Aeon (imagery: © Alex Filz)

Our latest TOPHOTELDESIGN exclusive looks at the noa*-designed Aeon hotel in the north of the country, which makes the most of its outstanding mountain views.

This wellness-focused hotel brings the past and future together in a stylish complex that successfully bridges the gap between indoor and outdoor environments.

Connecting with the locale

In an enviable South Tyrol location surrounded by woods and meadows, and boasting beautiful views of the Merano Alps and Dolomites, noa* worked with the Ramoser family throughout the first half of 2021 to help create a retreat inspired by the design of a 550-year-old farm here. The studio, which worked on both Aeon’s architecture and interiors, drew extensively on this site’s history for the scheme.

Effectively, noa* created a whole new architectural framework, modelling the volume of the new buildings on the existing structure. The scheme encompasses two buildings – one housing the reception, bistro, bar and wellness area; the other comprising 15 guest suites – connected by a hallway hidden beneath an artificial hill.

Reminders of the past in this hotel’s modern architectural design include traditional gable roofs and a dynamic façade with slanted elements, replicating the design of the historic barn. These structural elements are complemented by the use of trapezoid windows.

Forging a greater connection with its setting, meanwhile, the structure utilises timber from the farm’s own woodlands and retains a black steel entrance portal bearing the family’s old coat of arms from 1464.

An inspirational setting

The interiors of these buildings cleverly pair soft beige and mysterious blue hues to give travellers the feeling of standing on the ground but being able to touch the clouds. Every element of the design, from the light fixtures to the curtains, takes this vision into account.

In the public building, guests enter a multifunctional space that contains a reception, a bar, a wine display, bistro tables, a lounge with its own fireplace and mirrored ceiling, and a reading corner complete with hanging sofas. The first floor’s wellness area then symbolises water through its use of blue and encompasses inviting amenities including a fruit bar, relaxation zone, terrace and half-covered outdoor infinity pool jutting out of the building. For good measure, there’s also a meditation room, rooftop whirlpool, steam bath and Finnish sauna.

In the private building, the 15 suites span three room categories, and feature bars, lounges and terraces or balconies. The ground-floor suites, moreover, have private whirlpools, and the larger suites manage to squeeze in additional living rooms with hanging double beds and incredible mountain panoramas.

For more info about this scheme, and to view an extensive gallery of hi-res images, check out Aeon’s project page on the TOPHOTELDESIGN website.

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