THE Stylemate - inpiration from around the world for a fancy lifestyle.

1. Stylemate
THESTYLEMATE.COM
NEWS ABOUT LIFE, STYLE & HOTELS
ISSUE No 03 | 2019
thestylemate.com
THE
Photo:Untitled,inspiredbyRobertFrank,Vienna,2018;CourtesyofGalerieGiselaCapitain,Cologne;CopyrightElfieSemotan
beyond
borders

2. 2THE Stylemate
Issue No 03 | 2019
Photo:Heldentheater
Essentials
Page 3
Borders, boundaries
and barriers
Page 4 – 7
Interview
with Elfie Semotan:
Blurring lines and
breaking down barriers
Page 6
LIFE:
Exploring culinary borders:
Borderline amazing
Page 8 – 10
Artsy Lifestyle –
Cultural Diary
Page 11
Think big
Page 12
Interview
with Deborah Sengl:
“We need to tear down the
walls in our hearts.”
Page 13
Interview
with Bernd Neff:
Where is paradise?
Page 14 – 15
Franzobel
Page 16
STYLE:
Motor City Detroit
Page 17
Tick Tock
Page 18 – 19
Design Core Detroit
Page 20 – 21
Limitless fashion
Page 22 – 24
Provocateur
Page 25
Friedrich Liechtenstein
column:
Lucky me
Page 26
HOTELS:
LIFESTYLEHOTELS
selection:
Focus on Matterhorn
Page LH 01
Matterhorn Vibes
Page LH 02 – 03
Hotel Nidum
Hotel & Villa Auersperg
Page LH 04
Monaci delle Terre Nere /
New Member
Page LH 05
Crazy Hollmann
Page LH 06 – 07
Hotel Bergland Sölden
Page LH 08
Sublime Comporta /
New Member
Page LH 09
Gradonna
Mountain Resort
Page LH 10 – 11
Directory
lifestylehotels
Page LH 12
IMPRINT
Page 2
IN THIS ISSUE
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thestylemate.com
IMPRINT Media owner and publisher: Prime Time Touristik & Marketing GmbH, Schmiedgasse 38/1, 8010 Graz
Editors: Thomas Holzleithner & Hardy Egger Editor-in-chief: Mag. Nina Prehofer Managing editor: DI (FH) Christin Maier-Erlach
Cover photo: Untitled, inspired by Robert Frank, Vienna, 2018; Courtesy of Galerie Gisela Capitain, Cologne; Copyright Elfie Semotan
Layout: VON K Brand Design Writers: Franzobel, Hedi Grager, Friedrich Liechtenstein, Mag. Nora Palzenberger Copy editor: Mag. Marlene Zeintlinger
Advertising: office@thestylemate.com Printed by: Medienfabrik Graz, 8020 Graz Published in: Graz Publication: 3 x yearly
The cover of this edition features a striking photo of
one of Austria’s most globally successful and exciting
photographers: Elfie Semotan. As a young woman,
she headed to Paris for a career in modelling but as
time went by, she grew ever more interested in work
behind the camera. People say her work has blurred
the lines between fashion and fine art photography.
She spoke to THE Stylemate (page 6) and told us more
about herself and her work.
This edition is also about lines – about borders and
boundaries. Inspiration for this theme came from
the 30th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.
The ninth of November 1989 saw euphoric celebrations
of reunification, and ever since, the country has
looked back with pride at this moment of a border
crossed and a barrier overcome. However, the artist
Deborah Sengl tells us that she still sees “a permanent
and very dangerous split in society” in the Germany
of today. “Until we tear down the walls in our heads
and above all in our hearts, we are worlds away from
coexistence and interaction based on tolerance and
peace.” We believe that travel and getting to know
new people, different people, can facilitate precisely
such interaction. We therefore invite you once again
to engage with unknown people and places on the
following pages and draw inspiration from real-life
experiences.
Thomas Holzleithner & Hardy Egger
E D I T O R S

3. 3THE Stylemate
Issue No 03 | 2019
essentials
G H D A I R ®
Every day is the right day to look great –
and it needn’t even take long. The ghd air. hair
dryer is the perfect styling partner. Its powerful
motor supplies a high-pressure stream
of air that dries your hair in half the time of
conventional dryers with DC motors. Advanced
ion technology reduces frizz and tames unruly
hair twice as fast, giving a sleek, professional
finish. It really can be that simple.
Now available exclusively for hotels.
ghdhair.com/de
O F T H I S E D I T I O N
Photos:Aesop / iphoria.com / oryoki.de / bosatrade.com / LouisVuitton / ghd®
V I N E G A R & O I L
Flavour on the table with the “Twins”,
designed for Bosa by Gordon Guillaumier.
These oil and vinegar dispensers in glazed ceramic
allow you to store both oil and vinegar in the
same container. The initials engraved on the tops
give a great antique touch. “Twins” reinvent a
common object, adding an elegant gold or copper
finish – and a great feature to any table.
bosatrade.com, ca. € 100
CA R E D U O
The “Resurrection Duet” of great cleanser
and moisturiser offers ideal hand protection
for both him and her. Aesop’s handcare set with
mandarin orange peel, rosemary and Atlas
cedar is gentle on the skin, smells amazing and leaves
your hands as soft as a baby’s. Cleanse your hands
with the Aromatique Hand Wash before applying
the Hand Balm. Perfect teamwork.
aesop.com, € 100
T RAV E L B U D D I E S
As solo travel becomes increasingly popular,
who could say no to trendy travel companions like
this travel kit. The passport holder protects your
most important travel item on every trip and the
luggage tag rules out mistakes at baggage reclaim.
They are also a source of inspiration when we are not
sure where to head next. Made of vegan PU leather.
iphoria.com, € 49.90
A M AT C H M A D E I N H E AV E N
Tokusen Kashikosa snakewood Japanese chopsticks
are another step up from ebony or rosewood, and
a must-have for lovers of Japanese culinary culture.
Snakewood is famous for its hardness, density,
resistance to wear and unusual structure.
This fine-pored wood is extremely rare and one of
the most expensive in the world. The limited-edition
chopsticks are handmade in the Marunao factory.
oryoki.de, € 289.90
S M A R T S I D E - K I C KS
Berlin is the city to be this autumn. The German
capital is celebrating reunification – the fall of the Berlin
Wall 30 years ago – with a whole host of exhibitions and
events. Louis Vuitton has the perfect men’s accessory
for the trip: the Keepall 50 with shoulder straps in black
matt taïga leather. Soft to the touch, almost elastic, this bag
bears the signature of the collection by Virgil Abloh, Men’s
Artistic Director: the shining “X” in rainbow colours.
If that isn’t perfect for Berlin, what is?
The latest edition of the Louis Vuitton Fashion Eye gives
you an up-to-the-minute look at the city. It shows Berlin
and its artists through the eyes of fashion photographer
Peter Lindbergh. Experience his very personal perspective.
louisvuitton.com, € 50/€ 2.500

4. 4THE Stylemate
Issue No 03 | 2019
B O R D E R S , B O U N D A R I E S A N D B A R R I E R S
TEXT BY
NINA
PREHOFER
ENTSCHULDIGEN
SIE, IST DAS
DER SONDERZUG
NACH PANKOW
ICH MUSS MAL
EBEN DAHIN,
MAL EBEN NACH
OST-BERLIN

5. 5THE Stylemate
Issue No 03 | 2019
A border marks
the edge of an area
and is therefore
a dividing line or
delimitation.
Borders separate
people, countries
and thoughts.
Yet even if
they restrict us,
we need them.
Not least so that
we recognise
freedom.
“Freedom cannot emerge without borders,
without limits. Not least because a person
can only feel free if they are able to sense
the difference between that freedom and
its absence. No human search for freedom
is conceivable without overcoming existing
borders, boundaries or barriers.” These
were the words of the philosopher Konrad
Paul Liessmann in an interview with the
magazine brand eins.
One border was overcome 30 years ago.
The Berlin Wall fell on 9 November 1989
and united two parts of a whole that had
been separated for decades and ought
never to have been divided. A wall running
through a European city is a concept that
is hard to grasp, and yet it is now a popular
one in today’s world.
What did the wall mean in Berlin?
A man-made border that split families,
friends and lives and created two worlds
out of one. Suddenly, a country that –
even if devastated by the Second World
War – belonged together, was torn in two.
And the border was even more restrictive
and immovable for one side than it was
for the other. Whilst you could travel from
“the West” to “the East”, going in the other
direction was a lot more difficult.
The East-West German border became one
that still has an impact on people and life
in Germany today.
I can remember the wall too; I was a child
at the time. I remember driving over to
visit our family in Berlin. In West Berlin.
When we arrived at the border, I was
woken up by a heavily armed border guard
who wanted to check that I really was the
child indicated on my mother’s passport.
That was in 1989, the same year in which
the Berlin Wall eventually came down.
Although I was not yet five years old, that
memory remains imprinted on my mind.
I remember, too, the nervousness of my
aunt, a Berliner who never wanted to travel
to the East. Every time, she was terrified
that my parents and her brother would not
be able to return from one of their trips
to the other side of the wall. She tried to
hide it from us, from the children, but we
could see that something was not right.
Something troubled me as well, although
of course I did not really grasp that we
were in a divided city. Later, as young
teenager who knew slightly more about
that time but was hugely naive, I wished
I were old enough to have had a more
direct experience of the time. I imagined
it all as an exciting adventure: driving to
the East and passing through Checkpoint
Charlie, entering a different world and
getting to know the people on the other
side of the wall. I still did not understand
what that wall had really meant for people –
and for the history of an entire country.
Photo:shutterstock.com,LaurenWantling
Quotes from the lyrics of
“Sonderzug nach Pankow”
© Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC,
Universal Music Publishing Group,
Songtrust Ave. Sung by Udo Lindenberg.

6. 6THE Stylemate
Issue No 03 | 2019
Why did you opt for the perspective from
behind the lens so soon?
In fact, the decision was not a quick one
at all. It took a few years. Ultimately,
I needed time to establish myself in Paris –
with my limited French skills – and on the
photo model market. The idea of being
behind the camera had always appealed
to me more, but back then it was just a
notion. It wasn’t until I met John Cook,
started working in the darkroom, learned
how to develop and got a feel for how to
photograph light and dark clothing, spaces
and forms and how best to present things,
that the idea really took shape. I spent a
number of years photographing and devel-
oping myself, and learned a lot about the
quality of light, film and paper. In short,
about what goes into a good picture.
People say you have “blurred the lines
between fine art and fashion photography”,
redefining fashion photography in the process.
In my mind, I erased the line between fine
art and fashion photography at a very early
stage and decided for myself that I would
not draw a distinction between the two.
I don’t think there needs to be one. Good
fashion photography has always been fine
art photography. Such a classification has
only ever been made by people whose work
is not active or practical, but who simply
look and observe, and then judge and
categorise.
To what extent were you aware at the time
of what you were doing?
I was aware of what I was doing. I was also
aware that what I was doing was new in
the Austrian art context and in the context
of the question of what is and is not art.
In this country, a very clear distinction has
always between drawn between fine art
and fashion photography or between fine
art and commercial photography.
blurring lines
What drove you?
It was not one specific thing, but simply
the drive you have when you work. What-
ever work you do, you want it to develop.
In the same way, every goal you have
should develop and you should move away
from the place where you started – leave
behind the rules that applied when you
discovered your goal. I wanted to distance
myself from the conventional patterns
of fashion photography: staying in the
same environment, emphasising classical
beauty. I also wanted to distance myself
from the presentation of established
beauty as society sees it, the situations in
which fashion photography is produced
and rooted – a certain class and a certain
approach, in other words the presentation
of a life of luxury. That is something
I could not and did not accept – not in my
own life and not in fashion photography.
Why do boundaries need to be expanded
and overcome?
Because if they are not, neither develop-
ment nor progress is possible.
Can we still achieve that today?
Absolutely – and if you think you can’t,
you need to do it anyway.
and
The Austrian photographer Elfie Semotan started her career in front of the
camera as a model but soon discovered her passion for working behind
the lens. And this has made her one of the most famous photographers who
believe fashion photography has always been fine art photography.
semotan.com
What was it like the first time you
arrived in Paris?
Paris for the first time – and the decision
to stay – was thrilling. I didn’t know if
I would even be able to afford living there.
I went into a hotel near Trocadéro and
booked a room there for a week, which was
all my budget could take. In other words,
I had to find work as soon as possible.
I reached for the phone book and called up
all haute couture houses in Paris one after
the other, asking whether they needed
showroom models – the only condition
was that I could start immediately. And it
worked: I landed a job with Lanvin.
The whole situation was of course hugely
exciting for me. Lanvin was – like all
fashion houses – in the Rue du Faubourg
Saint-Honoré. I was hugely impressed with
the wonderful space where customers sat
and I had to demonstrate my modelling
skills. Everyone was looking at me. I also
recall that at the time, Lanvin had a young
Spanish designer who spoke unbelievably
fast in beautiful Spanish.
Photos:ElfieSemotan,Selbstportrait,NewYork,um2010©ElfieSemotan / o.T.,inspiriertvonDianeArbus,ausderSerieAmericana,Wien,2018©ElfieSemotan,CourtesyGalerieGiselaCapitain,Köln
breaking
down barriers

