Yes, we are allowed. In the pandemic era, concepts like “security” and “control” have become a thing of the past. They’re feelings that the lucky among us are still able to remember, but which we’re only able to experience to a limited extent. The first lockdown saw them evolve into a massive cloud of longing that hung somewhere overhead. Did they disappear into the world of transcendence? Is it because of this that our need for spirituality in our lives has grown? Spirituality is a world of permission. We’re allowed to say yes to wishes, dreams and desires, to the search for a special connection with ourselves. With our soul and with our heart. And perhaps it’s more the looking than the finding that does us good. Because looking involves discovering. And there is still so much to be discovered. Spirituality means that life has a direction. That we’re turning towards something where we can let ourselves flourish. That’s why the new spirituality looks for places that are genuine. Genuine in how they interact with people, with other creatures and with nature. You can find the new spirituality within your own four walls, on a yoga mat or a shakti acupressure mat. You’ll find it anywhere in the world where people put the effort into creating something from their heart and soul. A hotel, a restaurant, a craft or an item of clothing. The new spirituality is anywhere that has meaning. It’s the feeling of security in the present moment that can dispel our fear of the unknown, that allows us to let go of the need to control our lives and the world around us. Because there’s one thing we’re not allowed to forget: there’s no such thing as real control.

1. THE
Style
mate
INSPIRATION FROM AROUND
THE WORLD FOR AN AESTHETIC
AND MEANINGFUL LIFESTYLE
ISSUE No 01 | 2022
thestylemate.com
The new
spirituality
THESTYLEMATE.COM
THESTYLEMATE.COM

2. 2
THE Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2022
Photo:
Heldentheater
Yes, we are
allowed.
In the pandemic era, concepts like “security” and “control” have
become a thing of the past. They’re feelings that the lucky among
us are still able to remember, but which we’re only able to experi-
ence to a limited extent. The first lockdown saw them evolve
into a massive cloud of longing that hung somewhere overhead.
Did they disappear into the world of transcendence? Is it because
of this that our need for spirituality in our lives has grown?
Spirituality is a world of permission. We’re allowed to say yes to
wishes, dreams and desires, to the search for a special connection
with ourselves. With our soul and with our heart. And perhaps
it’s more the looking than the finding that does us good.
Because looking involves discovering. And there is still so much
to be discovered. Spirituality means that life has a direction.
That we’re turning towards something where we can let ourselves
flourish. That’s why the new spirituality looks for places that are
genuine. Genuine in how they interact with people, with other
creatures and with nature. You can find the new spirituality within
your own four walls, on a yoga mat or a shakti acupressure mat.
You’ll find it anywhere in the world where people put the effort
into creating something from their heart and soul. A hotel, a
restaurant, a craft or an item of clothing. The new spirituality
is anywhere that has meaning. It’s the feeling of security in the
present moment that can dispel our fear of the unknown, that
allows us to let go of the need to control our lives and the world
around us. Because there’s one thing we’re not allowed to forget:
there’s no such thing as real control.
IN THIS ISSUE
Essentials
Page 3
The new spirituality
Pages 4–7
LIFE:
Interview: Remo Masala
In my suitcase, I pack...
Pages 8–9
Spiritual Places
Pages 10–13
Franzobel
Page 14
STYLE:
Casa Totem
Pages 15–18
Rugs for your
comfort zone
Page 19
House bar holiday
Page 20
Cocktails on
the couch
Page 21
The Weidekleid
project
Pages 22–24
Helder Suffenplan:
Happiness in a bottle
Page 25
Design meets
spirituality
Pages 26–27
Lifestylehotels™
Selection:
Hotel Nesslerhof
Page LH 01
Directory
Lifestylehotels™
Page LH 02
Hotel Nesslerhof
Page LH 03
ElisabethHotel
Page LH 04
Alpenhotel Kitzbühel
Page LH 05
dasMAX
Page LH 06
Gradonna ****S Mountain
Resort Chalets & Hotel
Page LH 07
Alpenstern
Panoramahotel
Page LH 08
Hotel Eder/Hotel SEPP
Page LH 09
Locanda al Colle
Page LH 10
Steinach Townhouse
Meran
Page LH 11
Imprint
Page 2
Be sure to subscribe to
THE Stylemate so you'll
never miss an issue!
thestylemate.com
IMPRINT Media owner and publisher: Prime Time Touristik & Marketing GmbH, Schmiedgasse 38/1, 8010 Graz, Austria
Editors: Thomas Holzleithner & Hardy Egger Editor-in-chief: Mag. Nina Prehofer Managing editor: DI (FH) Christin Maier-Erlach
Layout: VON K Brand Design Cover: Photo Marija Kanizaj, Model/Dance Valentina Moar
Writers: Franzobel, Helder Suffenplan, Lisbeth Wild, Jana Inga Trenner, Nora Palzenberger Translators: Katherine Nussey, Lisbeth Wild
Advertising: office@thestylemate.com Printed by: Medienfabrik Graz, 8020 Graz Published in: Graz Publication: 3 x yearly
Thomas Holzleithner & Hardy Egger
E D I T O R S

