LIFESTYLEHOTELS Magazin |THE STYLEMATE, Issue No 02/2017, Different, en by THE Stylemate

THE

STYLE MATE NEWS ABOUT LIFE, STYLE & HOTELS ISSUE NO 02 | 2017

Hotel Metz, Design Philippe Starck

DIFFERENT DARE THE IMPOSSIBLE

Foto: DEIS

THE

STYLE MATE

| GERMANY . BAYERISCH GMAIN . KLOSTERHOF |

500 years of tradition IN THIS ISSUE

… and a new lease of life Reviving body and soul: a 500-year-old tradition at Klosterhof – but the Augustine monks back then would have been amazed to see what delights are now on offer on their «farmstead».

| 2 | Foreword, Imprint | 3 | New opening Hotel Klosterhof | 4 | On the cover – different Different hotels | 6 | V8 Hotel Relax in the king of cars | 7 | Hallstatt Hideaway With a difference | 7 | Schafbergbahn . WolfgangseeSchifffahrt Sheer romance | 8 | Puradies Pure enjoyment | 8 | Alpslodge Absolute relaxation | 9 | Bergland Hotel Sölden Chilling out doesn´t get any better

Different is good Mallorca and Madeira are celebrating. The Spanish island has won the French Open tennis tournament for the tenth time, and the Portuguese island football's Champions League for the second. No, I hear you say, it was Rafael Nadal and Real Madrid with Cristiano Ronaldo. True, but Nadal is Mallorcan and Ronaldo Madeiran. The world-class tennis player and the international footballer are neighbours, perhaps former classmates, for the people on these islands. That changes your perspective. We profile both islands in this issue of Stylemate. Of course, these profiles are personal, for each of us will have a different experience of the same place. Difference is the theme of this issue. Travelling is always «different» – few people will travel elsewhere to experience what they can also have at home. There are, however, degrees of difference. Take «0-star hotels» in the Swiss Alps or on one of Africa's major lakes, for example. Or hotel rooms in sewer pipes. Those who would rather not share their sleeping quarters with a hippopotamus or have to cross a park in the dark to get to a (cold) shower will perhaps choose one of the «Lifestylehotels». You can find them all in the hotel directory in this Stylemate and at www.lifestylehotels.net.

| 10 | Florentina Welley Fashion museums & luxury labels | 12 | Relax and enjoy The many faces of Tuscany | 13 | Locanda al Colle A country house for bon vivants | 14 | Susanne Posegga Fire, water, earth and magicians | 16 | The balearic Islands Bon dia, Mallorca! | 16 | Hotel Tres A touch of north in the south | 17 | Franzobel Schwanhilde and cheese sandwiches | 18 | Madeira Eternal spring | 20 | Specials Geinberg5 Private SPA villas, Alpin Juwel Hotel des Balances, Matterhorn Focus | 21 | Post Hotel Innichen Time for two in Innichen

Thomas Holzleithner & Hardy Egger Herausgeber

| 22 | ElisabethHotel Exclusive moments for two | 23 | Villa Pannonia Art and a garden idyll on the lido | 24 | Yogaeasy.de Pocket yoga | 25 | Salzburg Hochkönig region In harmony with nature

Imprint: Media Owner & Publisher: Prime Time Touristik & Marketing GmbH, Schmiedgasse 38/1, 8010 Graz. Responsible for Content: Thomas Holzleithner & Hardy Egger. Editor in Chief: Martin Novak. Managing Editors: Susanne Riegler. Editors: Mag. Ursula Jungmeier-Scholz, Dr. Walter Hoch, Min Li. Cover design: Gerhard Gauster. Cover photo: Foto DEIS. Art director: Gerhard Gauster. Printed by: Medienfabrik Graz, 8020 Graz. Published in: Graz. Publication: 3 x yearly.

| 26 | Nice to have Things we seek | 28 | LuxuryTrees® The big in the small | 29 | Seeoo Eyewear Crystal clear | 29 | Neue Wiener Werstätte Creativity is not enough | 30 | Hotel Directory

100,000 pieces of larch shingle decorate the façade of the Premium Hotel & Health Resort Klosterhof in Bayerisch Gmain, and that is not the only change from the new owners, Henrike and Andreas Färber, that has given the 500-year-old building a new and welcoming face. The Färbers even got involved in making the shingles themselves. Once upon a time, this historical building served as the St. Zeno Augustine monks' «Ökonomie» or farmhouse, in other words it was part of the farm that supplied and fed the monastery. Today's much-extended and modernised building still serves a similar function – although in a more luxurious manner and for non-monastic guests. Sixty-five bedrooms and suites in apple and pine, furnished in wonderful materials and warm colours, have been offering holidaymakers a taste of paradise since July 2016. Space and transparency – the panoramic view of the Predigtstuhl mountain is breathtaking even from the bathtub –, clear structures and high ceilings give you a boundless sense of freedom, and glass columns displaying selected artworks focus the gaze and inspire reflection. Guests staying in one of the Klosterhof Spa Lofts can enjoy five metre-high rooms under the roof, wonderful views of the mountains from picture windows, and of course the intimate atmosphere in their private spa at all times of day and night. Fire at the water Health and well-being are at the centre of the redesigned Klosterhof. After all, the proprietor Andreas Färber is himself a doctor, and is currently setting up a centre for customised preventive

medicine at the site. Artemacur – the art of (lasting) healing – lends its name to both the health centre and the hotel's own 1500 m² spa, which offers sheer delight from head to toe. Not for noth ing was the Klosterhof in Germany named spa hotel of the year (Wellnesshotel des Jahres) in 2017.

w e n nd

bra

In the indoor pool with fireside lounge, you can admire the glow Photos: www.guenterstandl.de

Spa Loft: endless space and a private spa

of the fire from the water, and the interplay between these two contrasting elements. Afterwards, why not enjoy a revitalising or invigorating massage – on your own, or with your partner or best friend. Options range from apple and rose hip to Swiss pine and lemon thyme; and you also have the chance to learn all about the healing powers of the ingredients. A massage on the Gharieni quartz sand table is a simply unique experience. Lie back on a mixture of quartz sand and crystals of Bad Reichenhall natural salt, wonderfully stimulating for both sides of your body. Saunas, a hamam with steam bath and light therapy will lift up your spirits no matter what the weather, and remove every last ounce of stiffness after a strenuous hike in the mountains. Experience weightlessness in the Alpen Soledom –

float in salt water at body temperature on your own or with your partner or a friend. The Alpen Soledom also uses Bad Reichenhall alpine salt. GenussArt-restaurant From salt to the kitchen: the GenussArt restaurant is reserved for hotel guests. Head chef Harald Derfuß uses fresh regional alpine produce to conjure up exciting creations for his 6-course set gourmet menus. Those who prefer to dine à la carte can relax in the Zenostube, Ithastube or Hallgrafenstube, and soak in the alpine charm of the pine furnishings. The terrace is the perfect place for an aperitif; head to BarBarossa for an after-dinner drink.

On some evenings, the library is transformed into the perfect venue for concerts – it has a Bechstein grand – or readings. In July, Gitarrenduo Venga will be performing flamenco and gipsy swing, and the journalist Hubert Nowak will be reading texts about nearby Salzburg. On 7 August, the day of the partial solar eclipse, there will be jazz on the terrace complete with a view of the moon, weather permitting. Those who prefer to enjoy art in a vibrant urban ambiance can take the short trip from the Klosterhof to visit the Salzburger Festspiele. The Klosterhof offers a range of great packages for this cultural highlight in the city of Mozart.

Klosterhof: Germanys Spa Hotel of the year 2017

«Health and well-being are at the centre – after all, the proprietor Andreas Färber is himself a doctor.»

The Klosterhof also provides food for the soul with its own programme of cultural events.

www.lifestylehotels.net/klosterhof-bayerisch-gmain 2

THE STYLEMATE ISSUE NO 02 | 2017

| COVER . DIFFERENT |

Different hotels Hotels are always different. Different from life at home. But there are hotels that transcend the norm; that are exceptions among the exceptional.

Photo: Null Stern, 2017

Photo: Claudio Baeggli, 2017

Philippe Starck: Every project generates emotions and experiences Photo: Philippe Starck

The Swiss Alps, a beach in Africa, no-man's land in the USA – and it gets even stranger. Before the Riklin brothers set up their bed in the Alps, they had already installed it in a largely empty Swiss bunker back in 2009 and declared it to be an installation at the interface of art, commercialisation and Swissness. What

they claimed was the first «zerostar hotel» even made it onto CNN.

In the pipe More down to earth options are available in the Austrian town of Linz (Ottensheim) and in Bottrop in North-Rhine West-

Photo: Null Stern, 2017

They are known as zero-star hotels or topless hotels, but not because they offer zero comfort or because their guests sleep topless. Instead, the name indicates the lack of a potential amenity, namely walls and ceilings: guests sleep in comfortable – even luxury – hotel beds under the sky.

Millions of stars Concept artists Frank and Patrik Riklin launched just such a hotel in 2016 at an altitude of 1700 metres in the Swiss Alps. A night under – ideally – millions of stars cost(s) between 200 and 300 euros. The transportable one-room hotel has now moved on; the new site, also in the Alps, is at a mere 1200 metres. This brainchild of the twins from «Atelier Sonderaufgaben» in St. Gallen in Switzerland – where

www.sonderaufgaben.ch 4

by their own account they «do ex actly what we did as children when we played in the sandpit» – may be unusual, but it is not unique. In Mozambique, on the shores of Lake Malawi, there is also an «outdoor bed» that is part of Nkwichi Lodge. While this bed may be harder to get to from Europe than its Swiss equivalent, it does have one advantage: no-one has apparently yet fled indoors to escape snow or the cold – although this is of course an option in both places.

nullsternhotel.ch / www.zero-star-hotel.com THE STYLEMATE ISSUE NO 02 | 2017

A rather more civilised and elegant alternative is the Amangiri Mesa Pool Suite in the deserts of Utah. Although the roof here is also the breathtaking night sky, there are walls and a host of amenities from a private pool and terraces to a courtyard. All this has its price, a good 2000 dollars plus per night. Things can get a little more expensive if you also book the private charter jet that flies guests to Utah from all over Europe, Asia, the USA and Latin America. www.aman.com/resorts/amangiri

Ever since his first creations, Philippe Starck hasn’t stopped revolutionising the codes of the hotel world. From the 1980s onwards he made his mark on the hotel industry and those years saw a flamboyant revolution. Along with Ian Schrager, Starck offered a new approach and new codes to hotel conception starting with the Royalton in New York. The hotels are no longer venues of fleeting impersonal passage but living spaces distilled with friendly, fun signs and fertile surprises. Under the impetus of Philippe Starck they’re transformed into theatres where everyone acts out their own destiny.

«Hotels are always different, but there are degrees.»

www. dasparkhotel.net/ THE STYLEMATE ISSUE NO 02 | 2017

| BADEN-WÜRTTEMBERG . STUTTGART . V8 HOTEL |

| COVER . DIFFERENT |

«Zero-star hotels: comfortable – even luxury – beds under the sky»

Relax in the

king of cars Think V8, and we think of great engines for luxury cars, classics and runabouts …

Photos: Amangiri Mesa Pool Suite

phalia, Germany. Here, you can if you want stay in «park hotel» in the truest sense of the word. «Park hotel» means wide sewer pipes that are just long enough to hold a double bed. And the pipes are located in a park. What's so great about the concept? All bookings are online. You get an electronic access code and pay as much or as little as you want. The showers (unfortunately usually only cold according to the visitor folder) and toilets are 100 metres from the bed pipes, also in pipes – although this time (understandably) vertical ones.