7. 7THE Stylemate
Issue No 03 | 2019
However, we don’t just want to talk about
what divides. When borders are broken
down and barriers overcome, we see what
connects and unites us. All of a sudden,
we start to engage with each other. When
we travel and cross borders, we realise
what might separate us from another
culture, but we also recognise what we
have in common. And if we open ourselves
up and get to know other places and
people, we come closer together.
The photographer Elfie Semotan is famous
for her successful efforts to remove the
distinction between fine art and fashion
photography. She has connected two
disciplines that in many people’s minds
had little to do with each other. Or take
the US author and journalist Hunter S.
Thompson, for example, who with one
story blurred the lines between journalism
and literature. His “Gonzo” style created
a whole new genre. Thompson’s gonzo style
became a form of professional anarchy
with drugs and self-created chaos, which
you are probably most likely to remember
from the film “Fear and Loathing in Las
Vegas” with Johnny Depp as Thompson.
The German author and journalist Helge
Timmerberg who writes hugely entertain-
ing travel stories might be considered as
one of Thompson’s successors in style.
Athletes regularly push their physical
limits in competition. The Kenyan runner
Eliud Kipchoge recently broke the two-
hour mark for a marathon, running
the distance of 26 miles 385 yards in a
record time of 1:59:40 hours. Asked why he
was so determined to do it, he responded
“I wanted to inspire people. I have shown
that no-one has a limit.”
Limits or barriers are created in our
heads; they are man-made. So we
finish as we started, with a quote from
Konrad Paul Liessmann. “We could not
perceive anything without borders or
limits. They are the basis for each human
insight, for each insight starts with a
decisive act: understanding that this is
not that. However, and this is part of every
experience of borders or limits, we can
also draw distinctions that are wrong. It
is not the border or boundary that is the
problem, but rather whether that border
or boundary is sensible and necessary in
that place. We should therefore never stop
examining the rationale for and necessity
of borders.
Photos:shutterstock.com:AbelTumik / canadastock / carol.anne / EwaStudio / ilolab
ALL DIE GANZEN
SCHLAGERAFFEN
DÜRFEN DA
SINGEN
DÜRFEN IHREN
GANZEN
SCHROTT ZUM
VORTRAGE
BRINGEN
NUR DER
KLEINE UDO,
NUR DER
KLEINE UDO
DER DARF
DAS NICHT,
UND DAS
VERSTEHEN
WIR NICHT HONEY, ICH GLAUB’,
DU BIST DOCH EIGENT-
LICH AUCH GANZ LOCKER
ICH WEISS, TIEF IN
DIR DRIN, BIST DU EIGENT-
LICH AUCH’N ROCKER
DU ZIEHST DIR DOCH
HEIMLICH AUCH GERNE
MAL DIE LEDERJACKE AN
UND SCHLIESST DICH EIN
AUF’M KLO UND HÖRST
WEST-RADIO
ICH WEISS GENAU,
ICH HABE FURCHTBAR
VIELE FREUNDE
IN DER DDR UND
STÜNDLICH WERDEN
ES MEHR
OCH, ERICH EY, BIST
DU DENN WIRKLICH SO
EIN STURER SCHRAT
WARUM LÄSST DU
MICH NICHT SINGEN
IM ARBEITER-
UND BAUERNSTAAT?

8. 8THE Stylemate
Issue No 03 | 2019
feldversuche.at
AT
Photos:©MostviertelTourismus / www.weinfranz.at
three
People in Mostviertel want to learn, and are harnessing the potential of a whole region to slake their thirst
for knowledge. The “Mostviertler Feldversuche” – literally “field trials” – are a chance to witness culinary experiments
and experience unexpected flavours from top-class chefs at unusual locations and with local ingredients.
Chef Theresia Palmetzhofer, the holder of two Gault-Millau toques, celebrated the world of experimentation outside in the pear orchard at
Destillerie Farthofer distillery in September with malt bread and handmade raw milk butter, pear leaves stuffed with emmer wheat, raw marinated trout
with Pichlbirne pears and trout caviare, crayfish soup with lemon basil, char grilled on a pear wood skewer and, to finish, malt ice cream with
white chocolate mousse and damsons. More than one aspect of this meal was unique: all dishes were expertly prepared in a “field kitchen” without electricity,
and the scenery on a beautiful late summer’s day was simply a dream. We can look forward to more “field trials” this year and in 2020.
F I E L D
T R I A L S
MOSTVIERTEL

9. 9THE Stylemate
Issue No 03 | 2019
spicarestaurant.com
IT
Photos:FoodphotographycourtesyofSpica / InteriorphotographyNathalieKrag
borderline amazing eating and drinking experiences in
Austria, Italy and Germany – with concepts that could not
be more different.
MILAN
PORTA VENEZIA
International flair, exploration and conviviality: these are the ingredients that give the new restaurant “Spica” in the heart of Milan’s
Porta Venezia district its distinctive flavour. The two star chefs, the Indian Ritu Dalmia and the Italian Viviana Varese, share a
passion for international cuisine and for travel. That is why Spica offers guests a culinary journey through four geographical areas –
Southeast Asia, the Indian subcontinent, Europe and America – with nothing but unexpected gourmet delights along the way.
That journey is also reflected in interior design by architects Tiziano Vudafieri and Claudio Saverino. They have created
a space with an unusual mix of Asian touches and a homage to the masters of 20th century Milanese design. The result is a
colourful restaurant that captures the vibrant atmosphere of Porta Venezia and a young and dynamic clientèle.
I N T E R N A T I O N A L
C U I S I N E

10. 10THE Stylemate
Issue No 03 | 2019
einstein-udl.com
DE
Photos:JuleMüller / RobertRieger
“Einstein unter den Linden” in Berlin is usually famous for Backhendl Viennese chicken with Erdäpfelsalat (potato salad), Wiener Saftgulasch goulash,
marinated Tafelspitz prime boiled beef with pumpkin seed oil, or apple strudel – in other words typical Austrian cuisine. The management team at
GRILL ROYAL that took over the establishment in early 2016 does not want to change that. To mark the anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, however,
a special set menu will be served on the evenings of 4 to 10 November. It is a culinary celebration of the reunification of East and West Germany.
The meal starts with spicy and sour solyanka, a soup that is part of eastern European cuisine. Diners can then feast on Falscher Hase meat loaf and for
dessert Frankfurter Kranz on kalter Hund, a symbolic meeting of East and West. Kalter Hund – literally: cold dog – is a chocolate no-bake sweet
reminiscent of children’s birthday parties. The reunification menu is accompanied by a Pinot blanc from the Thuringian vineyard Zahn, the red cuvée
“Heimat” from the Josten & Klein vineyard in Central Rhineland and a walnut schapps from the speciality Meissen distillery Prinz zur Lippe.
E A S T
M E E T S W E S T
BERLIN

11. 11THE Stylemate
Issue No 03 | 2019
Photos:Bauhaus-ArchivBerlin,Ausstellungsansicht“originalbauhaus”,InstallationvonRenateBuser,Photo:CatrinSchmitt / AlbrechtDürer,Feldhase,1502,©AlbertinaWien / MariaLassnig,DuoderIch,2005,PrivateCollection.CourtesyHauser&WirthCollectionServices©MariaLassnigStiftung,©StefanAltenburgerPhotographyZürich / shutterstock.com,Mia2you
A R T S Y L I F E S T Y L E
AUCTION
berlin –
original bauhaus
The “Original Bauhaus” exhibition by the Bauhaus-Archiv/
Museum für Gestaltung marks the Bauhaus anniversary
by showcasing objects from its one-hundred-year history.
Around 700 exhibits are on display at the Berlinische
Galerie Museum of Modern Art, this is a colourful mix of
famous, little-known and rediscovered pieces from the
Bauhaus-Archiv and from around the world.
“Original Bauhaus”
from 6 September 2019 until 27 January 2020
berlinischegalerie.de
EXHIBITION
berlin –
nineties berlin
A multimedia exhibition showcasing the exciting and
colourful Berlin of the 1990s. This decade had a lasting
impact on the city. “nineties berlin” catches the mood of
those turbulent times with a multimedia exhibition
and uses actual pieces of the Berlin Wall, sculptures and
interactive elements to highlight the legacy of the 90s.
“nineties berlin”
until 28 February 2020
nineties.berlin
EXHIBITION
EXHIBITION
vienna –
albrecht dürer
We welcome back a much-loved figure who has been
absent for too long: Albrecht Dürer’s Young Hare.
As part of its Dürer retrospective, the Albertina is letting the
world’s most famous hare out of its “hutch” for a few months.
The Albertina has the most significant collection of the master’s
drawings in the world with over 140 pieces. Add other major
works on international loan, and the exhibition comprises
more than 100 drawings, around a dozen paintings, personal
records and other rarely seen documents.
“Albrecht Dürer”
at the Albertina in Vienna
from 20 September 2019 until 6 January 2020
albertina.at
EXHIBITION
vienna –
maria lassnig
Maria Lassnig was one of the 20th century’s
most significant artists. In honour of the Austrian
painter’s 100th birthday, the Albertina in Vienna
is staging a retrospective. “Ways of Being” showcases
Lassnig’s major and seminal works. A must-see!
“Maria Lassnig”
at the Albertina in Vienna
from 6 September until 1 December 2019
albertina.at
EXHIBITION
miami –
art district
Miami is also home to a number of impressive private
art collections of international significance, for example
The Margulies Collection at the Warehouse, the De la
Cruz Collection and the Rubell Family Collection, which
is one of the largest private modern art collections
in America. Visitors in the city for the Art Basel
should also take time to view these collections.
margulieswarehouse.com,
delacruzcollection.org, rfc.museum
vienna –
im kinsky auction
Major classical modern artworks will be going under
the hammer at the 130th “im Kinsky” auction, with a
particular focus on the Wiener Moderne of Gustav Klimt,
Egon Schiele and Oskar Kokoschka. The auction house
specialises in Austrian Neue Sachlichkeit artists, for
example paintings by Franz Sedlacek and Rudolf Wacker.
Art Nouveau & Design regularly offers an excellent
selection of items from the Wiener Werkstätte, art from
around 1900 and design from the 1950s and 1960s.
Contemporary art from 1945 to the present day
is another auction house specialisation.
“Classical modernism –
Contemporary art –
Art nouveau & design”
on 26 and 27 November 2019
imkinsky.com
miami –
art basel miami beach
Around 260 exhibitors from 32 different countries will be
showing works from more than 4000 artists at this international
modern art fair. Art Basel Miami Beach is one of the most important
art fairs in the United States and a cultural and social highlight
in North and South America. Artists, collectors, curators
and art critics come here to find out about the latest art trends.
The fair combines an international selection of more than 220
leading galleries from North America, Latin America, Europe,
Asia and Africa with an exciting programme of special exhibitions
and crossover events involving music, film, architecture
and design. You can feel the spirit of the Art Basel throughout
the city, which in the same week hosts satellite art fairs,
glitzy parties and countless other events.
“Art Basel Miami Beach”
from 5 until 8 December 2019
artbasel.com
FAIR
ELISABETH SKOFITSCH-HAAS
is an art expert and works for
the auction house “im Kinsky” in
Vienna. She has put together her
favourite current highlights from
the art world for THE Stylemate.
imkinsky.com