3. 3
THE Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2022
C O SY E L E G A NC E
Walk across the rug in bare feet or stretch out and get
comfy: that’s what you’ll want to do on the rugs by Geba,
which are made from the wool of high mountain sheep
in Tibet. Knotting the rugs then takes place in two
partnering workshops in Nepal. The knotting families,
who have now become friends and have worked with Geba
for many years, use a Tibetan knotting technique that
has been around for thousands of years. This technique
makes it possible to accurately create embellishments and
patterns with the durability required for everyday use.
From the shearing of the sheep to the finished article,
Geba rugs pass through many hands. What these hands
do should be motivated by joy and satisfaction. That’s why
rug production follows the rules of the Label STEP, which
obliges the company to comply with social engagement
and fair working conditions, as well as the
relevant monitoring.
geba.cc, Antique Blue rug, price on request
Photos:
Wever
&
Ducré,
Room
1015,
MY
MAGPIE,
Moroso,
Geba,
Nehera
Essentials
I N T H I S
A R T I N S P I RAT I ON
Precision couture meets flowing cuts. The Inner
Light is the name of the new collection from fashion
label Nehera. It’s inspired by Czech artist duo Stanislav
Libenský and Jaroslava Brychtova, who explored the
opposing properties of glass through their famous
sculptures: fragile and solid, coloured and clear,
transparent and opaque. The collection experiments
with varying textures, like three different types of linen.
The highlight is a trench coat made out of cotton
and paper pulp. Let your inner light shine!
nehera.com
T I M E T O M A K E A S TAT E M E N T
“Behind every successful design there is an objective,
streamlined development process,” says designer
Bernd Steinhuber about his pragmatic approach.
And the success of the WIRO collection proves his point.
The wire lights are now also available as wall, ceiling,
floor and table lamps, and feature a new suspension
system that lifts all limits otherwise set by predefined
lighting outlets. But its minimalistic design and the
large variety of combinations in terms of colour,
shape and size are not WIRO’s only wow factors: with
the help of a dimmer, you can also adjust the lighting
mood to any setting you can think of. It’s an unbeatable
all-rounder.
everducre.com/en/products/
collections/wiro-collection
P U R P L E M A N T RA
“PURPLE MANTRA is an olfactory experience that was
developed to bring a pleasant feeling of inner peace to
everyday life. It helps you listen to and strengthen your
own intuition and calm everything else,” says Room1015
founder Dr Mike. In Purple Mantra, perfumer Serge De
Oliveira combines top notes of lavender, freesia and red
berries with heart notes of iris and sage on base notes of
incense, myrrh, ambroxide and musk. It purifies the
mind and supports you in attaining spiritual depth.
Inhale, exhale. Inhale, exhale.
balduin-store.com, Eau de Parfum 100 ml, € 130
P RO T E C T I V E C O C O ON
Patricia Urquiola has designed a new collection for
Moroso! The collection bears the name Pacific and with
its rounded, oversized shapes, it evokes the relaxed
atmosphere of the American west coast from which it
takes its name. Sitting in these chairs feels like being
wrapped in a protective and relaxing cocoon where all
hard edges are banned. The soft shapes are enhanced with
the use of couture details – for example, a soft, woolly
upholstery was chosen for the Pacific Lounge Chair to give
an extraordinarily tactile experience. Pacific is the contin-
uation of a design process that started with the Redondo
collection. “It’s about progressing with a collection that’s
been successful because of the use of innovative and
luxurious surfaces,” explains Patricia Urquiola.
thestylemate.com/e-boutique, € 2,772
P R I N T E D A R T NO U V E AU
3D printing meets Wiener Moderne. Up-and-coming
jewellery brand My Magpie is reinterpreting the style
of Viennese art nouveau. The super-light artistic
creations are made out of flexible 3D-printed polyamide
with sterling silver findings. The simple elegance of
the Hoffmann bangle is inspired by the famous
“Sitzmaschine” chair, model 670 by Josef Hoffmann.
Through his creations, the Viennese architect, who
this year would be celebrating his 150th birthday,
encouraged the unity of form and function.
It’s a real eye-catcher for any wrist.
mymagpie.at, Hoffmann bangle, € 69
E D I T I O N