Surrealist hotel A little less conceptual and a little more hotel-like are the projects of the designer Philippe Starck, who was born in 1949. His Mama Shelter Hotels can be found in Paris, Lyon, Marseilles and Bordeaux. Exuberant architecture and loud colours com-

bined with functional hightech, often in old industrial buildings, are characteristic of these hotels. One factor in the «Hotel Mama feeling» is the large shared tables in the restaurants and bars where no-one needs to feel alone. Starck's surrealist Hotel Metz on the Moselle in Lorraine's main city is set to be even quirkier. A traditional northern French half-timbered house complete with turrets and chimneys and surrounded by trees – on the roof and the ground – is being placed on a sober, monochrome glass cube. This work of «inhabitable art» by the indefatigable cosmopolitan Starck is set to open in 2018 and is a collaboration with the Centre Pompidou Metz. Its twelve storeys will house 90 bedrooms and nine suites. The hotel is not just to be a place to stay, but another unconventional place that testifies to the designer's vision for a fairer world – not necessarily beautiful, but always good. Hotels are always different, but there are degrees.

«In the Amangiri Mesa Pool Suite in the deserts of Utah, the roof is the breathtaking night sky, but there are also private pools, terraces and a private courtyard.»

But a V8 to sleep in? Yes, and comfortably at that! The V8 Hotel in the heart of Motorworld Stuttgart is the stuff (and place) of dreams for lovers of horsepower. Trendy bed rooms have Mercedes and Cadillac chassis transformed into four-posters. From the beds and wall décor to the carefully chosen furniture, everything in the ten themed rooms reflects a specific leitmotif. Experience racing, drive-in cinema, V8 camp or tuning in the most lu-

The Motorworld with its amazing classic cars, modern classics and other motoring gems is so popular that the V8 is soon to get a big brother: the

The V8 Superior will be even more exciting than the V8 Hotel.

Illu: V8

xurious style. Take «Route 66» through the wide prairie: the canopy above the beds shelters the wildest adventurers, and the front fork of a Harley Davidson extends into the room – this is «born to be wild» live. The 22 design bedrooms, on the other hand, are dominated by clear, simple lines, while in «Body Tuning», great massages from «Classic One», «Boxenstopp» (foot reflex zones) and «Best of Oils» (scented oils) to «Engineering» (deep relaxation) tune bodies in need of repair. Warm tropical rain in the rain shower and the heated bench in the V8 spa oasis give the perfect polish. You can also refuel with great food and drink at V8: the Check Inn Foodport has put a combination of restaurant, bar and beer garden on the road – or rather on the former Böblingen airfield. The «Targa Florio Gewww.lifestylehotels.net/v8-hotel

nussakademie» responds to the individual needs – and tastes – of hungry guests, Ristorante Da Signora and Steakhouse Tower 66 serve gourmet international specialities and Wichtel, the beer from the hotel brewery, keeps you from running dry.

THE STYLEMATE ISSUE NO 02 | 2017

roofing ceremony for the V8 Hotel Superior with 153 new design and themed bedrooms took place back in April 2017. One spectacular feature of the new hotel will be the bright and sunny atrium from which you can look right up to the top storey. The bedrooms will, of course, be furnished and designed in impressive detail. That is what drives V8's success.

«Trendy bedrooms have Mercedes and Cadillac chassis transformed into four-posters.»

I SALZBURG . SCHAFBERGBAHN . WOLFGANGSEESCHIFFFAHRT I

| SALZKAMMERGUT . HALLSTATT HIDEAWAY |

Sheer romance

With a

difference The Hallstatt Hideaway is different. Not just for the sake of it, but because it was developed on the basis of a study on work of the future.

The Schafberg above Wolfgangsee lake may be «only» 1783 metres high, but its gradient of up to 26 percent and the climb of 1190 metres from lake to the summit are no mean challenge for hikers.

That only adds to the pleasure of gliding up the Schafberg in complete comfort with the Schafbergbahn railway from St. Wolfgang. The rack railway completes the ascent in 35 minutes, and you can choose be tween modern and vintage vehicles. Whichever you take, the journey is a joy and the views

Photos: Hallstatt Hideaway

The question was: what spaces are needed by people who, through team and project work, are floating in an interconnected private and professional world? These people are mobile, chang ing city or continent for their projects. Hotels are their home; airports, stations and other third places their familiar surroundings. They see planet Earth as their country and have friends all over the world. When they enter a hotel, they expect to find their way around easily and to get a strong sense of the region they are in. They make little distinction between analogue and digital, and an ultra-rapid connection to the Internet is their lifeline. They decide when to go offline. With the same assurance, they expect natural materials, clean water and pure air. They enjoy features and services from the region and value a healthy lifestyle. That is why they eat healthily, and expect not just an espresso machine and kettle in their room, but also the wherewithal for making fresh smoothies or juice. They breakfast at all hours, and sleep, work and relax to their own schedule. They are flexible and expect their hosts to be so too. A desire to create the best possible environment for people like this to relax and unwind was behind the development of the PRIVATE SUITES, which combine quiet luxury with flexibility and regional charm. Guests can slip into traditional felt slippers and take the deep

Photos: Salzburg AG

breath of someone in wel coming, familiar surroundings. They don't want endless instructions on the hotel rules and the area – or will ask themselves if they need information. The Hide away-iPad is a positive, helpful guide. Guests can explore their room from the comfort of the sofa with their feet up, virtually opening the drawers and checking how available devices work. The same applies for the private sauna with views of the lake, the hotel garden and a whole range of local destinations. Guests can choose from the huge selection on a personal, emotional level. Recommendations left by other guests are one great help, and visitors looking for something specific can chat with the service team or arrange a visit. Asian and Indian guests in particular love this concept; their everyday life is much more digitalised than that of the average European. Together, guests enjoy the peace and quiet of the high alpine countryside. They can also rent the Hideaway Alm for one or two nights to enjoy the stillness away from civilisation. «The secret Hideaway» is a «place of quiet for the true connoisseur». The Hideaway Alm can be hired with or without a cook, so nothing gets in the way of carefree relaxation. Our future will be different … and we are still alike!

www.lifestylehotels.net/hallstatt-hideaway

Ried, the pilgrimage church in St. Wolfgang and the birthplace of Mozart's mother in St. Gilgen.

that await at the striking summit are quite simply magnificent: below you glisten the crystal-clear lakes of the Salzkammergut region, the Bohemian Forest and the Alps rise up in the distance. SchafbergBahn & WolfgangseeSchifffahrt in the Salzkammergut are not the only transport providers. The Salzburger Lokalbahn railway also takes adventurous spirits from the city of Salzburg to the beautiful Flachgau district – and vintage vehicles are part of the package. Back in the Mozart's city in the evening, you can celebrate the art of good taste in the Art Hotel Blaue Gans, or relax and unwind in the idyllic garden at Hotel & Villa Auersperg, a refuge for body and soul. Or as you are right in the heart of the city, you could head out for some sightseeing in the old town. A trip on the water also brings its own romantic highlights. Perhaps we should just say that WolfgangseeSchifffahrt boats are the perfect way to enjoy the beautiful countryside around Wolfgangsee lake from just the right distance. You can stop at Falkensteinkapelle chapel in

Special events are also organised on board the elegant vessels. Who could ever break a marriage vow made on the gentle, emerald-green waves of the Wolfgangsee? WolfgangseeSchifffahrt manages all aspects of the wedding dinner from champagne reception to flower arrangements. Afterwards, you can sail off into the sunset – for example on the historic paddle steamer Kaiser Franz Josef I. Sheer romance! Then comes a wonderful night in the White Suite at Cortisen am See … And if you have discovered a love of the lakes, nearby Hallstätter See is the perfect place to indulge it – and where better than in one of the exquisite suites in the Hallstatt Hideaway. Hideaway is right: the hotel is a premium retreat with a private beach and its own traditional plätte boat, perfect for exploring this Salzkammergut gem by water.

Vintage vehicles to glide up the Schafberg …

... and then a romantic ride across the lake!

«Striking views at the summit, below the crystal-clear lakes of the Salzkammergut.»

www.schafbergbahn.at THE STYLEMATE ISSUE NO 02 | 2017

| TYROL . FISS . ALPSLODGE |

| SALZBURG . LEOGANG . PURADIES |

| TYROL . SÖLDEN . BERGLAND HOTEL |

Chilling out doesn't

Pure enjoyment Absolute A spa oasis nestled in the alpine landscape

Photos: Peter Kuehnl

Elegance and comfort in the Deluxe Suite Surrounded by 50 hectares of beautiful countryside, the premium chalets offer alpine charm with an ultra-modern flair. At the centre is the hotel complex which even has its own organic farm – this is the perfect place to treat body and soul. Rough-hewn mountain stone, cool glass and majestic oak in the PURADIES chalets, suites and bedrooms create a spectacular balance of traditional craftsmanship, absolute naturalness and up-to-date style. Enjoy sheer luxury in the private SPA suites, for example the 35 m² «Wolke 7» with its private SPA including Finnish sauna, infrared cabin, feature shower, SPA lounge, sundeck pool, tea bar and its very own terrace – complete with magnificent views of the surrounding mountains. The 14 private SPA chalets in five different categories meet your most personal accommodation needs. Visit «INNERE MITTE», the bath ing house, for 360° views, the HEAVEN SPA, 4 saunas, fea-

«A spectacular balance of traditional crafts manship, absolute naturalness and upto-date style.» www.lifestylehotels.net/puradies 8

ture showers, quiet rooms and an extensive beauty lounge. In short, a spa paradise. Separate gym and yoga rooms give you all the space and peace you need for exercise or asanas. For clarity in body and soul, visit the brand-new yoga platform above the main building at the edge of the forest. And if it gets too hot, take a refreshing plunge in the natural swimming pond. Now in the mood for some great food? Who better to take care of you than head chef André Stahl: everything from his creative organic dishes to the restaurant's international cuisine holds two GaultMillau toques. Outside, the gondola lift and mountain trails await – and don't forget to pause for a mouthwatering snack in one of the «Brotzeithütte» huts. To the north, climbers scale dizzying heights on the rock faces of the Steinberge mountains, while the blooming alpine meadows of the Grasberge in the south are the perfect setting for walks with the family. With 740 kilometres of mountain bike trails and 500 kilo metres of cycle paths in the valley to explore, this is heaven for cyclists. Of course, you can also explore with a little less effort (but no less excitement): motoring fans can borrow the PURADIES new Ducati XDiavel or Porsche Boxster Cabrio for unforgettable trips through this amazing countryside. Driving is just as good a way to enjoy the Großglockner, endless alpine passes and the Salzkammergut region.

relaxation

get any better.