12. 12THE Stylemate
Issue No 03 | 2019
Photos:DominicErschen / ReinhardSudy
thinkB I G .
Everything began for Alessandro Painsi
in the small town of St. Margarethen a.d.
Raab in East Styria. This is where he grew
up before starting his studies in art and
design at Ortweinschule school in Graz.
He travelled to Denmark for work in 2013
as a Latin American dance champion.
There, he met Amalie, the love of his
life – and stayed in Aalborg. “The focus
in dancing was less on art and more on
athletic prowess. I wanted to do something
artistic, and started to paint.” Ever since,
he and street artist Frida Still Vium have
run one of the most successful youth art
studios in Europe. “We work with schools
and support organisations, offering
young people the chance to explore their
creative potential. Through art, we want
to help overcome barriers, because in art,
it does not matter where you are from.”
Seen like that, art can also create strong
connections. Painsi himself describes his
style as abstract, and he sees his rapid
brushstrokes as a great ad-vantage: “I can’t
imagine thinking beforehand about what
I am going to paint – it simply hap-pens.”
His highly successful first solo show was at
Freddy Maier’s Vinariat in Stainz in 2018.
This was fol-lowed by work shown by the
Simons Gallery at Art Context in Miami,
his “Abandoned Industry” project at the
Rudolf Budja Gallery in Salzburg, collab-
oration with the Danish fashion designer
Kristoffer Simonsen, and Art New York in
May 2019. “I have always believed in myself
and I work very hard, but I never thought
that things would take off internationally
so quickly. It is a dream come true.” In
Denmark, Painsi is represented by Galerie
Wolfsen and his agent is currently work-
ing on shows in Asia and Russia.
The young artist has high ambitions.
“I want to be the greatest artist in the
world and to change the world with my
art.” He is not lacking in self-confidence,
but also sees himself as loyal and
grounded. His family is very important
to him. He has already faced jealousy,
but “I have worked hard to get it”, he
says smilingly.
instagram.com/picassandro
ALESSANDRO
believes what
Andy Warhol said,
namely that the
artist is a greater
artwork than the
art itself. “And
I believe in myself.”
ALESSANDRO PAINSI
HAS ONLY JUST
TURNED 23 AND IS
ALREADY CONSIDERED
TO BE ONE OF
AUSTRIA’S
GREAT YOUNG
ARTISTIC TALENTS
WITH HUGE
INTERNATIONAL
POTENTIAL.
AND HE IS THINKING
BIG: “I WANT TO BE
THE GREATEST ARTIST
IN THE WORLD!”
To Painsi, art means crossing boundaries.
“Each show makes me really nervous,
because I am showing something very
personal, revealing a lot about myself
and being judged by people. Every show
is a boundary that I am crossing. This is
something I am familiar with from my
time dancing at championships, but that
was above all about physical limits”, he
explains thoughtfully. “My deci-sions
usually mean leaving my comfort zone,
yet that often changes my whole life.”
In December, Alessandro Painsi will once
again be featuring at Art Miami with Budja
Gallery. A major solo show in Denmark
is planned for 2020. “Exhibitions at
museums, huge installations and people
who visit cities around the world just to see
my installations – that is what I want.”
TEXT BY
HEDI
GRAGER

13. 13THE Stylemate
Issue No 03 | 2019
Photos:Skulptur:©DeborahSengl,Photo:©BerndPreiml
LIFE
DEBORAH SENGL
IS ONE OF AUSTRIA’S
LEADING ARTISTS.
hearts.”
“we need to
tear down
the walls
in our
“ESCAPE!”
BY
DEBORAH SENGL
From 15 October 2019
at MuseumsQuartier Wien,
book online.
mqw.at
In her new work “Escape!” at MuseumsQuartier Wien
in Vienna, she has used contemporary art
to create a 300 m2
experience where visitors can
critically engage with the topic of “escape”.
What awaits people in your escape room?
“Escape!” is an artistic experience that
explores the very topical issue of flight.
Visitors can expect a mixture of traditional
escape room methods, exhibition features
and multimedia experiences. I am seeking
to reach as broad as possible an audience
with this highly emotional content.
What “emotional extremes” can visitors
expect? Panic, fear ...?
I am not trying to recreate a real escape
experience. An empathic engagement
with the hopelessness and desperation
of escapees and their stories was and is
the main motivation behind my project.
To help stimulate a sense of that situation,
I confront visitors with various fears,
for example the fear of violence, darkness
or tight spaces. The focus is not, however,
on panic. Instead, I want to tap into
our innate emotions by evoking such
situations.
Your work always centres on people –
what was different about your work on
“Escape!”?
My work is always sociocritical. The
behaviour or misbehaviour of us humans
has always been what fuels my art.
“Escape!” is, however, without a doubt
my most emotional work to date. I have
been developing it since 2015 as a response
to the so-called migrant crisis. The fate
of countless individuals who had lost
their livelihoods and had to leave their
homes deeply moved me. Many people
in this country showed their sympathy
and offered help. Other, however, were
unmoved, unsympathetic or even
rejected those who fled here. That attitude
provoked a great sadness in me.
Another difference is that “Escape!” breaks
with the traditional exhibition situation
and involves viewers much more intensely
through its immersive approach.
You collaborated with the organisation
“Fremde werden Freunde”. What did
you learn during work on this project?
What moved you the most?
As the seriousness of my project is very
important to me, I was committed from
the outset to involving an NGO. “Fremde
werden Freunde” was set up, like the
concept for “Escape!”, as a direct response
to the influx of refugees in late 2015. The
focus of the organisation is on inclusion
and on breaking down prejudices between
people of different origins and cultures.
Neither of us see our work as a party
political statement but rather as an appeal
to humanity. In the course of our work
together, I had the opportunity to get to
know a number of people with experience
of flight. They offered objects, photographs
and their own, very personal stories for the
project. This huge trust and their positive
response to how this sensitive topic was
presented deeply moved me.
Why are some people moved and feel
sympathy, whilst others respond with
fear (or indeed hate) to the question
of flight and migration?
I think that the greatest source of fear is
generally the unknown. Unfortunately,
people often unquestioningly adopt
prejudices from their family or social
environment. Virtual “echo chambers”
also have a considerable influence on
society. Closed, narrow-minded attitudes
are sadly currently much more prevalent
than direct and above all emotional
engagement with those around us.
Have you also experienced negative
reactions to this work?
Not yet, but I am prepared for this project
to be polarising and for some people not
liking it for a variety of reasons.
This year, we are celebrating the 30th
anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall,
yet we are now seeing more and more
borders being created. What is your
response to this paradox?
To me, this is not necessarily a paradox, as
it is not only the visible walls that divide
our world(s). As great as it is that Germany
underwent what is known as reunification
in 1989/90, I also see a permanent and
very dangerous split in society there. Until
we tear down the walls in our heads and
above all in our hearts, we are worlds away
from coexistence and interaction based on
tolerance and peace.
What do you hope to inspire in people
when they come out of the escape room?
I want to encourage people to think; I want
to appeal to their feelings. We have lost
our culture of discussion in a society that
only voices opinions that are either “for” or
“against”. Ideally, I would like “Escape!” to
make a small contribution to a more open
and nuanced way of thinking.
INTERVIEW
NINA
PREHOFER

14. 14THE Stylemate
Issue No 03 | 2019
Photo:SteveHerud
is
where
BERLIN
TRAVEL
FESTIVAL
6–8 March 2020
Arena Berlin
berlintravelfestival.com

