by Dior. It was really testing, especially for the first lesson of the day and on an empty stomach.

The 1990s saw an about-turn: grunge forced out gender clichés and fashion became cerebral with the likes of Helmut Lang and Margiela. At the intersection of this trend and perfumes was an insecure body image caused by HIV: animalistic sultriness gave way to asexual cleanliness and perfumes became quiet, with citrus fresh, aquatic, clean, ozonic and abstract notes. Differences between men’s and women’s fragrances became blurred, and in 1994, ck one from Calvin Klein was the first fragrance to be marketed explicitly as unisex.

Raw Gold by Thomas de Monaco transposes youthful rebellion and the desire for freedom into a powerful mix of bourbon, black coffee, smoky vetiver and pepper. Ormonde Jayne’s Ambre Royal reveals a beguiling technicolour opulence of the utmost elegance with its notes of patchouli, musk, tonka bean and a generous helping of ambergris. If you’re brave enough for an ingenious fortissimo, you’re brave enough for volume!

Pump up the volume!

There’s no trend without a countertrend: at the turn of the millennium, the Arabian fragrance oud was introduced to western bottles in the form of M7 by Yves Saint Laurent. The oil derived from the resin of the agar tree makes perfumes warm and sexy, and in larger quantities animalistic and overripe. The new fragrance notes crashed in like a bomb, partly as a counter-reaction to the clean 90s, partly as an echo of Middle Eastern fragrance habits as a result of the development of lucrative gulf markets by luxury European brands.

Since then, the volume control has been turned up and up, and today, fashion and fragrances reflect the times. On Instagram and TikTok, everything and everyone is becoming a competing brand: extreme looks as click bait even for venerable couture houses, the filtered face of an influencer as a battleground in the fight for attention. It’s no wonder young, label-obsessed target groups are looking for something clear-cut even when it comes to fragrances. Silage is the magic word, a more elegant expression for effectiveness. So, as the large logo for the buying power of the wearer declares, some expensive fragrance houses with particularly inconsiderate dosage levels have become status symbols.

Volume without a message is just noise. Volume with attitude is rock and roll. Just like the music from every era has had crashing passion and genuine unwieldiness, today there is olfactory Dolby surround sound, which people are happy to be overpowered by.

HELDER SUFFENPLAN is an independent journalist and creative consultant from Berlin, and has had a particular passion for perfumes since he was a child. With his successful 2013 launch of SCENTURY.com – the very first online mag azine for perfume storytelling –Helder has become a recognised authority in the global world of fragrance. He has been on the jury for events such as The Arts & Olfaction Awards in Los Angeles and the Prix International du Parfumeur Créateur in Paris. As a writer, he combines his passion topic of fragrances with a range of fields such as contemporary art, popular culture, literature, film and geopolitics.