Look across the sunny plateau around the alpslodge in Fiss, and get that «Yippee, the sea (!) feeling». But with a difference. It's even better – the «beach» is green. Lush. Verdant. And the breathtaking peaks of the Samnaun Alps form waves rising up around you. Immense! Add dazzling sunlight. Pure mountain air. Take a deep breath, and let it wash over you: absolute relaxation. The grounds of the Alpslodge with the Zen garden add to that feeling, and in the boutique hotel itself, authentic materials and clean, straight lines reinforce the inner warmth felt by a well-looked-after guest. The hotel garni receives you in subtly alpine, absolutely modern and playfully elegant style – and sets you up in the morning with a crisp and tasty buffet laid out around the show kitchen. After breakfast, a perfect summer's day on the sun-kissed plateau awaits.

Turbo ski circus in winter, nature in all its picturesque glory in the summer: experience both at Sölden in the Ötztal valley. Here, fast meets slow. This apparent contradiction reflects the philosophy of Bergland Hotel Sölden: «Active relaxation».

Hög adventure park – complete with a rafting course, canoeing, a water labyrinth and a cow pat trampoline! For a more sedate outing, try the new golf practice course in Fiss: enough space free of charge for 200 m tees, a chipping area and a chipping green.

bread and milk, and lamb from the hotel's own sheep.

By the way: great events run throughout the summer in Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis. Why not visit the Erlebnisnacht.Fiss evening show, the S’Fest am Brunnen or the MOUNDS family music festival. You can then head

«Yippee, the sea (!) feeling» at the Alpslodge

The Super. Summer. Card. is your ticket to the entire pla teau. It's all inclusive, and that means the cable cars too. Beautiful walking trails take you almost along the flat between great stop-off points and villages, and those who want to measure up to the majestic peaks can scale mountain after mountain over 3000 metres. Even «couch potato» motor sports enthusiasts will get moving in Fiss: visitors with motorcycle licences can hire a retro Vespa and fly through the magical alpine landscape. Car-lovers can treat themselves to a nostalgic trip in the elegant alpslodge vintage Morgan to a nearby pass. Or why not e-bike to Wolfsee lake or Erlebnispark www.lifestylehotels.net/alpslodge

THE STYLEMATE ISSUE NO 02 | 2017

back to the alpslodge for a little recreational relaxation in the Sky Relax Zone with its sauna, steam bath and open fire. Or why not «just» enjoy the magnificent sunset over the hills from the cushioned luxury of the Sky Lounge?

«Subtly alpine, absolutely modern and playfully elegant.»

Photo:Andreas Schatzl

After a tasty, healthy meal, you can set off to explore the summer beauty of the Ötztal valley, with the help of the «Ötztal Premiumcard», which is free for guests at the Bergland Hotel Sölden. The card is valid from 8 am on the day of your arrival to the last minute of your holiday, and gives you access to a huge range

Photo: Igor Socha

On the sun-kissed plateau of the Leogang mountains, over looked by the majestic Birnhorn, you will find not just a genuine paradise, but also the PURADIES.

Bergland Hotel Sölden is all about symbiosis – clear, ultra-modern style and natural materials in lively dialogue with the alpine ambiance. Or the enthusiastic hotel director and committed sheep farmer – Sigi Grüner loves and exercises both professions and shares his gifts with his guests. For example by taking them with him to his «Wollis» (sheep), a trip complete with amazing panoramic views of the Ötztal Alps from the high pastures. Amazing is also the word for the great range of features in the 1700 m² SKY SPA on the 5th floor of the fourstar superior hotel: «Beauty & Face», «Sky Spa Packages», «Body Wrapping», «Hands & Feet», «Body & Soul», Asia Sky Spa, Private Sky Spa and «Energie» signature treatments; alpine yoga and «Alpine Stones». In other words, everything the spa guest could wish for – and that the SPA specialists recommend once they have have explored your individual needs and wish es. And if all that has given you an appetite, look no further than Bergland Hotel Sölden kitchen. Enjoy great food from break fast to afternoon snacks and 6-course set evening meals. The chefs use produce from local farmers, from almkäse cheese to

Photo: Nancy-Nederkogl

of leisure activities throughout Ötztal. It includes free travel on the summer mountain railways, buses and guided walks to the most beautiful corners of the region. Also included: admission to a whole range of swimming pools, lakes, Tyrol's Aqua Dome spa resort in Längenfeld and AREA 47, and to museums. Looking for more? Sölden has 800 kilometres (!) of cycle routes and a host of mounting biking pack ages for beginners and aficionados: fly down your first run safely but slickly with the «Bike Only Down» package, or combine muscle power and kilowatts with «E-Bike and Hike». With the «Bike Short Stay», Sölden

proves its credentials as a genu ine El Dorado for mountain bike fans. These and a range of other packages cement the Ötztal valley's reputation as one of the best cycling destinations in the Alps. Bergland Hotel Sölden runs the Bike Academy Sölden and its own bike shop and bike hire. This is a real mountain biker hotspot, providing tips, a laundry service, charging points and everything else a mountain biker needs.

waterfalls large and small. After an action-packed day, what better place for a relaxing evening than the bar with open fire and lounge at Bergland Hotel Sölden. Treat yourself to a fine wine from Austria – or anywhere else in the world – selected by experienced sommelier Johannes Hochschwarzer, or stick to a Tyrol theme with a «pine cocktail». Why not enjoy a fine cigarillo or cigar in the Cigar Lounge – chilling out doesn't get better than this.

«Enthusiastic hotel director and committed sheep farmer – Sigi Grüner loves and exercises both professions.»

Those who prefer the cool deeps to the open country will love the Ötztaler Ache river. Canyoning, rafting and kayaking... endless white-water fun is guaranteed, not least with the great range of

www.lifestylehotels.net/bergland-soelden THE STYLEMATE ISSUE NO 02 | 2017

| SELECTION . FLORENTINA WELLEY |

Fashion museums

Bally Shoe Museum / Schönenwerd, Switzerland

& luxury labels Museums are now part of leading fashion brands' DNA. Museums in some of Europe's – and the world's – most beautiful places.

Text: Florentina Welley YSL / Paris

Some, such as Louis Vuitton, Prada and Furla, set up art foundations. Others build temples to haute couture or showcase their art in elegant archives. First and foremost, museums from Giorgio Armani to Zegna preserve traditions – traditions that need time. Time, today's only true luxury. Beautifully embroidered shoes from Ferragamo, sweeping evening dresses from Dior or space-age mini-dresses and miniskirts from Cardin: alongside major collections from past decades, these brands display their own fashion history. A latecomer to the scene is Chanel, whose fashion museum in Palais Galliera in the fashion capital is not set to open until spring 2019, while the Museo Gucci in Florence is – in typical Italian style – chiuso per restauro.

Museo Balenciaga / Spain

Musée Yves Saint Laurent, Marrakesh

A series of Yves Saint Laurent collections will be on display in this 450 m² exhibition space from 3 October 2017. Visitors will be able to admire over 50 haute couture models alongside sketches and photographs. Saint Laurent's historic studio in Paris is also reopening. The museum is currently being redeveloped, and will be reopened in September at the same time as the new YSL Museum in Marrakesh.

Ferragamo / Florence

www.en.venezia.net/museum-fortunyvenice.html

The museum has one of the largest shoe collections in the world. It explores both the shoe as an everyday item and all shoe-related themes such as fetishes, eroticism and status symbols. For shoes from Egyptian palm leaf sandals and Gothic crackowes to rococo high heels are also status symbols. Colours, materials and the type and height of heels are still of specific cultural significance today. The museum is a beautiful old building with star parquet flooring and Josephinism-era furniture, and visitors pass through the former production halls to access the displays of traditional cobbler's tools and other exhibits.

The exhibition «1927 The Return to Italy» focuses primarily on the visual culture of the 20th century from which Salvatore Ferragamo drew inspiration for his collections. Come and admire art by Maccari, Martini, Thayaht, Gio Ponti, Rosai, Balla and Depero interspersed with material, clothing and photographs of the time and Salvatore Ferragamo's beautifully worked shoes from the 1920s. Exhibition runs until 2 May 2018 in Museo Salvatore Ferragamo – Palazzo Spini Feroni.

Casa Zegna / Trivero, Italy

www.bally.com www.schoenenwerd.ch www.bally.eu/en/blog/design/blogbally-shoe-museum.html

Armani Silos / Milan

The YSL Museum was designed by the leading architects Studio KO in collabora tion with the Fondation Pierre Bergé – Yves Saint Laurent. Bergé believes that «the subtle, purist architectural style is a true reflection of Saint Laurent's oeuvre». Over 5000 dresses, 15,000 haute couture accessories and more than 10,000 sketches and selected objects are to be displayed in Yves Saint Laurent's impressive museum. The 4000 m² site will house cafés, bookshops and a temporary exhibition hall alongside the permanent 400 m² exhibition space. Opening in September 2017.

www.cristobalbalenciagamuseoa.com

www.jardinmajorelle.com

www.omegamuseum.com

THE STYLEMATE ISSUE NO 02 | 2017

Pierre Cardin / Paris

In May, the 92-year-old French avant-garde couturier attended in person to open his new museum in a former tie factory in Le Marais. Visitors can now admire two hundred of the most well-known haute couture models, including his famous cut-outs, turtlenecks and space age metallic mini-dresses and miniskirts from the 1960s. A selection of his elegant furniture designs, all prototypes, is also on display. www.pierrecardin.com/museum Dior / Paris

Omega / Vienna and Biel, Switzerland

On the first floor above the Omega boutique in Vienna's Graben is a gem of a watch museum, displaying historical watches and other objects from the OMEGA Museum in Biel. Discover the stories behind the most famous Omegas, and trace innovations from the introduction of coaxial escapement to master chronometer certification. Exhibits include the Speedmaster Professional (ST105.012/ST145.012) from 1966 that was later nicknamed the «Moonwatch», the 3rd generation Speedmasters (ST 105.003) from 1963/64 that were tested by NASA, the prototype for the Speedmaster X-33 that was tested in early space shuttle flights, the Speedmaster Professional Mark II from 1969 and the 2nd generation Speedmaster (CK 2998) from 1959.

www.fortuny.com/history/

www.ferragamo.com/museo/it/ita

www.fondation-pb-ysl.net

The museum in Getaria, the hometown of Balenciaga, was opened by Queen Sofía of Spain in 2011. A total of around 2000 exhibits are on display in this exhibition dedicated to the Basque couturier Cristóbal Balenciaga Eizaguirre. The collection includes around 1200 objects and outfits put together by his pupil Hubert de Givenchy, which were worn by stars such as Grace Kelly & co. «A good fashion designer should be an architect for the shape, a painter for the colour, a musician for the harmony and a philosopher for the size», Balenciaga once said of his work. Three large halls extending over four storeys with six rooms each display everything from precious dresses from the 1930s to the current collections, including the wedding dress of Queen Fabiola of Belgium. Incidentally, the logo for the Foundation Balenciaga is the work of the famous sculptor Eduardo Chillida.

1949. Fortuny's work is still on display today on the first floor. It includes models for sets, fabric patterns, oil paintings, busts, clothing and materials in the traditional pleating technique rediscovered by Mariano Fortuny y Madrazo. The art exhibition «Intuition» continues on the piano nobile until 26 November.