15. 15THE Stylemate
Issue No 03 | 2019
LIFE
INTERVIEW
NINA
PREHOFER
to visitors, from hiking and surfing to
unexpected culinary delights. Azerbaijan
will offer an impression of life in the
Caucasus, and the tour organiser Beyond
the Standard will be offering wild trips
on your surfboard, in the snow or on your
motorcycle.
This year’s highlights include the man of
many talents Fynn Kliemann, YouTuber,
DIY expert, businessman and now also
singer. At the Berlin Travel Festival, he
will be talking about a skate park he built
in Syria. The one-legged climber Tom Belz
will be telling us the story of his ascent of
Kilimanjaro on crutches. Other speakers
include the writer Lea Rieck, who has
travelled the world on her motorbike, and
the biologist and survivalist Manuel Larbig
from “Waldsamkeit”, who will be sharing
exciting tips and handy tricks on starting
fires and on survival foods.
You often talk about “new” travellers.
Who are they, and what do they value?
This new generation wants an authentic,
creative and open engagement with other
countries and cultures. A question now
asked more and more often is “Do we need
to fly to the ends of the earth just because
we can? Or is there an exciting community
close to me that offers just as rich an
experience?” New travellers are firm in the
belief that it is worth spending a few extra
hours on a boat or in a train if they can
improve the quality of forests and rivers by
reducing CO2
consumption.
What do they need to be offered?
The new generation of travellers has devel-
oped a consciousness that has become
a movement. There is now a shift towards
careful, sustainable travel. A call to change
travel.
All tourist providers must be clear about
how and why someone should come
to or travel with them. New travellers
will reject quick deals. They will stop
thoughtlessly consuming and instead take
a socially and ecologically responsible
approach – and they want to get involved
in local communities.
Where will people be heading next?
On the one hand, to destinations close
at hand, which are more or less on our
doorstep, and on the other to what are
known as secondary cities, which are
not overrun by hordes of tourists.
After the great hype surrounding Georgia,
I would now confidently add the entire
Mr Neff, where is paradise?
When we think of “paradise”, we often
think first about escape. Escape from our
routine and responsibilities. Escape from
the stress of everyday life. Originally, the
word paradise meant a walled garden
oasis that offered a break from the dry
and blistering desert heat.
If paradise is not one particular
place, what can make a place our
personal paradise?
Nowadays, there is hardly anywhere in
the world that is inaccessible. And even
if a place is untouched, our efforts to find
it mean it will not remain that way for
long. When we meet other cultures, we not
infrequently trample their customs and
traditions under our hiking boots.
Our plastic and our rubbish is choking
the seas and being washed up on land.
From the Mount Everest base camp to the
piazzas of Rome, overtourism is leaving
mounds of rubbish in its wake, so when
we ask where paradise is, we perhaps also
need to ask what state it is in. How is it
being treated and experienced? How is
it being protected and conserved? How
does it affect us? Even more importantly,
how are we affecting it?
Why did you set up the
Berlin Travel Festival?
I had the idea for the Berlin Travel Festival
in 2016. I wanted to explore and highlight
what travel means in today’s world, from
the way in which trips are planned to how
moments are recorded and shared.
The basic idea is that travellers share their
experiences with potential travellers. We
want visitors to get inspiration and ideally
be encouraged to plan their next trip.
Too often, we find a thousand excuses not
to do something. Often, this is because we
are afraid of the unknown. The festival is
designed to show that it is worth overcom-
ing your fears and heading out.
What can we look forward to at the
2020 festival?
We are still in the midst of preparations
for next year, and at the moment, new
highlights are being added almost every
day. There will once again be around
200 exhibitors and c. 150 presentations
and workshops. We can, however, already
reveal that almost all parts of Australia
will be represented at the Festival – North,
Southern and Western Australia. The State
of Brandenburg will be bringing unusual
highlights from the various regions closer
Caucasus region and large parts of the
former USSR to the list. Hardly anywhere
in the world offers such a range of art,
culture, tradition and ethnic diversity
with a hearty dose of the surprising and
unexpected.
South Tyrol is another interesting region
with a lot to offer. Everything from
places for relaxation and reflection
to outdoor adventures – not forgetting
Michelin-starred cuisine rooted in
Alpine tradition.
Will travel get “greener”?
Travel will get “better”. We will all learn
to take a more responsible approach to
resources. We need to challenge ourselves
to create a more complex and connected,
shared idea of travel: an idea of travel
that starts on our doorstep, embraces the
world around us and is focused on a more
sustainable future.
This does not mean that we should not
continue to explore the world. But it
does mean that we should also look closer
to home.
What ecological standards must
destinations and hotels meet in future?
In general, destinations and hotels should
make a contribution to sustainability –
whether this be with innovative architec-
ture, regional organic cuisine, health-
focused wellbeing programmes, high
environmental standards or community
involvement on the part of staff. All these
aspects make an important contribution
for people and the environment in their
region whilst offering guests an authentic
and memorable holiday experience.
People are travelling alone more often
than ever. Is this reflected in what
providers are offering?
Yes, the trend towards solo travel and solo
female travel is being reflected in the
services available. Tour operators are put-
ting together packages for solo travellers,
apps are offering travel match-making
and some business hotels have women-
only floors.
paradise?
What are the needs of solo travellers?
The needs of solo travellers can vary
widely. Firstly, a woman often has
completely different priorities from a man
when travelling. If you then also look at the
purpose of the journey, for example
a business trip, city break or adventure,
the picture is completely different again.
Perhaps the greatest advantage of solo
travel is that you do not need to compro-
mise; you are completely independent
and free to do what you want.
Another point can be that solo travellers
are more open to engaging with new
people. Couples or groups have a slight
tendency to withdraw and not be quite so
receptive to inspiration from the outside.
Travel can thus rapidly become something
that engages and connects.
What national borders should we
absolutely cross before we die?
Bucket lists are outdated. Each of us should
decide ourselves how many air miles a
year we can justify and how we can balance
them out. Many people now only go on
holidays that are possible by rail. Depend-
ing on how much time you have, you can
then consider how many borders you want
to cross, or not …
What makes for a successful trip?
Exchange with locals, experiencing
hospitality, that feeling of being happy and
welcome in a given place, in other words
typical local cuisine and trying the exotic,
and finding peace and quiet – when I am
on holiday, I want to have to worry about as
little as possible. Or, as Harald Juhnke said,
“no commitment and a few glasses of the
good stuff”.
This is the title of the upcoming Berlin Travel Festival.
Event founder Bernd Neff spoke to us about the search
for paradise, what locations will be drawing visitors in the
coming years and how travel is getting “better”.

16. 16THE Stylemate
Issue No 03 | 2019
Photo:DirkSkiba
LIFE
a letter
to bacchus
F RA N Z O B E L
Lounging around half-naked with vine tendrils
in your hair and a floozy on your arm, you
look like a pimp who’s walked through a hedge
backwards. But if that is what you want, who
am I to stop you. Keep on grinning like a
madman; the smile will be wiped off your face
soon enough. But I digress. I, Pancras Sobriety,
accountant, led a life of abstinence and in strict
accordance with sensible, prudent limits –
until I was forced to make your acquaintance,
or rather the acquaintance of the product that
you advertise. And it all started so innocently.
The staff at our company organised an outing.
Usually, I would shun such activities and devote
myself instead to my books. On this occasion,
however, I had great difficulty in withstanding
the urging of my superior, a man by the name of
Fidelio Meier. When Miss Lacrimosa, who holds
the reins of our secretariat, announced that
“Sobriety is joining us”, I was all but compelled
to attend. I should perhaps mention here that
the young lady has considerable charm.
The excursion was to be an opportunity to
explore the beautiful countryside of the Wachau.
And so it proved to be. The weather was
delightful, as was the picture presented by our
party. As we proceeded on our constitutional,
I had no inkling of the impending disaster. On
the contrary, I enjoyed the view of the vineyards.
Carefully strung wires, as regular as a balance
sheet, and sophisticated irrigation systems.
Our guides explained that the herbs growing
on the ground gave the beverage a particular
quality. The blooming rosebushes at the ends
of the rows of vines were not merely pleasant
to look at, but also useful, as they gave an
indication of any mildew. As I said, everything
was completely innocent. It was not until we
arrived in a wine cellar that I should have smelt
the rat lurking in those barrels, for it was simply
impossible to refuse the samples offered.
I should stress that the beverage by no means
reminded me of elder or apple with a light citrus
note, but in fact of vinegar. Only a short time
later, my mathematical self was, as they say,
one over the eight. You are the one responsible
for this, sir. I am by nature a reserved man, but
Sodom and Gomorra were a picnic compared to
what happened on this excursion. Nothing but
excess! If one is to believe the reports, I danced
half-naked on the table. People are familiar with
my proverbial taciturnity. Yet under the influ-
ence of this wine, I forgot myself. Apparently,
I entertained the assembled company, gave
Fidelio Meier a piece of my mind and wrested
a promise of marriage from Miss Lacrimosa.
All this was your fault, Mr Bacchus. My life is
ruined; I am floundering and all boundaries
have blurred. I have fallen victim to wine. But
let me tell you one thing: I shall not end like
you, or at least not immediately. True, my boss
has promoted me, I am suddenly popular with
my colleagues and Lacrimosa likes me, but if
you imagine for a minute that we are therefore
going to name the child she is carrying after
you, you are quite mistaken. That is the truth
of which you are doubtless aware, as that truth
lies in you, in vino veritas.
CHEERS.
Dear Sir,
Let me begin
by telling you
that you look
ridiculous.
Franzobel is an Austrian
writer. He has published
numerous plays, works of
prose and poems. His plays
have been produced in
countries including Mexico,
Argentina, Chile, Denmark,
France, Poland, Romania,
Ukraine, Italy, Russia and
the USA.
His great historical adven-
ture novel “Das Floß der
Medusa” (Zsolnay publish-
ing house) was awarded
the Bayerischer Buchpreis
(Bavarian Book Award) 2017
and was on the shortlist for
the German Book Prize 2017.

17. Photo:JOE.CONDRON,ROCKZERMATT.COM
The Matterhorn, one of the highest mountains in the Alps, is a symbol
of Switzerland and famous for its striking shape. The design hotel Matterhorn FOCUS
lies at the foot of this mountain in Zermatt, and offers not just a great location and
amazing views, but also personal service, wonderful amenities and a relaxed ambiance.
L I F E S T Y L E HO T E L S
LIFESTYLEHOTELS.NET
E I N E R D I E S E R B E S ON D E R E N O R T E :
M AT T E R H O R N F O C U S D E S I G N H O T E L
Z E R M AT T
Selection03 | 2019

18. LH 02THE Stylemate
Issue No 03 | 2019
Photos:MatterhornFocus,SimonBernlieger
matterhorn
vibesMATTERHORN
FOCUS
DESIGN HOTEL
S W I T Z E R L A N D
Z E R M AT T
30
rooms
with a view
1
luxurious
spa

19. LH 03THE Stylemate
Issue No 03 | 2019
As I watch the live webcam from my
house and admire the wintry beauty of
the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise, a song
by Wolfgang Ambros comes to mind.
Perhaps because I’m from Styria. And
almost certainly because these snow-
covered mountains bring out the same
yearning in me as the singer expresses
in his song “Schifoan”. So I too put on my
skis and head for Zermatt, Switzerland.
For the Matterhorn Focus Design Hotel.
A FRAME FOR THE MOUNTAIN
Christian and Sonja Noti built this design
hotel in 2008 in a top location right at
the valley station for the Matterhorn
Glacier Paradise. The original plan was for
two buildings before a third unexpectedly
became available. It was initially left in
its original condition, but has now been
modified to fit with the other two. Like its
sister houses, the third building now also
has a wonderful timber façade, a stone
roof and floor-to-ceiling windows – and
the view is better than any live webcam!
The peak of the Matterhorn rises up in all
its glory, and it’s clear why all that some
people want to do here is get out their skis.
At the Matterhorn Focus Design Hotel, you can look
forward to the winter season with even greater excitement.
New rooms and suites with a view of that majestic mountain –
and free-standing bathtubs. In other words, a great atmosphere
and beautiful views are once again guaranteed.
From the valley station, you can take
the “Matterhorn Express” straight up
the Matterhorn, or up the Riffelberg
to Gornergrat or the Italian ski resort
of Cervinia.
OFF THE PISTE AND INTO THE SPA
I head from the slopes straight to the spa,
which has an indoor pool and outdoor
jacuzzi, Finnish sauna, caldarium and
salt water pool. The spa offers traditional
sports massage as well as lomi lomi and
hot stone. On my way to the spa, I was
completely taken with the swanky new
ski room, which has separate lockers for
your ski boots. And they are heated!
“We don’t have our own restaurant, but
we do have a small snack menu. We won’t
let our guests go hungry! I also recom-
mend the many excellent restaurants in
Zermatt. The selection is huge” explains
manager Patrizia Gasser when asked
about eating out. What is she particularly
proud of? “Our guests always stress how
great the service from our staff is. Many
of our employees have been with us since
we opened. That is pretty unique in this
industry.”
Sitting by the fire in the lounge, I too can
already feel the hotel’s good vibes. The
fireplace was designed by local artist Heinz
Julen, who also had a key role in much of
the rest of the hotel’s interior design.
One last question: which of the 30 rooms
has the best view of Matterhorn? Now
that would be telling. You’ll just have to
find out for yourself ...
Photos:MatterhornFocus

20. LH 04THE Stylemate
Issue No 03 | 2019
Photos:NIDUMHotel / Lobby:MarkWiesinger,HotelAuersperg
NIDUM CASUAL LUXURY HOTEL
Where opposites attract and combine
to create a feeling of harmony: the NIDUM Hotel
is the perfect place for a luxurious holiday in a relaxed
atmosphere. And for the ultimate culinary treats.
This is a hotel that lives up to its name. In
Mösern near Seefeld, the “Schwalbennest”
or “swallow’s nest” of the Tyrol, the NIDUM
Hotel (Latin for “nest”) is a stylish retreat
for a new generation of travellers seeking
a relaxing holiday in a luxurious setting.
That very combination of opposites is
what makes a stay in this family-run hotel
so attractive: luxury meets casual, and
elegance meets cosiness. This philosophy
extends to the kitchen of the casual luxury
hotel, where exacting head chef Michael
Eigl produces the perfect symbiosis
of traditional and modern culinary
specialities. In one of the three restaurant
areas, adventurous and discerning guests
are treated to fresh, seasonal and local
produce from culinary masters. Asked
about the hotel’s signature dish, Michael
Eigl recommends smoked Leutasch trout
on a bed of cucumber with pistachios.
The kitchen team is constantly devising
new delights for gourmet guests, and
vegans will also find a large selection of
dishes to choose from on the menu each
day. Those not wishing to fall straight into
their cosy beds in one on of the 57 spacious
rooms after such a meal can spend the
rest of the evening relaxing on the Apero
Terrace or chilling out in the champagne
bar. You can literally drink in the hotel
ambience with a NIDUM gin & tonic with
juniper berries, slices of apple, elderberries
and ginger. On that note: Cheers!
absolute
luxury
AU S T R I A
T Y RO L / M Ö S E R N / S E E F E L D
1
culinary
concept
3
restaurant
areas
an inspiring
philosophy
All the changes have been worth it.
Hotel Auersperg is now attracting staff
who appreciate this approach and are
excited about becoming part of the team –
not least so they can help shape what
happens. That excitement is, of course,
also clear to the guests. “During the Salz-
burg Festival in particular, we host guests
with very high standards. And that is
precisely when I realise how greatly people
appreciate what we do. Guests love the
warmth and authenticity they experience
from everyone at the hotel. More and
more people want that experience, but
it cannot be bought”, Bettina Wiesinger
firmly believes. In other words, this is
a win-win situation for everyone. If the
staff are happy, the guests are happy,
and the hoteliers are happy – and the staff
are happy. A cycle of quality.
“A careful and respectful approach, clear
communication and an attitude that
promotes peace. That is what we want.
We were also fed up with having to justify
why we pay our staff more and sell our
products at higher prices. The logical
decision was therefore to commit our
philosophy to paper and become part of
the Economy for the Common Good”,
explains Bettina Wiesinger. The first step
was for the hotel to obtain its organic
certification – it had always bought only
the very best quality. The Wiesingers then
wanted to share the success with their
staff, so they used profits to gift employees
shares that could be cashed in tax-free.
The Economy for the Common Good is also
about solidarity and human dignity.
“We believe in a good life for everyone.
We also enjoy being able to take time
for important issues that go beyond the
everyday. That is inspiring.”
Business that feels good. That could be one way
to describe the philosophy of Hotel Auersperg and
its owners Bettina and Mark Wiesinger. To demonstrate
and highlight that philosophy and ambition, they set up
a business of the Economy for the Common Good.
HOTEL & VILLA AUERSPERG SALZBURG
AU S T R I A
S A L Z B U RG
55
rooms
in the hotel and in the villa

21. LH 05THE Stylemate
Issue No 03 | 2019
Photos:AlfioGarozzo / RobinBall
NEW
MEMBER
A very special corner of the world that
is more than worth a visit. The Country
Boutique Hotel Monaci delle Terre Nere in
Sicily lies between Europe’s highest active
volcano, Etna, and the sea. Relaxing in the
hotel garden with Etna towering above
you is a simply wonderful feeling. The
impressive volcano is not only guaranteed
to lift your spirits, it has also produced an
amazingly fertile soil. Fruit, vegetables,
herbs and wine: the hotel grows them all
on its own farm – which is what makes
the food at the restaurant, the “Locanda
Nerello”, so delicious.
Everything started with Guido Coffa’s
vision. He wanted to combine a series of
agriculture plots, reinvigorate the land
and let people experience the energy of
Etna. Since the hotel opened in 2012, it
has grown to 27 rooms, suites and villas.
It is the people who make the place what
it has become. The dedicated team from
head chef to landscape architects create
absolute beauty – doubtless under the
inspiring influence of Etna.
HORSE, E-BIKE OR HELICOPTER?
“Our guests are looking for the special,
the unique, and a genuine focus on nature.
They want a meaningful connection with
their destination. In our hotel, they can
escape the tourist trails and find peace”,
says general manager Giovanna Mangan-
aro. She has her guests sample Etna wines,
climb the volcano, ride horses or e-bikes,
and, if they prefer the view from above,
even sends them up in a helicopter. Guests
are encouraged to get involved in the estate
and enjoy living life in the “slow lane”.
For example, they can help filch organic
eggs from the protective hens, learn
Sicilian cuisine and how to make pasta,
attend yoga courses or simply explore the
area on wonderful walks. For those seeking
more civilisation, Taormina, Catania and
the sea are all within easy reach.
IDYLLS FROM A BYGONE ERA
The estate covers a series of hills with lava
rock terraces running across them.
The black earth left behind by the volcano
has a strange pull. Local, organic vines are
cultivated in the vineyard, and everything
in the fruit and vegetable patch is also
organic. At the centre of the estate is the
main building with its white baroque
patterned stone. You can see it has been
restored with great care, and it provides a
charming centrepiece. Discover the lawns
and quiet terraces that border the olive and
lemon groves, and end the day by slipping
into the elegant pool with its sea view.
You no longer need to dream: this is where
dreams come true.
MONACI DELLE
TERRE NERE –
COUNTRY BOUTIQUE
HOTEL
A volcano, a vision and an incredible idyll.
The Monaci delle Terre Nere in Sicily is one of
the most beautiful places in Italy.
black
earth
I TA LY
S I C I LY / Z A F F E RA N A E T N E A
27
rooms
1
certified organic
farm

22. LH 06THE Stylemate
Issue No 03 | 2019
Photos:Heldentheater / HollmannHotels&Apartments
Trieste, Vienna, the Turracher Höhe
pass, Paris and Sri Lanka are
your five favourite places. What is
the essence of a favourite place?
I grew up in Turracher Höhe and used to
go to Trieste all the time with my uncle
when I was a boy. These are places from
my childhood. Sri Lanka is a far-off place
that my wife and I fell in love with. In other
words, my favourite places are places that
I associate with my childhood and my
family.
What are the “must dos” for visitors
to these places?
In Trieste, you have to jump naked in the
sea. On the Turracher Höhe, it’s jumping
naked into the snow or cooking on an open
fire. In Sri Lanka, let every pore in your
skin breathe and simply inhale the Indian
Ocean. Vienna is Vienna and Paris is Paris.
What is a must in every Crazy Hollmann?
All Hollmanns pay huge attention to
detail. The concepts are mine and I am
100 % committed to them. That is why
I don’t want to create hotels, because
too many employees dilute the concept.
“Apartments” doesn’t really do justice
to them – all Hollmanns are really my
homes that I happen to share with others.
A lot of love has gone into them all.
Which details are particularly important
to you?
A lot of things are very important to me!
However, compromise is always needed,
for limitless spending is not good for
a project – it makes it too “flashy” and
that’s not something I want. You need to
decide what your main focus is. Everything
that guests touch – for example cutlery,
crockery, door handles and light switches –
is very important to me, as is using natural
materials. I would never fit plastic window
frames.
You always travel with your family.
Why is travelling together better than
travelling alone?
Because it’s much more fun and because
travel is always about sharing. I would
start to cry if I had to watch a sunset
in Sri Lanka on my own, and jumping in
the sea in Trieste without my children
is just not as much fun. If I cannot share
these experiences, they are not worth
experiencing.
What are you “crazy” about?
About my children and about my wife.
And about my home, but home to me is
Vienna, Trieste, Turracher Höhe, Sri Lanka
and Paris.
Mr Hollmann, you claim to hate hotels.
What is so terrible about them?
Of course I was trying to be provocative,
but I do in fact feel that many hotels share
a similar problem. Your first impression
is a beautiful lobby, and then you step into
your room and get an immediate downer.
Almost everyone has had this experience,
haven’t they? That is what I dislike most
about hotels, and it happened to me
recently in a 5-star establishment. I was
happy when I could finally go home. Places
likes that are all show on the outside and
a major disappointment inside, although
I should say that we are very spoiled by our
own places.
You say that “Crazy Hollmann” is “travel
for the advanced”. How do you define
“advanced travel”?
This follows on from what I said before.
Travel for the advanced starts when you
no longer want to experience those hotel
blues. We often feel like we’ve been taken
for fools, for example when a massage
costs 250 dollars. What exactly is the
massage supposed to do that is worth so
much? We want to offer a package where
everything is just right. Admittedly, it is
not cheap either, but it is fair. And things
can happen at our places. Recently, I had
to repair a gate in Trieste.
100 %
living
5 destinations
Endless attention to detail
F RA NC E : PA R I S
I TA LY: T R I E S T E
AU S T R I A : T U R RAC H & V I E N N A
S R I L A N KA : D I KW E L L A S O U T H
Crazy Hollmann Worldwide

23. LH 07THE Stylemate
Issue No 03 | 2019
HOLLMANN PARIS
HOLLMANN AM MEER, TRIESTE
HOLLMANN BELETAGE, VIENNA
Photos:Heldentheater / HollmannHotels&Apartments
UTMT RESORT
SRI LANKA
HOLLMANN AM BERG
TURRACHER HÖHE

24. LH 08THE Stylemate
Issue No 03 | 2019
Photos:ChristophSchöchPhotography / AntonKlocker
BERGLAND
DESIGN- UND
WELLNESSHOTEL
SÖLDEN
James Bond actor Daniel Craig once
selected the Design and Spa Hotel Bergland
in Sölden as his personal retreat.
Shaken, not stirred! We all know how
James Bond prefers his vodka martini.
The cocktail of choice for actor Daniel
Craig during the filming of “Spectre”, on
the other hand, is top secret. “Our lips are
sealed”, laughs Elisabeth Grüner, manager
of the traditional Hotel Bergland in
Sölden, which provided – literally and
figuratively – high-quality accommodation
for the British celebrity at 1368 metres.
For as well as being “5-star”, the fami-
ly-run hotel is also the first design hotel
in the Ötztal. Elisabeth Grüner and her
husband Sigi took over the 60-year-old
Hotel Bergland from her parents in 1999,
and in 2010, they demolished all the old
structures in a record seven months, and
rebuilt. The result is an exciting archi-
tectural achievement with buildings at
different levels and angles and extensive
grounds. Space was a priority for the
owners. That also applied to the suites,
which measure on average 43 m2
and are
dominated by warm, earthy tones and
natural materials. Comfort and cosiness
are guaranteed with loden sofas, larch or
pine furniture, and rocking chairs with
sheepskin from the family’s own farm.
ACTIVE RELAXATION
True to the motto “active relaxation”, the
hotel and surrounding area offer design
and spa-loving guests a whole range of
activities and options. After an “all you can
dream of” breakfast, sports enthusiasts
can spend a day in one of Austria’s largest
winter sports resorts before heading to
ice Q, the futuristic gourmet restaurant
and filming location for the 007 block-
buster at Gaislachkogel. The spectacular
underground James Bond exhibition
“007 ELEMENTS” opened right next
door in the summer of 2018 – a must
for all fans of the famous spy. Back at
Hotel Bergland, head for the fifth floor
to revive and re-energise in the 1700 m2
Sky Spa with panoramic views of the
Nederkogel. The hay beds in the quiet
room and cosy sauna are just some of the
great places to relax here. Why not take
a dip in the large indoor pool or heated
outdoor whirlpool in Grander water,
which also refreshes guests in the rest of
the hotel. A new open-air swimming pool
will add yet another highlight to the spa
facilities on the roof terrace from summer
2020. After relaxing in the spa, you can
head to one of the hotel’s own restaurants
to finish recharging your batteries in style.
The team led by head chef Stephan Muhr
indulges their passion for local produce
and authenticity across the two floors of
the “black sheep” gourmet restaurant.
The à-la-carte restaurant “Wine and Dine”
with its open-view kitchen serves gourmet
steak, fondue and raclette.
hollywood
in the
hills
IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF 007
Want to know where the actor who plays
the world’s most famous secret agent
went to unwind after a hard day’s filming?
Look no further than the James Bond
Suite. Daniel Craig stayed in this exclusive
suite and was clearly delighted with the
excellent service at Hotel Bergland: “Daniel
Craig personally thanked the competent
member of housekeeping staff and the spa
management with a handshake and a gift”,
reveals Elisabeth Grüner. And while the
latest 007 film has long since joined the
ranks of Bond hits, a touch of Hollywood
remains at Hotel Bergland …
AU S T R I A
Ö T Z TA L / S Ö L D E N
86
suites
1.700 m2
Sky Spa