This 4500 m² exhibition space extends over four storeys in a former grain store in Via Bergognone. On display are around 600 outfits and 200 accessories together with individual creations from the Armani Privé collection from the 1980s to the present day. The collection is not arranged chronologically, but rather thematically by inspirations for Armani's designs: for example daywear, light, colours and exoticism. Those who are interested can browse the digital archive or book a workspace to view around 350 sketches and 1570 photographs of celebrities in Armani evening dresses and ready-towear garments. The name was chosen by the 82-year-old couturier himself. «Silos because fashion is food for the soul». www.armanisilos.com

Casa Zegna is part of the Fondazione Zegna and is open to visitors as a cultural centre and historical archive. Beside the villa stands the old woollen mill from 1930. Once the home of the Zegna Family, it now houses the fashion archive and the company history. Discover tailored suits, ready-towear collections and a wonderful sketchbook archive in Casa Zegna and visit the temporary art exhibitions in the magnificent gardens. www.fondazionezegna.org/en/casa-zegna

Palazzo Fortuny / Venice

The artist and couturier Mariano Fortuny, most famous for his beautiful woven brocades, jacquard and pleated fabrics, lived in the Venetian palazzo until his death in

The Granville museum was set up in 1987 for the exhibition «Christian Dior, l’autre lui-même» in the Musée d’Art Moderne Richard Anacréon in Granville. Since 1997, there have been permanent exhibitions in honour of Dior's collections. The beautiful rose garden created by the designer's mother at his childhood home, the Villa Les Rhumbs, is also well worth a visit. The current exhibition «Aux sources de la légende» is dedicated to the 70th anniversary of the fashion label and includes a wide range of haute couture models from different seasons. It runs until 24 September. www.musee-dior-granville.com, www.museechristiandior.fr

THE STYLEMATE ISSUE NO 02 | 2017

Photos: www.cristobalbalenciagamuseoa.com, www.jardinmajorelle.com, www.fondation-pb-ysl.net, www.omegamuseum.com, www.bally.com, www.armanisilos.com, www.ferragamo.com, www.fondazionezegna.org, www.fortuny.com, www.pierrecardin.com, www.musee-dior-granville.com,

| SELECTION . FLORENTINA WELLEY |

| TUSCANY . CAMAIORE . LOCANDA AL COLLE |

| ITALY . TUSCANY . RELAX AND ENJOY |

The many faces

A country house

for bon vivants

of Tuscany

Travel Tuscany and experience nature in all its diversity: sea breeze, mountain air and the scent of pines; brunello, olio extra vergine and bruschetta. And even more so in terms of culture, you couldn't ask for more. na's town centre is almost fully pedestrianised, and is the perfect place for a stroll and windowshop, then there's the Biblioteca Piccolomini, the majestic sloping piazza del campo …

Photos: Shutterstock

A cultural city break, a seaside holiday complete with sandy beaches or a week exploring the hills on foot or by bicycle? Travellers in Tuscany don't need to choose, for this central Italian version of

«Visiting Tuscany you don´t need to choose between a city tour with cultural program, bath ing fun on the sandy beach or a mountain week.»

paradise has all conceivable holiday options in just one region. Just a few minutes from the fashionable beaches of northern Tuscany's Versilia and their popular promenades, and you're at the foot of the Apuan Alps ready to scale the peaks. In the evening, mountaineers are best heading for the Locanda al colle Guest House. Nestled in an olive grove, this hotel is the perfect place for a well-deserved rest in a private atmosphere. The next morning, it's back on with the hiking boots to explore the region that gives us Chianti. Take in a local wine-tasting session before continuing on to Florence, where you can delve into the long-gone world of the Medici. Artists including Michelangelo, Giotto and Botticelli all produced important works in Florence – and not just the world-famous Adonis named

www.lifestylehotels.net/home-hotel-florence 12

David. Discover the very best of Florence on a walk from the Cathedral to Santa Croce Church, the Palazzo Pitti and the Uffizi. At the heart of the city, just 50 steps from the River Arno, weary tourists can spend the night in a quite exceptional house: the H otel Home Florence. The flair of the original palace can still be felt today in the spa cious bedrooms, magnificent in white and gold. Spectacular views of Florence are to be had from the roof terrace. The Middle Ages, marble and Manhattan Florence is by no means the only Tuscan city well worth a visit. Discover Lucca with its Puccini Museum, and Pisa with its cathedral of Carrara marble including the world-famous leaning campanile on the equally fascinating «Piazza dei Miracoli», as the locals call the Piazza del Duomo. Another urban gem is Siena. Sie-

The art nouveau buildings of the spa town of Viareggio on the northern Tuscan Versilia, Fie sole above Florence with its Etruscan and Roman archaeological sites, and the town of towers, San Gimignano or the «Mediaeval Manhattan», all make a holiday in Tuscany simply unforgettable. A must-see is the typical Tuscan postcard image: five kilometres of cypress-lined avenue from the Via Aurelia to the centre of the village of Bolgheri. If you then need to rest your weary eyes and feet, you can find ultimate relaxation in the Maremma in southern Tuscany. Saturnia, not far from Manciano, is the source of the healing springs that run over the white cliffs in the Cascate del Mulino – every second, Mother Nature produces 800 litres of sulphurous water at a lovely 37 degrees. One dip in these springs and you will feel as good as new. Back on dry land, why not explore the amazingly di verse countryside of Maremma Natural Park on the Tyrrhenian coast to the south of Grosseto. This includes a magical coastline, part cliff and part sandy beach with wonderful pine woods, and the neighbouring marsh area of Trappola. Above it all rise the Uccellina mountains with their extensive network of streams, where hikers can venture up to 417 metres for romantic sea views. Mountain bike and canoe trips to the mouth of the Ombrone are the perfect way to experience the Tuscan landscape up close – and with a dash of adventure.

www.lifestylehotels.net/conti-di-san-bonifacio-wine-resort THE STYLEMATE ISSUE NO 02 | 2017

Wine, oil and vegetables

Dive, ride and bargain-hunt

At the heart of the Maremma, why not stop for a break on one of the hills in the Conti di San Bonifacio Wine Resort, soak in the views and enjoy the hospitality of the Conte and Contessa Manfredo. In their Maremmana Restaurant, they use local ingredients, traditional recipes and some secret innovations of their own to produce absolute culinary delights. Dishes are pre pared with home-pressed olio d'oliva extra vergine and accompanied by organic wine from their own vineyard.

Of course, you don't need to eat fish, you can also watch them in the water on a great diving trip. Explore underwater along the Tuscan coast with its shipwrecks and coral reefs, around the island of Elba and perhaps even the former prison island of Pianosa, where the «prisoners» rewarded for good conduct are «serving» the rest of their sentence in an idyllic landscape – which even includes running their own restaurant.

To prolong the treat, you can spend the night in one of the seven exclusive bedrooms furnished in traditional Tuscan style, and enjoy a lavish evening meal. Forget «pizza and pasta», Tuscan cuisine features seasonal vegetables, unsalted bread and pulses. Guests are served peppers, tomatoes, aubergines and onions ripened outside in the sunshine, together with traditional varieties of beans: everything from delicate cowpeas, zolfini from the Pratomagno and thinskinned white coco nano to filling fire tongue beans … best slow-cooked overnight in a clay pot with a little olive oil and no salt. Meat and fish are more like the side dishes in traditional Tuscan cuisine.

Through enchanted oak forests, along trails that only the locals know, to breathtaking view points, you can also explore Tuscany on horseback. Ride out in the early morning when you can just make out the deer and boars through the morning mists, or take a sunset ride when the hills are bathed in soft reddish light. Or would you prefer a cultural event in the evening? From open-air Puccini operas to jazz festivals and theatre performances in old palaces, the choice is unlimited. Those wanting to take a little piece of Tuscan culture home with them should head for one of the many antiques markets. With a bit of luck, you could acquire some real treasures. The most famous antiques market is held once a month in Arezzo. And if you don't find what you are looking for, why not just relax with a caffè on the Piazza Grande …

Between a garden and olive grove on a sunny hill just outside Camaiore nestles the Locanda al colle hotel: a very special retreat for the bon vivant. Garden terraces are a peaceful retreat

Photo: Ken Bound

Blooming garden terraces with views of the sea, a house full of art, a heated salt-water outdoor pool … the art of the bon vivant could have been invented in the Locanda al colle Guest House. The three-storey former farmhouse has just twelve beautifully furnished bedrooms and suites, all offering genuine traditional charm and all possible creature comforts. Incredible views of the northern Tuscan Versilia are to be had from this great hillside location, and guests at the Locanda have a private pavilion (one per room) at the Beach Club Bagno Cavallone just a ten-minute drive away. Those who prefer a salt-water dip on their doorstep and away from the busy coast can use the guest house's own pool, which is heated to a pleasant 30 degrees from April to the end of October. For a more intimate bathing experience, why not head for the new Jacuzzi in the heart of the Locanda al colle olive grove, also with magnificent panoramic views and with the scent of lavender, rosemary and sage in the air. A feast for the senses

Photo: Shutterstock

Visitors to the Locanda al colle are the personal guests of proprietor Riccardo Barsottelli. You can pop into the kitchen to make your own caffè, and look over the shoulder of the head chef as he conjures up culinary creations inspired by the region. Each floor has a living room furnished with the same elegan-

ce and character as the bed rooms – Mr Barsottelli is a passionate collector of old and new designer furniture. The only thing you will not find here is a television, but surely it won't be missed, for a stay at the Locanda is in itself an amazing sensory experience. That expe rience starts with the aroma – and flavour! – of breakfast pastries freshly prepared in the hotel, and continues with the gentle music of the wind in the trees providing welcome shade. Then comes the visual treat of Barsottelli's collector items. The Locanda is the perfect start ing point for trips to the marble quarries of Carrara, to the picturesque coastal town of Lerici, once the home of Lord Byron, or to Puccini's birthplace of Lucca. Even the mediaeval pilgrim route, the Via Francigena from France to Rome, runs right past the guest house. You don't have to go all the way to Rome, of course, but can take a fascinating walk along the trail before returning to relax and unwind in the Locanda al colle.

«The former farmhouse offers traditional charm and all possible creature comforts.»

www.lifestylehotels.net/locanda-al-colle-toskana THE STYLEMATE ISSUE NO 02 | 2017

| SUSANNE POSEGGA . LANDSCAPE |

Fire, water, earth and magicians The Canary Island of Lanzarote is a work of art, created by man and nature in perfect harmony.

Photos: Susanne Posegga

Susanne Posegga is German. The qualified national park ranger lives in Upper Austria and Bavaria and works as an artist, hiking guide and outdoor education teacher.

The black volcanic island with its white villages attracts over two million tourists each year, «quite rightly», believes photographer Susanne Posegga. «Magos» = magicians is what the locals admiringly call the farmers here. The farmers have largely shaped the island as it is today: they are the ones who conjure fruit and vegetables from this barren earth, designing their fields with all the care of sculptors. Dry farming techniques have been developed over the centuries that make it possible to use dew collected in hollows of porous volcanic rock to irrigate vines. Some fields are a mode-scale reproduction of the surrounding rolling hills. Rain and ground water are largely absent from this Atlantic island that lies at the same latitude as the Sahara. With the exception of a few architectural eyesores, the entire island looks like a land art project designed with immense care: the straight lines of the disused Salinas de Janubio form a sharp contrast with the organic landscape; the cubic white houses, almost Moorish in style, shine in the desert of red and black stone, and even Lanzarote's roads seem to nestle into the surrounding countryside. This is an almost surreal dreamscape, and an Eden for photographers.

THE STYLEMATE ISSUE NO 02 | 2017

| THE BALEARIC ISLANDS. MALLORCA. AN ISLAND DREAM | | MALLORCA . PALMA DE MALLORCA . HOTEL TRES |

Bon dia,

A touch of north in the south

550 kilometres of coastline runs around this fascinating Balearic Island, which has been inhabited for millennia. Mallorca has changed hands many times in its history and now combines the best of a whole range of different cultures.

Guests at Hotel Tres will find peace and quiet in the heart of the labyrinth of streets in Palma's old town, and a touch of Norwegian flair in southern realms. The view from the roof terrace is always magical.

Photo: Shutterstock/Charoenkrung.Studio99

Photo: Fernando Bosch Alorda

warm as 24 degrees, and even the winters are mild. One reason behind the island's beautiful gardens. Tasting island history

The lighthouse at Cap de Formentor, the most northerly point of the island

Bon dia is how the Mallorcans greet each other in Catalan: the island is not just 170 kilometres from the Spain mainland, it also has its own strong iden tity. Most of the c. 875,000 inhabitants, around half of whom live in Palma, are Catalan. Around one fifth are emigrants from abroad – and small wonder, with this landscape and this climate. Some come seeking – and find – a natural paradise. Discover hidden coves such as the Cala Sa Nau on the azure Mediter ranean; the picturesque countryside of the Tramuntana mountains; wonderful views of the sea at the island's northernmost point, the Cap de Formentor, and Europe's largest underground lake, the Lago Martel in the Cuevas del Drach at Porto Cristo. Others love the temperature subtropical Mediterranean climate. In early February at the latest while the last snow is still falling elsewhere, the buds on the almond trees here are already opening and decking out the island in pink and white blossom. In the summer, you can swim in seawater as

Holidaymakers can trace the history of the many different peoples who have settled and shaped the island. The cave of Sa Cometa holds a prehistoric place of worship; the Romans built settlements that were the precursors of the towns of Palma and Alcúdia, and they also gave the island its name: «Balearis Maior». Few build ings remain from the Moor era, but some can still be seen in the district of Sa Portella in Palma. The Knights Templar were gifted the island by the king as a reward for their loyal service. They then sold on the land, mainly to Catalans from the Spanish mainland, whose de scendants live here today. One building dating from the time of the Templars is the Gothic cathedral of La Seu, which can hold 10,000 worshippers. Alongside Almudaina Palace, the circular Castell de Bellver and a number of art nouveau structures, it is one of the capital's most impressive sights. A great and relaxing way to explore the island's chequered history is with your taste buds: the Romans brought wine, the Moors rice, almonds and oranges, and the Arabs saffron, cumin and cinnamon. For a taste of typical Mallorca, try the vegetable casserole tumbet.

«A great and relaxing way to explore the island's chequered history is with your taste buds ...» www.infomallorca.net 16

«Of course the special, the unusual, is fascinating and exciting. However, you can overdo it – and not just with names.»

Have you always wanted to live like the Spanish king? Now you can (or very nearly). Almudaina Palace in Palma de Mallorca may have been the exclusive preserve of the royal family as its summer residence since the 14th century, but not far away is another 16th-century palace that is now also open to non-aristocratic holidaymakers: Hotel Tres. The hotel is surely the most charming possible proof that opposites can live together in harmony. Even the building itself is shaped by contrasts, combining as it does the original palace and a build ing from the 1950s. Glass staircases unite the two in a fragile union. Alongside the structural and material aspect, the very heart of the hotel combines two opposites: the Norwegian lifestyle of director Svenn Rudow and the Mallorcan savoir-vivre of the rest of the team. North Sea shrimps are served with fresh regional vegetables on slices of white bread – testimony to how easy cultural coexistence can be if you believe in it. At the beating heart of the city The design hotel is so close to the centre of Palma de Mallorca that guests need only take a few steps outside the door to feel the beating heart of this city in the bars, restaurants and shops. Even the beach is just a 15-minute walk away. Yet

on the hotel patio, in the shade of a palm tree over one hundred years old, beside the gently bubbling fountain, silence dominates. Escape the heat haze outside for the pleasantly cool atmosphere in the hotel. The bedrooms and suites are in simple white, with beautiful marbled stone floors – and, of course, air conditioning. One special feature of the hotel is the movable tables the width of the bed, perfect for every thing from breakfasting to a round of chess without leaving the king-size mattress. After all, you are on holiday. How ever, even guests who want quiet will be tempted out by the evening at the very least when the air has cooled a little: it would be a definite tourist faux pas to miss the view from the roof terrace. You will never tire of the façade of La Seu Cathedral glowing red in the setting sun, the gentle surf and the Serra de Tramuntana to the north-west of the city. With a cocktail in hand and your feet in the roof terrace pool, surely you have never felt this close to heaven.

«Hotel Tres is surely the most charming possible proof that opposites can live together in harmony.»

Schwanhilde and cheese sandwiches The special need not be the most unusual. Text: Franzobel I have a great respect for inventive people. Inventions do not just mean letters, numbers and the wheel, but also alcohol, the coffee maker and the smartphone. Soon there will be quantum computers, driverless cars, self-regenerating organs and implantable knowledge, and completely new dietary and living concepts. But is all that necessarily a good thing? As an unknown young artist, I attempted to put my supposed brilliance on ostentatious display: by dying my hair and wearing weird and wonderful clothes and flashy jewellery. Now that I am almost world-famous in Austria, I try to blend in as much as possible. The same is true for many artists: the attention seekers sporting loud caps or bird's-nest hairstyles have usually yet to be discovered; those who have made it often look like hedge fund managers or headteachers. But does that not apply to all professions? Today, there are no givens: billionaires dress like storekeepers or forestry students, while bank clerks, lawyers and teachers can favour the most original style. You could take a supermarket cashier for the lead singer of a punk band, and not a few nursery teachers for Hollywood starlets. Each person is special, and different from everyone else, and everyone should have the right to look the way they want to. Problems do not arise until that desire for the unusual is immortalised in your children's names. I recently heard a mother at children's play park call «Schwanhilde, you mucky pig, get over here now!» The chubby-cheeked girl playing in the sandpit did not respond.

more common foods on offer. This trend is spreading to Europe: soon, specialist restaurants will be serving deep-fried nightingale tongues, raw duck embryos or drinks with whale milk.

Photo: Lukas Beck / Paul Zsolnay Verlag

Mallorca!

Photo: Shutterstock

| ESSAY |

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. He recently published his great historical adventure novel «Das Floß der Medusa» [The Raft of the Medusa]. Of course the special, the unusual, is fascinating and exciting. However, you can overdo it – and not just with names. In Japan, for example, trying particularly weird dishes is now trendy. Wasp crackers, deep-fried bee larvae, fish guts fermented in their own juice and octopus ice cream are among the

Everyone is searching for the special, the unusual: for kicks. Everything is getting crazier and more extreme. Ninety-year-olds climbing Mount Everest, teenagers sailing the Atlantic – soon, we will all be expected to run marathons. In their obsessive search for originality, some architects are completely forgetting comfort. They install transparent shower cabinets in the middle of bedrooms, or toilets on the balcony. As I said, it is always exciting so see someone try to break with convention and come up with some thing new. That is how Copernicus left the Middle Ages behind, and what boots up the personal computers of the modern era, but we can overdo the quest for the original. Sometimes, it is the familiar that has ge nuine charm – just as genuinely successful people do not need to demonstrate who they are. There are times when I just want a dish of Austrian lentils with dumplings (probably highly exotic to the Japanese), sausages with «Gulaschsaft» sauce or cheese sandwiches. Sometimes, all you need is the simple, honest and authentic. The special need not be the most unusual. In our era of rationalised mass production, everything that is produced with love and passion, with care and enthusiasm, is spe cial. We must be able to value the genuinely simple if we are to enjoy the unusual. Then, the unusual can of course be a little crazy – it can even be called Schwanhilde.

www.www.lifestylehotels.net/hotel-tres THE STYLEMATE ISSUE NO 02 | 2017

THE STYLEMATE ISSUE NO 02 | 2017

| MADEIRA . PORTUGAL |

Eternal spring Madeira is «Europe's Leading Island Destination». This World Travel Award is not the only reason to find this island fascinating. even become the symbol of the island's flora. In fact, you don't need to visit public botanic gardens to enter this wonderful world of flowers. The Scot William Reid, who – like so many others – was drawn to Madeira for its mild climate, started work on an impressive luxury hotel named Reid’s Palace in 1887. The hotel is still there, and has over 40 hectares of subtropical parkland. Guests who once resided here include the Austrian Empress Elisabeth («Sissi»), who came to Madeira for health reasons. She will certainly have taken afternoon tea here, a tradition still upheld today in a hotel with British roots. But it doesn't have to be Reid’s Palace: the Quinta de la Bela Vista («quinta» means

Photos: Conclusio

The pride of Madeira is of course Cristiano Ronaldo, particularly when the Madeiraborn footballer wins the Champions League with Real Madrid – even if he rarely r eturns to the island of his birth. The «Pride of Madeira» is also the name of one of the island's most widespread plants, which in English and German has the rather less attractive-sounding names of «viper’s bugloss» and «Natternkopf». In the USA, the plant of which Madeira is so proud is considered invasive and therefore as harmful to the environment. But then opinions differ even on the subject of international footballer Ronaldo. The island of Madeira is certainly better suited to plants than to football, not least because the Madeiran clubs, who have limited success

«To enjoy this mountain experience, you must be prepared to brave steep and narrow mountain roads.»

in the Portuguese lea gue, have a 1000-kilometre flight before each away game on the mainland. That is namely the distance from Lisbon; Marrakech would be a The Quinta de la Bela Vista Hotel lies in the centre little closer. Thanks to of a lovingly tended subtropical park. its eternal spring, how ever, Madeira more than vineyard or estate) high above Funchal is a deserves its byname «Island of Flowers»: small but exclusive hotel complex. It is also average temperatures do not fall below 13 desituated in a park that could equally be grees Celsius even in January nights, and in described as a botanical garden. the hottest months of the year, it is no more than 26 degrees. Extensive gardens Visitors will discover the rich diversity of Madeiran plant life in all its glory in the Jardim Botanico in Funchal. Although «Madeiran» is relative: most of what grows in this extensive park is in fact rather exotic. However, the ever-mild climate means that palms, tropical fruits and orchids all flourish here without greenhouses. The strelitzia, which is actually native to South Africa, has

The summits rise out of the clouds that often lie over the Madeiran coastline, and they offer breathtaking views of the coast, the sea and the sky – in the foreground rugged cliffs, dense pine forests and the fields of gorse that bathe broad expanses of land in an intense yellow. In other words, eternal spring. The same is true for the mountains. And you can take that spring with you. On the first floor of Funchal's large market hall, you can choose from a dizzying selection of flowers, bulbs, tubers and seeds. There's just one problem: not many will survive the winter outside in more northerly regions. You might therefore be better buying some candied hibiscus flow

ers, or sampling there and then some of the many tropical fruits (including a wide range of banana varieties) that grow on the island. Deep water Bananas feature in the island's modern natio nal dish, espada con banana. The main ingredient, black scabbardfish, is also on sale in the market hall. Caught at a depth of one kilometres, this creature from the deep is one and a half metres long with a snake-like body and frighteningly sharp teeth. Not easy on the eye, but definitely on the taste buds. Only its skin is black, and that only on the surface of the water – but you won't see either teeth or skin in the island's restaurants, nearly all of which feature espada on the menu.

da» is skewered meat. Eating sea creatures instead of beef used to be a custom borne of necessity. Until the tourists arrived, first by boat and then by plane. For a few months now, they have been landing at an airport named after the pride of Madeira, the «Aeroporto Cristiano Ronaldo».