25. LH 09THE Stylemate
Issue No 03 | 2019
Photos:NelsonGarrido
NEW
MEMBER
SUBLIME
COMPORTA
COUNTRY RETREAT
& SPA
accessed directly from the private terrace
of the suite. The hotel’s permaculture
organic garden is home to over 300 species
of plants, including aromatic herbs, edible
flowers and vegetables, all of which are
cultivated for the exclusive use of the
hotel restaurants and the Sublime Spa. In
the hotel’s orchard, you will also discover
a number of traditional regional and
Portuguese citrus fruits.
Guests at Sublime Comporta will experi-
ence true luxury and enjoy life at a slower
pace – simply sublime, just as the hotel
name promises.
Listen to the sea, breathe in the salty air and
feel the breeze in your hair. On a small jetty located on
an estuary, feel the wood under your feet, watch the waves
dancing and listen to the fisherman at work.
Owners of Sublime Comporta Gonçalo
Pessoa and Patrícia Trigo believe that
sustainable investments of this kind
represent a contribution to the region,
to its future, to its history and to the local
community. “We even built the villas
around the existing trees so that we didn’t
have to cut them down,” the two explain
with a laugh. Heat energy is provided
by solar panels, and the hotel is even
self-sufficient in terms of having its own
drinking water supply.
PAYING HOMAGE TO CARRASQUEIRA
The new Bio Pool Suites are reminiscent
of the little fishing port of Carrasqueira,
with architect José Alberto Charrua using
traditional materials and techniques to
create a feeling of natural minimalism
combined with a cosy atmosphere.
The fresh water of the biological pool is
of course free of chemicals and can be
Comporta is a small Portuguese commu-
nity on the Atlantic coast that borders
the Reserva Natural do Estuário do Sado
nature reserve, and is home to a unique
little fishing port called Carrasqueira.
Over two centuries ago, locals created a
traditional anchorage system consisting
of multiple wooden jetties on stilts (cais
palafitico) that run in zig-zag patterns
across the muddy marshes. The tides are
particularly strong here – at low tide, the
colourful fishing boats lie on the silt and
wait to be launched, while at high tide, the
water level rises and the fishermen can get
to work. Reaching many metres out to sea,
the jetties invite you to wander out to the
end and experience the sheer contentment
of being truly alone, at one with yourself
and the world around you in perfect
tranquility. You can also join the locals
in enjoying the freshest fish and most
delicious seafood you have ever tasted at
one of the little restaurants alongside the
beautifully painted or naturally weathered
fishing huts.
LIVING AMONG NATURE
A short distance away, nestled between the
sand dunes and surrounded by pines and
cork oaks, vineyards, rice fields and white
sandy beaches, lies Sublime Comporta.
This 17-acre complex boasts 23 rooms and
suites, 22 villas, a spa, three restaurants,
a gym, a yoga and pilates room, outdoor
and indoor swimming pools, a tennis court
and a paddle court, all of which offer a
friendly, welcoming atmosphere despite
how spread out the facilities are. A key
focus of the architecture and landscaping
of the estate was sustainability, meaning
the materials and techniques used create
as little environmental impact as possible.
an uplifting
feeling
P O R T U G A L
A L E N T E J O / M U DA
90
suites
1
Bio Pool

26. LH 10THE Stylemate
Issue No 03 | 2019
Photos:@fotoperauer / @guentheregger
a natural
spectacleGRADONNA ****S
MOUNTAIN
RESORT CHALETS &
HOTEL
AU S T R I A
E A S T T Y RO L /
KA L S A M G RO S S G L O C K N E R
115
rooms
in the hotel
41
chalets
1
fantastic
natural spectacle

27. LH 11THE Stylemate
Issue No 03 | 2019
Photos:@fotoperauer / @guentheregger
“Party animals be warned, this is not
the place for you”, says a smiling Martha
Schultz, co-owner of the Schultz Group,
which runs the Gradonna and a number
of other properties and facilities. That is
how it should be, for the greatest spectacle
is the breathtaking scenery that guests
at the Gradonna Mountain Resort in Kals
am Großglockner can enjoy. What you
might call an Alpine amphitheatre has
been created at an altitude of over 1300 m,
and the most engrossing drama to unfold
here is that of nature itself. The hotel and
chalets are laid out like one of the region’s
typical hamlets, and the timber and glass
structures fit in perfectly with the high
Alpine surroundings. “I would almost go
so far as to say that this location and
this architecture are unique in the Alps”,
says a proud Martha Schultz.
Gradonna – the very name sounds like a force of
nature. In fact, it is a 4-star superior resort named
after a nearby prehistoric archaeological site.
SKI IN, SKI OUT
A perfect location right beside the
downhill run for a genuine “ski in, ski
out” experience. You are just one push
of your ski poles away from a great day’s
skiing. Guests in the chalets can watch
the first skiers in the morning gliding
down the slopes. The Großglockner
Kals-Matrei ski resort is the largest in
East Tyrol and has 15 cable cars and lifts
and a large number of pistes. It has
something for everyone – from endless
pistes to small freeride paradises. Ski
passes can be obtained from the reception,
and the hotel also has its own ski hire and
sports shop.
Culinary delights are not far to seek either.
Gault-Millau head chef Michael Karl serves
East Tyrol specialities with Mediterranean
touches – against the backdrop of Hohe
Tauern National Park. A responsible
approach to nature and its produce and
materials is key not just in the kitchen,
but throughout the hotel. For example,
guests will find the Gradonna’s own vegan
cosmetic brand, MAGDALENA’S, produced
in Tyrol, in both the spa and the bedrooms.
“We create natural beauty using natural
ingredients only. We harness the power of
nature. Skin is our body’s largest organ and
we need to take care of it. Our MAGDA-
LENA’S products do exactly that: they
preserve and protect the natural beauty
of your skin”, Martha Schultz explains.
For winter skiing or a great spa break,
with the family or as a couple, the
Gradonna offers a perfect and authentic
experience. The only question that remains
is how to secure the best seat in the house.
That might be the window seats in the
bedrooms, where you can curl up in the
morning or evening and let your gaze and
mind wander into the distance. Or it might
be the cosy relaxation areas in the spa
with their huge windows looking out onto
a mountain panorama. Then there’s the
outdoor pool or the lawn beside the natural
bathing pool ... In short, no easy decision!

28. THE Stylemate
Issue No 03 | 2019
D I R E C T O RY
L I F E S T Y L E H O T E L S
BRAMBERG Wildkogel Resorts
FISS Alpslodge Life.Style.Hotel.Fiss
FÜGEN Alpina Zillertal family.lifestyle.hotel
GASCHURN Montafon Lodge Luxury Lodgehotel und Spa
GEINBERG Geinberg 5
Private Spa Villas
GRAZ Augarten Art Hotel
GRAZ Lendhotel
GRAZ Roomz Graz
GROSSARL Hotel Nesslerhof
HALLSTATT Hallstatt Hideaway
INNSBRUCK Nala Individuellhotel
INNSBRUCK – KÜHTAI Jagdschloss Kühtai
KALS AM GROSSGLOCKNER Gradonna Mountain Resort
KALTENBACH Das Kaltenbach
LÄNGENFELD Naturhotel Waldklause
LEOGANG Puradies
MARIA ALM Hotel Eder
MARIA ALM Hotel Sepp
MAYRHOFEN ElisabethHotel Premium Private Retreat
MELLAU Sonne Lifestyle Resort
MÖSERN Nidum Casual Luxury Hotel
MÜHLDORF LA PETITE IVY
NAUDERS Aparthotel Arabella
OBERGURGL Hotel The Crystal
OBERTAUERN Hotel Panorama Obertauern
SAALBACH HINTERGLEMM Alpin Juwel
SALZBURG CITY Hotel Goldgasse
SALZBURG CITY Hotel Stein
SALZBURG CITY Hotel & Villa Auersperg
SCHLADMING Stadthotel Brunner
SERFAUS Alfa Hotel
SÖLDEN Hotel Bergland Sölden
TURRACHER HÖHE Hollmann am Berg
UDERNS Sportresidenz Zillertal
VIENNA Hollmann Beletage
VIENNA Hotel Das Tyrol
VIENNA Hotel Schani Salon
VIENNA Hotel Schani Wien
ZELL AM SEE Eva Hof Lakeside Suites
ZELL AM SEE Seehotel Bellevue
ZELL AM SEE Senses Violett Suites
AUSTRIA
SUTIVAN – BRAČ Hotel Lemongarden
CROATIA
CHINA
NANJING Kayumanis Nanjing Private Villas & Spa
FRANCE
PARIS Hollmann Paris
HUNGARY
BUDAPEST Lanchid 19
GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN Das Graseck
HUSUM AN DER NORDSEE Thomas Hotel Spa & Lifestyle
NÜRNBERG art&business Hotel
SANKT ENGLMAR Berghotel Maibrunn
STUTTGART V8 Hotel
STUTTGART V8 Hotel Classic
TIMMENDORFER STRAND SAND
TIMMENDORFER STRAND Hotel Seehuus
GERMANY
AMALFI COAST Casa Angelina
AMALFI COAST Relais Blu
BRIXEN Hotel Pupp
CAMAIORE Locanda al Colle
TIROLO NEAR MERANO Der Küglerhof
GSIES La Casies
ISSENGO Gourmet & Boutiquehotel Tanzer
CALABRIA Praia Art Resort
LIVIGNO Hotel Larice
MERAN/O Suiteseven Stadthotel Meran/o
MERANSEN Hotel Gitschberg
MONTEFOLLONICO Follonico
RIMINI i-Suite
RIVA DEL GARDA Holiday IV Gardan
SAN CANDIDO Post Hotel – Tradition & Lifestyle
SICILY, CATANIA Monaci delle Terre Nere
TRIESTE Hollmann Trieste
VENICE LIDO Hotel Villa Pannonia
ITALY
ALENTEJO Sublime Comporta
ALGARVE Vila Joya
ALGARVE Vila Valverde
ALGARVE Vila Vita Collection
MADEIRA Quinta da Bela Vista
PORTUGAL
LUCERNE Hotel des Balances
SAMNAUN Alpinlodge & Spa
ZERMATT Hotel Matterhorn Focus
SWITZERLAND
GIRONA Lavida Hotel
MALLORCA Convent de la Missio
MALLORCA Fontsanta Hotel Thermal Spa & Wellness
MALLORCA Hotel Can Simoneta
MALLORCA Hotel Glòria de Sant Jaume
MALLORCA Hotel Tres
MALLORCA Pleta de Mar
SPAIN
SRI LANKA
DICKWELLA SOUTH UTMT – Underneath the Mango Tree
L I F E S T Y L E H O T E L S . N E T
We offer hand-picked, independent & stylish hotels for design-orien-
ted globetrotters and sophisticated travellers.
Direct contact to the hotel
First-hand information
Best price
Best availability
LIFESTYLEHOTELS
book directly. Enjoy benefits!