Funchal's fish market sells the famous black scabbardfish.

Real Madeirans actu ally prefer espetada to espada. Like on many islands – above all in the Mediterranean – the traditional food tends to be heavy meat dishes. «Espeta-

Bathing in Madeira often means taking the lift.

High mountains Almost everything on Madeira is high. Some hotels right on the coast have their own lifts so that guests can travel comfortably down to sea level. The healthy – but not quite so comfortable – alternative is stairs.

«Visitors will discover the rich diversity of Madeiran plant life in all its glory in the Jardim Botanico in Funchal.»

The three highest mountains on the island are something over 1800 metres. That may not sound that dramatic, but as they rise straight up from the sea, they could not be

www.lifestylehotels.net/quinta-da-bela-vista 18

more impressive. Only the third-highest, the Pico do Arieiro, can be reached by road, and that may be because it is the site of a huge radar station. To enjoy this mountain experience, you must be prepared to brave the steep and narrow mountain roads – or you can opt for the local buses and taxis that take crowds of visitors up the hillside every day. From there on, the even higher peaks of Pico Ruivo and Pico das Torres can only be ac cessed on foot. The paths are good, but even practised mountaineers will need two to three hours one way for tracks that lead you through tunnels and up steps cut into the rock.

www.visitmadeira.pt THE STYLEMATE ISSUE NO 02 | 2017

THE STYLEMATE ISSUE NO 02 | 2017

| SOUTH TYROL . INNICHEN . POST HOTEL |

| SPECIALS |

Geinberg5 Private SPA Villas | Geinberg

Photo: Andreas Schatzl

+43-7723-8501-5555 | office@geinberg5.com | www.geinberg5.com A paradise for two – time stands still. This is summer in Geinberg5.  SPA Suite with a steam shower, Finnish sauna, free-standing bathtub,

open fire and thermal water whirlpool on the terrace  Private bathing platform and bathing cove with access to the 3000 m²

natural swimming pond  Excellent à la carte breakfast until 18:00 in the award-winning AQARIUM restaurant  Room service and private butler service  Individual relaxation in the Private SPA with indoor and outdoor pool  Access to the «Orientalische Erlebniswelt» facility with hammam  Access to the «World of Wellness» for the entire Therme Geinberg SPA Resort

From € 315 per person per night incl. á la carte breakfast

Alpin Juwel | Saalbach Hinterglemm

Time for two

in Innichen The Post Hotel in the heart of the village of Innichen in the mountains of southern Tyrol was once a cosy little guest house. Now, it is a magnet for guests seeking top quality, undisturbed quiet and absolute joie de vivre – in other words it's «adults only». «Finally, just you and your favourite person» is the motto of the hotel designed specifically for couples and single visitors.

rs e b em

Photo: Gerhard Wolkersdorfer

«I love children! After all, I am a mother myself. But that's why I know just how good it can be to travel without your little treasures sometimes. To be on your own with your partner or best friends,» says Wilma Wachtler, explaining the hotel philosophy.

+43 (0) 6541 / 7226 | info@alpinjuwel.at | www.alpinjuwel.at In a dream panorama, enjoy genuine Salzburg hospitality at all seasons in the four-star Hotel Alpin Juwel. A cosy and welcoming ambiance with natural materials and power sleeping rooms, and very special traditional Austrian cuisine. The unique exercise, yoga, meditation and spa programmes make for an unforgettable holiday.  3/4/7/10/14 nights incl. gourmet half-board  € 25 AJ-Veda Kraft spa voucher  Joker card for unlimited travel on all mountain railways and much more  Free Nordic walking/climbing pole and rucksack hire  Free sports, hiking, spa & gourmet programme  Day's swimming with barbecue at the new AJ beach in Zell am See (Wednesday)

From € 260 per person for 3 nights

Photo: Hotel des Balances

Hotel des Balances | Lucerne

m w e n

Photos: Hannes Niederkofler

The Post Hotel Innichen has been family-run since 1926. Whether guests are simply after peace on their own or a quiet romantic break, the Post Hotel has the ideal ambiance: a perfect combination of modern lifestyle and charming South Tyrol tradition defines the bedrooms, suites, restaurant and spa.

Sit back and enjoy yourself at the Post Hotel Innichen

+41 41 418 28 28 | info@balances.ch | www.balances.ch The Hotel des Balances is situated right on the Reuss river in Lucerne’s old town, and offers top quality in all areas. Enjoy the peace and quiet in the stylish modern bedrooms, and creative cuisine in the excellent restaurant with lounge, bar and terrace right at the river – with 14 Gault Millau points, culinary excellence is guaranteed. Its prime location makes this design hotel the ideal base for shopping and sightseeing in the charming old town with its historical houses.  Night in the selected room category with seating area, desk,

minibar and all communication facilities  Includes breakfast buffet

From CHF 142 per person per night in a double room Photo: Hotel Matterhorn Focus

Hotel Matterhorn Focus | Zermatt +41 27 966 24 24 | info@matterhorn-focus.ch | www.matterhorn-focus.ch Situated right at the valley station for the «Matterhorn glacier paradise» cable car, and with magnificent views of the Matterhorn, this hotel is famous for its design and very personal service as well as its great location. Enjoy the clear, fresh mountain air of Zermatt, beautiful walks and challenging mountain bike trails.  2 nights in a design double room including welcome drink  Breakfast buffet and afternoon snack  Relax in the SPA with indoor pool, outdoor Jacuzzi, sauna and steam bath  Small gift upon departure

From CHF 230 per person for 2 nights

A magnet for guests seeking top quality, undisturbed quiet and absolute joie de vivre

– in the restaurant or in your room ... If you like the out-of-doors, why not take a look at the Summer Activity 2017 programme. It A perfect combination of modern lifestyle and changes each day charming South Tyrol tradition and every week – walks to the source of the River The motto of the trendy P-LounDrau, excursions to alpine daige – Celebrating Life – also fits ries, water therapy and relaxatiperfectly, for the Post Hotel is on training in the forest are just dedicated to just such a celebrasome of the highlights on offer. tion for its adult guests. A celeThe legendary Tre Cime di Lave bration that includes a stylish rado are more or less on your pool, sauna, steam bath, beauty doorstep; it's up to you whether line and spa packages from Ayyou admire them from a distance urveda treatments to massages on a hike around the lower from around the world. Enjoy! slopes, or make a brave beeline And on the subject of enjoyfor the summit. The beautiful ment, not only do the culinary South Tyrolean countryside can artists at the Post Hotel restaualso be explored at top speed, rant specialise in regional delieven with your «topless» – that cacies, but candlelight dinners is, with the Cabrio roof down … can also be arranged on request

For a more ecological option, take a stroll through Innichen's picturesque pedestrian zone, which is one of the prettiest in the whole of the Puster Valley. Shop for regional delicacies and international brands to your heart's content. In the evening, the P-Lounge is the ideal place for a cocktail, an inspiring long drink or a glass of good wine – or would you rather chill out in the smokers' lounge with an excellent cigar and a top-quality cognac? Or both?

«I love children! After all, I am a mother myself. But that's why I know just how good it can be to travel without your little treasures sometimes.» Wilma Wachtler

www.www.lifestylehotels.net/post-hotel-innichen 20

THE STYLEMATE ISSUE NO 02 | 2017

| TYROL . ZILLERTAL . ELISABETHHOTEL |

| ITALY . LIDO DI VENEZIA . VILLA PANNONIA |

Exclusive moments for two

Leave the daily grind behind and find peace and relaxation. The ElisabethHotel is the perfect retreat for both couples and single travellers; for all those in search of undisturbed quiet in a magnificent mountain landscape.

absolute privacy, add a great range of leisure activities: hike, climb, paraglide, raft, swim in the mountain lakes and explore the many 300 m-plus peaks on any of the total of 800 km of mountain bike trails. The choice is huge. And if you can't wait for the first snow, simply head up to Hintertux glacier, where you can ski all year round. The 18-hole golf course in Uderns just 20 minutes from Mayrhofen also offers special rates for guests of the ElisabethHotel.

Photo: Cathrine Stukhard Photo: Ulrich Steinlechner

Bright, confidently stylish, with straight lines and modern design, the four-star superior hotel is located in the centre of the popular holiday resort of Mayrhofen. The exclusive hotel has recently been redeveloped and now has a modern extension and an adults-only alpine spa facility with services and features tail ored to its users. For an even more relaxed holiday. Alongside the great design, guests value the host family's strong connection with their home region – a connection that is tangible as soon as you walk in the door. Natural materials such as wood, stone and natural fabrics are used throughout the hotel and in the simply designed bedrooms and suites. Experience real Tyrolean tradition in the six

authentic «Stuben» in the restaurant area. Traditional Austrian dishes and a selection of creations from around the world are served. The sommelier will recommend the right wine from the wine gallery, which is a genuine treasure trove. Find peace and relaxation in the Elisense Spa. Clear design and architecture combine in this almost archaically-styled 1400 m² space. The result is a simply unique scenario with indoor

pool, whirlpool, saunas, elegant indoor and outdoor quiet areas, a cardio gym and a relaxation lounge with an open fire and a library. As well as classic spa treatments including soothing massages and body treatments, the ElisabethHotel has also developed a holistic health programme in collaboration with the renowned Sportclinic Zillertal. To great food and drink, great spa facilities and

Photo: Cathrine Stukhard

www.lifestylehotels.net/elisabethhotel-mayrhofen 22

new

idyll on the Lido Eleven kilometres of sandy beach, a great golfing tradition and a boat connection to Venice almost at the front door: visit the boutique hotel Villa Pannonia for a natural idyll, wonderful art and a city break all in one.

The Villa Pannonia was built in the early 20th century as the summer residence of eastern European nobility. This explains the unusual name: «Pannonia» sounds more like western Hungary rather than the gates of Venice. From the outside, the Villa is a masterpiece of traditional Venetian architecture with a façade in classic red and rows of arched windows framed in white. The interiors, on the other hand, offer modern elegance. They are the work of leading designers and often minimalist in style – take for example the suite in wenge wood and white leather. The Villa Pannonia combines selected items of furniture with a wonderful range of modern artworks. These are not just on show in the 30 individually designed bedrooms and suites, for the hotel has its very own exhibition space where guests can admire temporary exhibitions by Venetians artists including Gianmaria Potenza, Giuseppe Vio and Elena Kubai in an intimate atmosphere. Il giardino Come rain or shine, a day at the Villa Pannonia starts with break fast in the heart of the historical garden. You can enjoy your caffè, frutti freschi and a cornetto in the green oasis itself, or admire the greenery from the breakfast room. Anything is possible after a great breakfast: yearning for sun and sea? Simply head for the nearby beach. The Lido has eleven kilometres of sand, warm sea and gentle waves. This is the perfect place for long beach walks, collecting shells or simply relaxing in the shelter of a sunshade and soaking in the sounds of the sea. For a little more activity, visit Circolo Golf Venezia golf

Photos: Villa Pannonia

club. It is one of the oldest in Italy, opening in 1930, and extended to 18 holes in the early 1950s. The diverse countryside between the Adriatic Sea and the Lagoon has

everything from sand dunes to fresh forest air under the pines. Both the architecture of the place itself and the bora and sirocco winds can be a challenge here. Create your own slipstream and hire a bike from Hotel Villa Pannonia to discover Malamocco and Alberoni and explore the whole of the Lido di Pellestrina.

their art scenes in pavilions in the giardini in the east of the island and in the Arsenal. It is impossible to explore the entire Biennale, but the very diversity of artwork on display means you can choose just what suits you.

La città

Il riposo

Guests who want to explore the centre of Venice can take the ten-minute trip by water taxi; the landing place is just 300 metres from the hotel entrance. The Doge's Palace, the campanile, the Basilica San Marco … You feel as if you are back in a long-gone era – especially if you travel by gondola.

The Villa Pannonia is a cosy, air-conditioned retreat to think and reflect on what you have experienced on your return from the bustling city. Why not take a seat at the fine wood desk in the bedroom, and put pen to paper to share your excitement with those at home? Or seek out one of the comfy seats in the garden or small library to relax and daydream. You could also revisit the hotel exhibition to examine the paintings and sculptures with new and wiser eyes at the end of the day.

You can also discover the modern face of Venice at the 57th Biennale «Viva Arte Viva» from 13 May to 26 November. This year's edition will be exploring new areas from the minds of artists to spirituality, with a special section on colours and on time and infinity. From concept art and black-andwhite photography to one-minute sculpture, eighty-six different countries will be showcasing

The façade is classic Venetian …

… the interiors modern and minimalist

«The Villa Pannonia is a cosy, air-conditioned retreat on your return from the bustling city.»

«Experience real Tyrol ean tradition in the six authentic Stuben in the restaurant area.»

Modern design, light, straight, high quality and stylish

Art and a garden

rs e b em

www.lifestylehotels.net/hotel-villa-pannonia THE STYLEMATE ISSUE NO 02 | 2017

THE STYLEMATE ISSUE NO 02 | 2017

| SALZBURG . HOCHKÖNIG REGION |

| YOGA . ONLINE COURSES . YOGAEASY.DE |

In harmony

Pocket yoga

with nature

On a beach in the Mediterranean, in the Alps or in the heart of the city; for a minute or an hour: all subscribers to the online yoga portal YogaEasy need is their mat.

such as Patricia Thielemann, Anna Trökes, Wanda Badwal, Dr. Patrick Broome, Valentin Alex and Nicole Bogartz. YogaEasy works with more than 50 yoga teachers. They share their extensive expertise with YogaEasy members who can find peace, re-energise, strengthen

Free access to the YogaEasy portal for 2 weeks at www.yogaeasy.de/ lifestylehotels17

Photos: Christopher Kesting

Yoga on the beach – when I want and for just as long as I can? Yes, in two different ways for members of Germany's first and leading yoga online portal: you transform your living room into a yoga studio and practise with video sessions filmed in a romantic seaside setting, or you literally unroll your mat on the beach – and have the session you're looking for available offline with your yogaeasy.de app. YogaEasy means yoga whenever and wherever you want, on your computer, iPhone or iPad. The app has also been available for Android since June. The best yoga teachers from the German-speaking world explain the

exercises and provide a detailed commentary on movements. Over 600 yoga sessions are available from a range of different disciplines: Vinyasa Flow, Anusara, Yin Yoga, and also Pilates … and not just on the beach, but also in the park, in the jungle or in an indoor setting that simply radiates tranquil lity.

Swap the speed of the pistes in winter for summer joie de vivre in harmony with nature. Enjoy the ultimate summer experience in the Hochkönig region: long hikes in the clear mountain air, gathering herbs on fragrant fields of flowers and breathtaking mountain bike trips are just some of the great activities on offer in this summer with a difference ... Photos: Christian Schartner

Two weeks for free

New videos are released for subscribers each week, filmed with pre-eminent yoga experts

Namasté!

their backs or (re)discover the balance they need through yoga. The portal caters for everyone from absolute beginners to experienced yogis and yoginis.

YogaEasy has a very special offer for all readers of the STYLE MATE magazine: free access to the YogaEasy portal for two weeks; book at www.yogaeasy. de/lifestylehotels17. The offer is absolutely non-binding: subscriptions automatically expire after 14 days and do not need to be cancelled. However, once you have tried YogaEasy, you may not want to stop …

Tutorials & more

For thousands of years, this Hindu greeting has been exchanged by people who follow yoga together and through yoga awake their cosmic energy, prana. For the traditional greeting, press your hands together close to the chest to focus the energy in the heart and your consciousness on your inner self. (Prospective) yogis and yoginis will find special programmes at many of lifestyle hotels, including the Thomas Hotel in Husum at the North Sea, where proprietor Ute Schibrath is herself a yoga teacher. Klosterhof in Bavaria runs a weekly taster session for newcomers, Stadthotel brunner in Schladming organises private sessions at all levels on request, Puradies in Leogang stages fourday yoga retreats and Nesslerhof in Großarl offers yoga walks.

Each yoga session accessible to subscribers via the YogaEasy website comes with a photo and a brief description. This initial information tells you the time required, who is taking the session and details such as the level of difficulty, the discipline and how strenuous the session will be. Often, the name says is all: «Anusara für absolute Beginner» («Anusara for complete beginners»), «Guten Abend-Yoga-

www.lifestylehotels.net/yoga 24

sequenz» («Evening yoga sequence»), or «Celebrate Happiness». Explanatory tutorials are available for some individual exercises such as the «Babyschaukel im Sitzen» («Hindolasana») and the «Kamel (ustrasana)» («Camel pose»). Members can also access the «YogaMag» on the YogaEasy portal for the latest on participative programmes, recipes, articles to discuss and reflect on and up-to-theminute news from the global yoga community. YogaEasy offers great yoga with no travel time, at your chosen location and in a private setting. And it's easy to get started: simply go online and take out a subscrip tion – for a month, six months or a whole year, you decide. YogaEasy gift vouchers are also available to buy.

«New videos are released for subscribers each week.»

Experience pure joie de vivre in Maria Alm, Dienten and Mühlbach. You can hike, mountain-bike or e-bike between the peaks of the Hochkönig massif, and of course enjoy a traditional «Hüttenschmaus» feast, vegan if required. The daily grind seems a long way away. They enclose a dream panorama like a wreath. Austria´s 1st official vegan region Botanical treasures are there to be discovered by nature-lovers on «herb walks». Experienced herbalists share their knowledge of the plants' healing properties – it's not just children who can pick, marvel and learn. Food and herbal teas to strengthen you on the way are served in 13 «Kräuteralmen» herb alms. Just how important plants are to this region is reflected in its certification as the only official vegan region of Austria. The hotels,

restaurants and almhütten huts around the Hochkönig serve excellent vegetarian and vegan delicacies. Meat-eaters won't go hungry either with breakfasts, «Hüttenjause» snacks and evening meals to tickle the taste buds. Regional delicacies with meat, home-made cheese and «Almjause» sandwiches are of course also on offer, and not to be missed are the excellent regional spirits such as pine, rowanberry and gentian schnapps. The Kräuterfest herb festival on 2 July on Wastlalm celebrates all aspects of these alpine plants. With everything from a herb market, ointment-making, herbal foot reflex zone massage and the most original herb headgear you will ever see to alphorns and traditional music, this is a guaranteed delight for every vegetarian. Visitors who are good on their legs can head off along the 74 km

Königsweg hiking trail to enjoy the landscape, alpine huts and mountains peaks. The route takes you along the Hochkönig massif over the Steinernes Meer plateau and the Dienten Mountains. Hiking doesn't get better than this. You can access the full range of activities the region has to offer with the «Hochkönig-Card», available for free from the local hotels. The card gives hikers, mountain bikers and their bikes free travel on the cable car. Mountain bikers can enjoy summer in paradise up on the mountains, and at the «peak» of environmentally friendly technology: the Hochkönig region is the first in the world with e-bike charging points on the mountain past ures. E-bikers can take on the over 20 official mountain bike (MTB) and e-mountain bike (EMTB) trails knowing they can «refuel». The summer lifts will also take you up the mountains,

so you can speed downhill or take a guided tour through the beautiful al pine countryside with a bike guide. Take things gently on the Königstour: set off without your luggage, which is already waiting for you at your next stop. Flow trails are an other great highlight the region has to offer. Great fun is to be had on the «Flowtrail Natrun – Flow one» at an altitude of 285 metres, alternating between forest and meadow. The 4 km «Flowtrail Hochkönig – Dienten» offers adventure for the whole family over with an altitude difference of around 550 m. And if you can't go on, don't worry: the «bike taxi» will come and pick up you and your two-wheeler.

«The Hochkönig region is the first in the world with e-bike charging points on the mountain pastures.»

www.hochkoenig.at THE STYLEMATE ISSUE NO 02 | 2017

THE STYLEMATE ISSUE NO 02 | 2017

| THINGS |

Individual and stylish The Book 13 from the Lifestylehotels Collection features 85 exceptional hotels (including 13 new ones) in 11 different countries. As it assures us, «They are the treasures among hotels. Each is unique, rare and always worth discovering.» Explore and book. 49 euros.

Stylish and cosy With a retro touch in pink and aubergine, this outfit with lambskin jacket, fluffy sandals and more comes from the Versace pre-fall collection. Price on request.

www.lifestylehotels.net/shop

www.versace.com Photo: Seeoo

Sharp as a knife and light as a feather Genuine hand-made damask – yet amazingly light: 200 layers of damask, hollow-ground, give this handmade blade from knife manufacturer Nesmuk its unique look and amazing quality. The EXKLUSIV C90 chef's knife is the lightest in the collection, weighing around just 130 g depending on the handle. The 180 mm blade makes this knife a versatile tool for every kitchen. Carbon content: 0.9 %.

Fast and snappy A cover, a case and pince-nez reading glasses – here for an IPhone 7. What's so special? The glasses for reading your display are always at the ready. What's so great? Covers and reading glasses in different colours and strengths are of course also available for other smartphones. From € 110.

The exclusive Nesmuk Protective Coating minimise the care required and protects the premium blade for decades to come. From 1290 euros. www.nesmuk.de

www.seeoo.at

Photo: Versace

Photo: Nesmuk

Precise and elegant

Ancient beauty Photo: LuxuryTrees®

One of the most attractive bonsais in the exclusive LuxuryTrees® range is the Juniperus chinensis or evergreen juniper, priced at € 15,000.