29. 17THE Stylemate
Issue No 03 | 2019
Photo:shutterstock.com,JacobBoomsma
m
o
t
o
r
C I T Y
STYLE
Detroit. of success and hard work by Albert Kahn,
the American architect of German extrac-
tion who was behind countless buildings
in Detroit. Nature is now reclaiming the
site and creating something new.
the headlines and there was a “white
flight” from town. Today, the city is
happily recovering and returning to its
former coolness. The photo shows the
world’s largest abandoned factory, the
Packard Plant. It was designed as a sign
Once the symbol of the American auto-
motive industry with the music of
“Motown” and a flourishing economy,
Detroit experienced surely the hardest
fall of them all in 2013: the city officially
went bankrupt, violent crime hogged

30. 18THE Stylemate
Issue No 03 | 2019
tick
Photo:NicoleFranzen
tock
Detroit is
back!
Leading the way
is Shinola.
Alongside watches
and beautiful
lifestyle products,
the brand has
now opened its
first “Shinola”
hotel.

31. 19THE Stylemate
Issue No 03 | 2019
STYLE
Photos:NicoleFranzen
TEXT BY
NINA
PREHOFER
“It is about the
community and
the people.”
This city has experienced a lot – probably
all the highs and lows you could imagine.
So the new spirit that has recently
returned is all the more encouraging, and
a promising sign for the future. The first
Shinola Hotel, opened this year in down-
town Detroit, could be taken as a symbol
of this renewal. Launched in 2011 as a
watchmaker, the company rapidly became
a luxury design brand with an unshakeable
commitment to creating things that last.
The portfolio of the Detroit-based business
includes everything from watches and
leather goods to jewellery and audio prod-
ucts. What all products share is a focus on
quality and a passion for producing won-
derful experiences for the wearer. And that
was behind the idea for a hotel. A hotel
that was to bring together all Shinola’s
expertise in quality, workmanship, people
and attention to detail. That the hotel had
to be in Detroit was clear from the outset,
and it was to be a place that not only
welcomed visitors from elsewhere but was
also for local residents; somewhere they
could experience the world of design made
in Detroit. Indeed, the Shinola rapidly
became the city’s “living room”. Small
wonder, located as it is in the heart of the
historical Woodward shopping district and
with its great views inside and out.
Daniel Cadell is the Shinola’s creative
director. To him, the project was not just
about showing how the world of Shinola
looks, feels and smells; it was also about
community and people. About how people
connect with each other. He finds hotels
hugely exciting because they are about
escapism, luxury and comfort. All this
is reflected in the hotel’s interior. This is
design you feel can only come from the
USA – absolute perfection, but not flat
or characterless. Nostalgic, yet modern.
Fantastic materials and mattresses
made in Michigan, and woodwork from
the firm just down the road. Colour also
plays a huge role. The rooms are spacious
and every last detail down to the inside
of the wardrobe is just right. You can
order almost anything from the “menu”
in the room – from a 6-dollar water to a
1500-dollar Bluetooth speaker. The Shinola
speaker can, of course, also be tested in
your room. A well-stocked minibar with
sweet and salty snacks practically cries
“Go crazy on me!”
GOOD
NEIGHBORHOOD
Detroit has amazing architecture with
breathtaking features. The Shinola is a
successful combination of past and future.
It is housed in existing buildings that have
been revitalised and returned to their
former glory. The bar was given a glossy
seventies look with lovely rounded edges
in the woodwork. Delicious Italian cuisine
is served in the restaurant, “San Morello”.
The urban neighbourhood restaurant run
by chef Andrew Carmellini offers wonder-
ful, authentic dishes and home-made
pasta using local and seasonal produce.
The Shinola Hotel has brought a host of
small businesses back to the area that are
well worth a visit – whether you come
from the suburbs or are in Detroit for the
first time. Detroit is back!
shinolahotel.com

32. 20THE Stylemate
Issue No 03 | 2019
Photos:Form&Seek
The Form&Seek design studio led by Bilge Nur
Saltik specialises in newly developed techniques and
modern craftsmanship. Great attention is paid
to workmanship and materials – and this approach
produces functional and playful objects.
Where in Detroit do you find inspiration?
There are examples of beautiful archi-
tecture right across the city. Even if the
residents or functions have changed
during the years of crisis, those buildings
remain strong in all their glamour.
I like discovering new corners of the
city each day.
Your café recommendation?
My new favourite is the Ochre Bakery
(ochrebakery.com) for coffee and good
cakes. I also love a casual drink at Shipping
Co. (detroitshippingcompany.com) when
the sun is shining.
F O R M & S E E K
formandseek.com
What is the link between your design
and Detroit?
We are new on the Detroit design scene.
I was once constantly on the move, but
recently decided to move here perma-
nently. This raw, comeback city of Detroit
harbours a whole lot of creativity and it is
inspiring to be a part of that. “Form&Seek”
has always been about the process and
about celebrating the story behind the
object. Finding designers and doers in the
city who thought like us made the decision
an easy one.
An object by you, the “OP-vase”, is part
of the World Wide Things Collection.
What is special about it?
The vase was produced by hand in collabo-
ration with Turkish artisans in Istanbul.
I wanted to design an unusual object
that brought a bit of surprise into our
daily life. This series is part of a larger
series entitled “OP-jects” (optical objects).
Capsule shapes are designed to create
the impression of a bouquet with just
one flower through optical distortion by
multiplying the colourful petals inside
the domed vase. The kaleidoscopic effect
of the glass magnifies its contents and
gives the illusion of multiple abstract
plants.
The collection consists of three vases
of different sizes, each with its own
individual pattern in thick, hand-blown
glass and shaped with precision to
produce the desired effect. Change your
perspective on the vase and the shape of
the individual flower becomes a bouquet
but with a single, congruent shape
remaining.
detroit
design core

33. 21THE Stylemate
Issue No 03 | 2019
STYLE
Photos:Aratani·Fay
Congratulations! The USA now has its very first
UNESCO City of Design. To mark the occasion,
September was designated the first Month of Design
with more than 145 participants and over 55 events.
A number of designers in the city are part of the
World Wide Things Collection (WWTC), which now
includes objects from Form&Seek and Aratani Fay.
What is the link between your design
and Detroit?
The environment in Detroit gives us the
freedom to create everything we want.
Our design reflects the post-industrial
society that surrounds us and is an
opportunity to translate and express a
poetic moment for our changing society.
The “Lawless Stool” and the “Click-Clock”
are part of the WWTC. Tell me more
about them.
The “Lawless” series by Evan Fay plays
with the irregularities of the handmade,
with a focus on intuitive design methods
and spontaneous shapes. To retain a
balance between metaphor and function,
each piece is rhythmically connected
and this allows it to grow. Every object
follows the principle of “beauty in chaos”
within a structured landscape, generating
striking dialogue. The discovery of a poetic
moment in the midst of dystopia can be an
opportunity to celebrate new perspectives
in design.
The “Click-Clock” by Ayako Aratani is a
timepiece in stained porcelain. Softly
sculpted lines gently hint at the time
of day. Shadows on the surface change
with the passage of sunlight and the
silent movement peacefully disperses
the clamour of daily life.
What inspires you in Detroit?
The Cranbrook Academy of Art and Belle
Island, a park on an island in the Detroit
River.
Your café recommendation?
The Alley Cat Café (alleycatcafepontiac.com)
and Sister Pie (sisterpie.com).
aratanifay.com
“Detroit is a city currently experiencing
many changes”, says Olga Stella, Executive
Director of Design Core Detroit.
“The development of places, systems and
products that allow all residents to be a
part of revitalisation means that designers
can become a driving force in the city.”
That is why the Month of Design organised
talks, exhibitions, workshops and open
studios right across Detroit. THE Stylemate
spoke to the three designers Bilge Nur
Saltik, Ayako Aratani and Evan Fay.
The design studio Aratani . Fay was set up by Ayako Aratani
and Evan Fay. They work as independent designers but share a
studio, exhibit together and also collaborate on joint projects.
Their work focuses on intuitive design methods for the
creation of artistic items for everyday use.
A R A T A N I . F A Y
designcities.net/wwtc/
Find every object part of the
World Wide Things Collection on

34. 22THE Stylemate
Issue No 03 | 2019
STYLE
Andreas Murkudis’ Store 81
Potsdamer Straße 81
10785 Berlin
01
VooStore
Oranienstraße 24
10999 Berlin
02
Chelsea Farmers Club
Schlüterstraße 49
10629 Berlin
03
Das Neue Schwarz
Mulackstraße 38
10119 Berlin
04
Julia Leifert
Mulackstraße 22
10119 Berlin
05
Nobi Talai
Auguststraße 75
10117 Berlin
06
Richert Beil
Rethelstraße 5
12435 Berlin
07
William Fan
Große Hamburger Straße 25
10115 Berlin
08
Zazi Vintage
Max-Beer-Straße 31
10119 Berlin
09
Sabrina Dehoff
Auguststraße 26A
10117 Berlin
10
Michael Sontag
Muskauer Straße 41
10997 Berlin
11
Dawid Tomaszewski
Richard-Wagner-Straße 25
10585 Berlin
12
TEXT BY
NORA
PALZENBERGER
30 years after the
fall of the Berlin Wall,
the fashion borders
have also collapsed:
Berlin has long been
seen as Germany’s
creative centre and
has established
an international
reputation as a fashion
capital. THE Stylemate
knows where to find
the city’s hippest
concept stores and
most exciting labels.
limitless
fashion

35. 23THE Stylemate
Issue No 03 | 2019
Illustration:VONKBrandDesign
City Guide: Cut out, fold and take to Berlin
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B E R L I N
SPREE
BRANDEN-
BURGER
TOR
FERNSEH-
TURM
SIEGES-
SÄULE