Every child now has a fidget spinner for a couple of euros, but the product also comes in some very special designs. For example retro compass style. In Columbus or Maya design, the magic compass from the Collector's Edition of Canadian specialist Fydgetspinner is just under five centimetres in diameter. A treat for the eye and a masterpiece of CNC precision. The surface is finely polished, and the replaceable ceramic ball bearing inside gives this hand spinner its amazing spin of more than three minutes. A must for the desks of all great thinkers. Ancient Magic Compass Pirate Hand Spinner, 133.99 EUR www.fydgetspinner.com

www.luxurytrees.com. Photo: fydgetspinner

THE STYLEMATE ISSUE NO 02 | 2017

| ST. JOHANN IN TIROL/KITZBÜHEL . LUXURYTREES® |

The big in

the small

| SEEOO . EYEWARE |

| NEUE WIENER WERKSTÄTTE . DESIGN AWARD |

Crystal

Creativity is

clear

not enough

Seven years ago, the Lasniks set out to revolutionise the world of reading glasses. Two Red Dot Awards later, and the revolution has succeeded. But still continues.

Furniture for new hospitality is the focus of the NWW Design Award 2017. Jury chairman Karim Rashid, one of the world's most successful designers, is of course expecting creativity – and much more. Karim Rashid

Photo: Seeoo

Perceive. Understand. Respect. Admire. Surely this is one of the most important gifts that the Orient has given the West. In spiritual, philosophical and botanical terms, the great is always present in the very small.

Martin, his father Gerald Lasnik and his brother Andreas

Photo: LuxuryTrees®

And a very special form of that gift is the bonsai. The effect? At first glance beautiful, surprising and spectacular. And in fact, deeply moving and potent. The eye sees. The mind marvels. And the soul finds itself in this meeting with nature in a different guise. This combination is where the amazing strength of such gardens lies. Exclusive garden design Of course, it takes special expertise to achieve an oriental gar-

«This dewdrop world is a dewdrop world, and yet and yet …» Kobayshi Issa (1763–1827)

den in the truest sense of the word. It is definitely not about «planting» ready-made gardens. It is about creating gardens that are absolutely personal and individual – exclusive in the truest sense of the word. LuxuryTrees® has specialised in just such exclusive gardens. Its expertise ranges from planning for each location (from forecourt to terrace and private garden to park) to procuring premium plants (all sourced in Japan) and architectural elements to construction and maintenance.1 In other words, LuxuryTrees® designs, constructs and creates exclusive rock gardens, Zen gardens, water gardens, pond garden, bonsai gardens and dry gardens, traditional Japanese gardens, and Mediterranean and modern gardens, providing all the services you need. Large, small or tiny. With or without

swimming or koi ponds. With or without exclusive pools with beach entrance. With or with out fountains, tea houses and streams. Lawns, rock gardens, gravel gardens and pool gardens. Tailored to the needs of the users and the local conditions. This means not just considering including what elements you want such as «water», «rocks» or «trees», but going into detail: water can be flowing or stand ing. It can reflect, shimmer or sparkle. Be still, bubble or rush. It can be a habitat for plants and animals, and a place of activity

Or, to quote a haiku by Koba yashi Issa: This dewdrop world is a dewdrop world, and yet and yet …

In addition to an office in Innsbruck and the show garden in St. Johann in Tirol/Kitzbühel, Luxury Trees® also operates a 200-hectare tree nursery in Japan with Japan’s finest shrubs. Online shop & more information at: luxurytrees.com

www.luxurytrees.com 28

or observation for people. It can be representative and/or recreational. Each of these qualities has a specific impact and demands careful design and great expertise to achieve the desired effect for the eye, the mind and the soul in combination with flora, terrain, surroundings and technology. Creating that effect is the LuxuryTrees® speciality.

It all started with a great pincenez that is so light and compact that its case can be integrated into mobile phone covers. These covers including pince nez in the correct strength are now available in a range of colours for the main iPhone models and for Android devices. What's so great about this idea? Reading glasses are to hand whenever you look at your mobile display. Immediately. The next step was taking conventional reading glasses further. They needed to be extra-flat. The result is the world's flattest reading glasses with an ultra-slim frame design. What's more, they look damn good – and just a little unusual. Hightech meets creative innovation in traditional craftsmanship: that is the motto of the Lasnik family, opticians from western Styria.

«High-tech meets creative innovation in traditional craftsmanship» www.seeoo.eu

THE STYLEMATE ISSUE NO 02 | 2017

Eye-catchers in the Seeoo range also include the Eyeshaker, an innovative cleaning system perfect for all glasses and not just Seeoo specs. What next? A partnership. Specifically, with the spectacle manufacturer ic! Berlin. Like Seeoo, ic! Berlin stands for minimalist, high-quality design. A patented screwless interlocking hinge system and extra-lightweight, amazingly flexible spring steel makes their products almost indestructible. The result of this symbiosis of unique Seeoo design and innovative technology from ic! Berlin is the new MONALEON range, unique and durable and yet flexible as its wearers. «Our ideas come from life», say the Lasniks. It won't be long before the next one.

«All of us are born to create», says design popstar (© Süddeutsche Zeitung) Karim Rashid. «Only», believes America's most successful designer, «creativity alone is not enough.» Rashid, who has only worn white (with the occasional touch of pink) since 2000, is chairing the jury for the 3rd Design Award from the Aus trian furniture manufacturer Neue Wiener Werkstätte (NWW). «The new hospitality – how furniture supports us in the art of hosting», is the brief for this competition aimed at creative professionals, designers, interior designers and school and university students. In Rashid's words, the award is aimed at highlighting issues like emotion, ease of use, technological advances, humour, meaning and positive spirit in the product: a great challenge for competitors. Designers still have until 31 July 2017 to upload their entries to www.nww-designaward.org for a chance to win the prize of 5000 euros this autumn. Alongside Karim R ashid, the jury also includes Yasmin el Mohandes, deputy editor-inchief of Diva Wohnen; Lilli Hollein, co-founder of Vienna Design Week; Christoph Kaltenbrunner, Head of the Design, Architecture and Environment Department at the University of Applied Arts, Vienna; Frank Zebner, Professor of Technology-oriented Design at the University of Art and Design (hfg) in Offenbach; Hansuli Matter, Director of the Design Department at Zurich University of the Arts (z_ hdk), among others. «Yesterday, I had an argument with a customer who refused to accept that modern hotel rooms should look very diffe-

Photo: NWW Photo: Karim Rashid

rent from those we are familiar with», said Rashid in a 2010 interview with the Süddeutsche Zeitung. That won't happen in 2017 with the NWW Design Award. The winner's trophy

«Honors such as the NWW Design Awards help highlight issues like emotion, ease of use, technological advances, humor, meaning and positive spirit in the product.» Karim Rashid

www.nww-designaward.org THE STYLEMATE ISSUE NO 02 | 2017

| HOTELS IN THIS ISSUE |

KLOSTERHOF | Page 3

V8 HOTEL | Page 6

HALLSTATT HIDEAWAY | Page 7

PURADIES | Page 8

ALPSLODGE | Page 8

BERGLANDHOTEL SÖLDEN | Page 9

ALPIN JUWEL | Page 20

HOTEL DES BALANCES | Page 20

HOTEL MATTERHORN FOCUS | Page 20

Hotel Directory LOCANDA AL COLLE | Page 13

| Austria

HOTEL TRES | Page 16

GEINBERG5 | Page 20

Camaiore/Tuscany | Locanda al Colle

| Great Britain |

Livigno/Lombardy | Hotel Larice

London | Sanderson

Merano | Art & Design Hotel ImperialArt Rimini | i-Suite

| China | Nanjing | Kayumanis Nanjing

| France |

London | St Martin's Lane

Paris | Hidden Hotel Paris | Hôtel Félicien

Bayerisch Gmain | Der Klosterhof Garmisch-Partenkirchen | Das Graseck Husum an der Nordsee | Thomas Hotel Spa & Lifestyle

Tenerife | Baobab Suites

| Sri Lanka | Dickwella South | UTMT – Underneath the Mango Tree

Venice | Palazzo Barbarigo Venice Lido | Villa Pannonia

Budapest | Lanchid 19

| Germany |

Florence | Home Hotel Florence Gavorrano / Toskana | Conti di San Bonifacio Gsies | La Casies Innichen | Post Hotel

Sardinia | La Coluccia

| Hungary |

Paris | Hôtel Odyssey

| Spain |

Tirolo near Merano | Küglerhof

Vinschgau | Romantik Hotel Weisses Kreuz

| Italy |

| Portugal |

Alta Badia | Hotel Tofana

Albufeira | Vila Joya Funchal | Quinta da Bela Vista

Amalfi-Coast | Casa Angelina Brixen | Hotel Pupp

Lagos | Vila Valverde

LIFESTYLEHOTELS BOOKING BENEFITS

POST HOTEL | Page 21

ELISABETHHOTEL | Page 22

THE STYLEMATE ISSUE NO 02 | 2017

VILLA PANNONIA | Page 23

 Best-Price-Guarantee:

 Easy booking:

 No booking fee:

 Data protection:

Booking Information:

+43 316 83 88 88 reservation@lifestylehotels.net www.lifestylehotels.net

If you find a better offer at the time you book, we will match the same price and also give you a copy of LIFESTYLE HOTELS THE BOOK free of charge.

Use the possibility to make an easy online booking. You will receive information about room categories and the special offer in real time.

We do not charge a booking fee nor do we have other hidden charges.

 Handpicked

hotels

When you book on our website, your personal details will be automatically encrypted by our booking tool.

ALL HOTELS: www.lifestylehotes.net

THE STYLEMATE ISSUE NO 02 | 2017

THE WEB‘S MOST STYLISH DESIGN AND BOUTIQUE HOTELS The brand LIFESTYLEHOTELS® is a symbol for design-oriented, individual and stylish hotels in the upmarket hotels segment. For modern travellers and sophisticated guests, LIFESTYLEHOTELS® is a seal of quality that represents unique aesthetic experiences in selected hotels. LIFESTYLEHOTELS stands for a modern, individual and aesthetic lifestyle. Our member hotels convey this particular lifestyle, which we define by these 4 criteria:

AUTHENTICITY

ORIGINALITY

INDIVIDUALITY

QUALITY

Despite its own characteristics, the hotel is a natural part of its surroundings.

Through special details and innovative concepts, the hotel provides a unique way of life!

Lifestylehotels have a strong expressiveness through non-standardized, individual luxury.

The hotels are pointed out by a high standard of quality and a sense of responsibility towards others and the environment.

LIFESTYLEHOTELS offers an individual and exclusive selection of hotels. The largely owner-managed houses inspire design and trend-conscious travellers who enjoy many booking advantages:

YOUR BOOKING BENEFITS AT A GLANCE: Handpicked hotels:

Data protection:

We choose the most stylish design hotels and boutique hotels for all design lovers and trendconscious globetrotters. Individuality, originality, authenticity and quality are among our most deeply held values.

When you book on our website, your personal details will be automatically encrypted by our booking tool, Availpro. This ensures that your data is protected from unauthorized access and improper use.

Easy booking:

No booking fee:

You can use the possibility of an easy online booking. You will receive information about room categories, prices (per room) and special offers in real time.

We do not charge a booking fee nor do we have other hidden charges.

Best price guarantee: If you find a better offer than ours at the time you book, we will match the price and will also give you a copy of LIFESTYLEHOTELS The Book free of charge.

FIND THE WEB‘S MOST STYLISH DESIGN AND BOUTIQUE HOTELS. LIFESTYLEHOTELS – individual & stylish!