36. 24THE Stylemate
Issue No 03 | 2019
DAS NEUE
SCHWARZ
ANDREAS MURKUDIS’
STORE 81
Photos:ThomasMeyer/Ostkreuz,@VooStore,ChelseaFarmersClub,DasNeueSchwarz,AnnaDaki,GettyImagesforMBFW,FionaDinkelbach,StefanDotter,SabrinaDehoff,FredrikAltinell,AndreasRentz_gettyentertainment,PR
VOOSTORE CHELSEA
FARMERS CLUB
STORESLABELS
01 02 03 04
WILLIAM
FAN
JULIA
LEIFERT
NOBI
TALAI
RICHERT
BEIL
05 06 07 08
ZAZI
VINTAGE
MICHAEL
SONTAG
09
DAWID
TOMASZEWSKI
12
11
SABRINA
DEHOFF
10
From director of the Museum der Dinge
(Museum of Things) to concept store owner:
Andreas Murkudis started out with a museum
shop before opening his first store off a back court
in Berlin-Mitte in 2003. In 2011, the passionate
collector of beautiful objects finally moved to
Potsdamer Straße, where he set up his Store 81 in
the former printing shop of the Berlin “Tages-
spiegel” newspaper. A spacious shop reminiscent
of a gallery allows visitors to engage with the
objects – selected personally by the proprietor –
and come to appreciate them as Murkudis does.
His store selection does not follow trends; it is
born instead of his love of fashion and design and
his commitment to a combination of aesthetic
value, excellent quality and durability.
andreasmurkudis.com
Off a courtyard in Oranienstraße in the
centre of Kreuzberg, Berlin’s melting pot,
is one of the capital’s very first concept stores.
The VooStore was opened by the Müjdeci
brothers in 2010 and is now one of the trendiest
shopping locations in the city. A 300 m2
store
in a former metal workshop houses carefully
curated designer items from quality labels such
as Jil Sander, Dries van Noten and Acne Studios
alongside books, magazines and accessories.
Design fans are also in for a culinary treat: the
in-store minimalist Companion Coffee serves
coffee specialities from all over Europe as well
as excellent tea and fresh baking.
vooberlin.com
Anyone who has chosen Prince Charles with
his Brit-chic, Vicco von Bühlow in his smoking
jackets or Charles Aznavour in his white 1968
Gucci loafers as their fashion role models will
feel at home in the Chelsea Farmers Club.
The store was established in 2004 by the
trained men’s tailor, TV producer and modern
gentleman Christoph Tophinke. Lovers of
English formal dress will find smoking jackets
complete with hand-crocheted buttonholes,
tweed suits, velvet loafers and colourful knee-
length socks – all produced in-house. And
because Tophinke believes there are even more
important things than fashion, customers,
visitors and friends can also relax with a fine
gin and sometimes even food from the Italian
next door in the store’s very own bar.
chelseafarmersclub.de
Vintage is the new black: following seven
successful years on Vienna’s club scene as DJane,
Tanya Bednar opened a vintage shop in Berlin
in 2010 from a pure love of rare fashion gems.
“This is about recycling – I think it’s good to
force goods to circulate” is how the adopted
Berliner explains what motivated her. “I only
accept designer goods, everything is in excellent
condition and is also cleaned and professionally
stored by us.” The store, which also has a Vienna
branch since 2015, offers a select range of rare
second-hand pieces from designers such as
Helmut Lang, Vivienne Westwood, Raf Simons
and Comme des Garçons. An insider tip for
fashion-lovers, collectors and stylists.
dasneueschwarz.de
The designer: Julia Leifert started to design
and produce fashion while she was still studying for
her law degree. She was so successful that, after grad-
uating, she went straight to AMD Akademie Mode &
Design in Berlin to study fashion. The designer leads
a vegan lifestyle and discovered a gap on the fashion
market: a combination of ethics and aesthetics.
The label: Julia Leifert set up her own label
in 2014 after a prolonged period in New York. The
label was originally called Philomena Zanetti. She
uses the very best ecological materials and local
production capacity for her elegant creations.
The passion: Julia Leifert represents a generation
with high ethical standards and clear values.
“In times of uncertainty, inhumanity and climate
change, transparency and authenticity are
the most valuable things we have.”
julialeifert.com
The designer: Nobieh Talaei was born in
Tehran and arrived in Berlin at the age of eleven.
In 2003, she completed her design degree at
Berlin’s Esmod fashion academy and then worked
for over ten years in merchandising and
sales at leading international labels.
The label: Nobi Talai is a simplified version of
the founder’s name. The Berlin-based designer
rapidly became a rising star of the German fashion
world with the label she launched in 2015. Her clean
designs are true to the motto “less is more” and are
inspired by the Bauhaus style, Neue Sachlichkeit
and Scandinavian design from the 1950s.
The passion: Nobieh Talaei inherited her love
of fashion from her grandmother, a dressmaker
descended from Persian nomads.
nobitalai.com
The designer: Work together, live together:
the Berlin designer duo Richert Beil, who
are partners in both senses of the word, prove
that this combination can absolutely work.
Jale Richert and Michele Beil met in 2009 at Berlin’s
fashion academy Esmod. Five years later,
they launched their joint label.
The label: Richert Beil designs high-quality
woollen clothing in a clear, individual
style using resources available in Germany
or neighbouring countries.
The passion: For their autumn/winter
collection “Alter Ego”, the designer couple spent
three years exploring the potential of the art of
traditional German costumes. The result:
a combination of the signature of traditional
dress with the label’s timeless design.
richertbeil.com
The designer: William Fan’s Hong Kong-born
parents were running a Chinese restaurant in
Hanover when they had the future designer in 1987.
Fan studied in Arnheim in the Netherlands and at
the Kunsthochschule Weißensee Berlin college of art,
before launching his own label in 2015.
The label: William Fan’s designs are easy to
recognise: Asian inspiration and European touches
in imaginative yet purist designs. Many of his
creations are already classics for the label.
The passion: Fan has an amazing business
sense. He was eager to gain early practical
experience and between his Bachelor and Master’s
degree, he spent time with Alexander McQueen in
London and his sister in Hamburg, who runs
a bag label. Creating is the obsession of the young
German-Chinese designer. He wants to design
“a whole universe” and not just fashion.
williamfan.com
The designer: Jeanne de Kroon is the
daughter of a professor of art history and a
documentary film-maker and grew up in Holland.
She tore up her plans to study law on her first
day at university and headed to Paris as a street
musician, where she was then discovered
as a model. On her travels in Nepal, Pakistan
and India, she became aware of the
unethical aspects of the fashion industry.
The label: In 2016, Jeanne de Kroon set up Zazi
Vintage from her student flat in Neukölln.
Her colourful cloths in vintage materials, for
example silk from Uzbekistan, are produced by
hand in India. Each item is unique and improves
the living conditions of the seamstresses.
The passion: De Kroon – who is just 25 years old –
repeatedly stresses that she wants to build a bridge
between the fashion world and development aid.
Her commitment to helping women in developing
countries has now led to a successful business.
zazi-vintage.com
The designer: Bavarian-born Michael Sontag
has always been creative. As a child, he loved crafts
and drawing. Following his degree at Kunst-
hochschule Weißensee Berlin college of art and
initial practical experience with renowned
designers including Kenzo and Givenchy, he took
up his studies again at the École Nationale
Superieure des Arts Décoratifs in Paris.
The label: Sontag’s first collection was launched
in 2009 – the year he set up the label – at the
Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in Berlin.
It was praised by the famous fashion critic Suzy
Menkes in the International Herald Tribune
as “promising”. His designs are created on dress-
maker’s dummies rather than on paper, and are
notable for beautifully draped and flowing fabric.
The passion: Sontag is constantly developing
his collections. He distances himself from
trends and age limits and describes his work as a
single, consistent whole. The “master of draping”
sees his fashion as “valuable” for everyday
life and leaves wearers plenty of scope for
interpretation and individual touches.
michaelsontag.com
The designer: Dawid Tomaszewski’s career has
been shaped by major names from the fashion
industry. After a degree in fashion at the London
College of Fashion, the Polish-born designer moved
to the Berlin University of the Arts under Vivienne
Westwood. He had internships with Sonia Rykiel and
Alexis Marbille before becoming design assistant to
Rei Kawakubo at Comme des Garçons in Tokyo.
The label: Avant-garde design plus great
practical expertise and a huge attention to detail
have made this label, established in 2009,
a fixture on the fashion scene.
The passion: In 2019, the German designer
is celebrating the ten-year anniversary
of his label and can count celebrities such as
Iris Berben, Ursula Karven and Karolina Kurkova
among the fans of his “new couture”.
dawidtomaszewski.com
The designer: You might think that this
jewellery designer, famous far beyond Berlin, was
a trained goldsmith. You would be wrong. Sabrina
Dehoff studied fashion design at Lette-Verein in
Berlin and at the Royal College of Arts in London.
She went on to work as a design assistant at
the Paris labels Guy Laroche and Lanvin before
co-founding the fashion agency “vonRot” in Berlin.
The label: In 2006, Sabrina Dehoff launched
her eponymous label with the “Little Helpers”
collection. She became famous with colourful
cord bracelets, but a lot has changed since:
in 2009, she set up her own online shop, and her
first flagship store was opened in Berlin in 2010.
Celebrity wearers of her jewellery include stars such
as Beyoncé, Halle Berry and Charlize Theron.
The passion: The former fashion designer has
great attention to detail and worked a lot with
embroidery during her time with Alber Elbaz.
This “obsession with small touches”
ultimately took her into jewellery.
sabrinadehoff.com

37. JULIA HIMBURG
is the general manager of Hotel
Provocateur in Berlin-Charlottenburg.
Like the Roomers Hotels and the
Bristol in Frankfurt, the Provocateur
is part of Micky Rosen’s and Alex
Urseanu’s Gekko Group.
25THE Stylemate
Issue No 03 | 2019
Photos:GekkoGroup / Provocateur
STYLE
provoca-
teur
At Hotel Provocateur, guests can live unfettered
by norms and rigid expectations, and simply forget time
and all their responsibilities. The general manager,
Julia Himburg, spoke to us about her shamelessly good hotel.
How is this reflected in the hotel?
Certain standards of work – to which our
staff adhere – of course apply. Our staff
do, however, have a lot of freedom. There
are no rules about hairstyles or nail polish.
Not only do we accept each individual char-
acter, we seek to involve every individual in
our concept. To us, employing real people
with personality rather than puppets is in
itself a form of creativity. Our staff shape
our product and give colour and life to the
concept.
What is so provocative about the
Hotel Provocateur?
I believe the interior and the staff speak
for themselves. Anyone who has been
here knows what I mean.
What is the concept behind the hotel?
We are a small boutique hotel with 58
rooms and suites. A special part of our
style is the burlesque, inspired by Parisian
flair of the 1920s. This was the period
post-First World War when the economy
was on the up and, for the first time in a
long time, people were able to experience
something approaching pleasure. They
wanted to party and have a good time.
That is the feeling we want to give our
guests: carefree enjoyment.
Bohemian life not just in Paris but also in
the Berlin of the 1920s is legendary. Why?
The Bohemian lifestyle was not bound by
norm or convention – it was all about
being yourself; being authentic. In other
words not hiding or forgetting who you
really were. It was natural and genuine.
Is that freedom one of the things people
love about the Bohemian lifestyle?
Yes, people wanted and were able to be
themselves without any restrictions.
That was important to people back then,
and is still important today. I believe
that if you are accepted as you are, you are
so much freer and make so much more
of what you have. The more colourful and
more authentic my team, the more unique
my hotel.
Does “everyone can be happy in their
own way” also apply to guests?
Of course! That is what makes our hotel so
special: being able to live the way you want.
Life here is definitely a little different.
The interior design was created by the
Amsterdam designer Saar Zafrir. Through
what colours, shapes and materials has
he interpreted your lifestyle?
A lot of velvet, red, black and gold. This
means a cosy yet striking ambiance.
The Woody Allen film “Midnight in Paris”
and the Hotel Costes in Paris were an
inspiration to us.
I don’t recall “Midnight in Paris” being
particularly provocative.
The main character, Gil Pender, travels
through time to 1920s Paris. There was
a bar where everyone met – Hemingway,
Dalí ... the list goes on – and it was the
idea behind the interior design concept:
that philosophy of celebrating life and
living it to its full. We have created a place
that reflects this time travel. Of course,
there is also a touch of Berlin sophistica-
tion. Fundamentally, however, we are a
meeting place for fascinating people, and
somewhere you can be undisturbed and
escape from the outside world. There is
no concept of time here. And that means
more freedom.
What are your favourite touches in
the hotel?
In our old building, the original lift from
1912 is still in operation. I think that’s my
absolute favourite feature.
Your bar was named the 2019 “Hotel Bar
of the Year”. What is special about it?
Apart from the interior and the ambiance,
our superb team who create a new menu
with their very own drinks each year. We
have one of the most innovative bar teams
in the German-speaking world. The last
bar menu was based on famous person-
alities from the 1920s. The current menu
centres on traditional spirits. For example,
we work with Korn (grain schnapps),
which is not a familiar on-trend drink. Our
bar menu is like a magazine: it is also the
place to come for great tips on Berlin and
our hotel.
The atmosphere?
Really relaxed. When we close the curtains,
you lose all sense of time. Suddenly, it’s
four in the morning! We always have just
the right background music with a great DJ. provocateur-hotel.com
In the kitchen of the “Golden Phoenix”,
The Duc Ngo works his magic. Style: Paris
meets China?
That’s right, we have a Franco-Chinese
concept that combines traditional Chinese
cuisine with French flavours and touches.
Our head chef’s grandmother was Chinese,
and he offers a whole new take on her
recipes. Fine dining with us refers to the
food – there is nothing rigidly formal about
the experience.
One more question: I have heard rumours
of “provocateur mode” ...
They might be true, but I can’t reveal more
here. You will just have to find out for
yourself!
GENERAL MANAGER
Julia Himburg