4. 4
THE Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2022
The
new
spirituality
B u t w h a t a r e w e
s e a r c h i n g f o r a n d
w h a t w i l l w e f i n d ?
Y o g a , m e d i t a t i o n ,
p o s i t i v e a f f i r m a t i o n s ,
a n c i e n t r i t u a l s a n d
s h a m a n s – t h e n e w
s p i r i t u a l i t y i s t h e
r e l i g i o n o f o u r
t i m e .
Photo:
Ethan
Rougon
on
Unsplash

5. 5
THE Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2022
D O I F E E L C O M P L E T E ?
Isn’t life just one long search? It sometimes
feels that way. We’re being controlled, like
a character in a hit and run game.
We run along, pick something up, run a bit
further until we finish one level and we’re
allowed to progress to the next. School,
training, dating, relationships, marriage,
children, work, retirement, game over.
It’s possible that this analogy might lead us
to wonder: is that it? And it might prompt
us to embark on the search. But what
for? What are we searching for with such
desperation? We’re searching for more
meaning, more support, more peace, more
serenity in a fast, loud, sometimes very
empty and complicated world. It certainly
hasn’t got any easier over the last couple of
years what with the pandemic and climate
disasters. We also want to do something
right or well when we’ve already done so
many things wrong. Our consumption
of resources, air pollution, polluting the
oceans, animal suffering. In a sick world,
we want to heal ourselves, and to do that
we might reach for bogus medicine. Or try
using shortcuts. Using quick ways to slow
down. Maybe belief in the whole is only a
belief. Maybe we should stop searching to
make ourselves feel complete.
Maybe it would be better to start finding.
And discovering. The happiness found in
good food. The warmth of a hug. The magic
of a particularly beautiful place. The joy of
a good conversation. These things all add
up. To a large whole.
G O O D – B E T T E R – S E L F
Quick, quick, let’s set off towards a better
self! A little pep talk and I already feel, I am
better. What would be even better would be
a couple of inspirational words from a life
coach, then everything will be pretty much
perfect.
Really? Of course not. A lot of the self-help
programmes out there suggest that it
really is that easy. Hey, it’s all within us.
We just need to let it out. And then we’ll be
unbelievably awesome and we’ll be able to
achieve everything. You just need to really
want it. Are you sure you’ve really wanted
it up to now? Or did you just want to
wallow in self-pity a bit more? Because it’s
comfortable, because it attracts attention,
because it’s easy. It’s a bit of quackery that
goes astray and causes people to doubt
themselves even more. When you convince
yourself that everything you need is within
you, at some point you feel like a loser who
just can’t get greatness out of themselves.
Self-doubt might end up being greater
than it was before.
It’s simply not that simple. And it’s hard
to believe there are actually life situations
that don’t enable you to activate your own
superpowers and float through life.
We have to stop overexerting ourselves and
start avoiding challenges in life and accept
doubt and conflict. They exist and you
can’t just make them invisible with a good
connection to your inner self. But it’s the
good connection to our inner self that
helps us to avoid these difficulties, to not
crack and to manage it, and to develop a
feeling of happiness or more zest for life
in spite of it. Not everything we encounter
in life is good. It is what it is. And the
dream of an optimised self is just a dream.
And that’s totally fine. We can relax.
M E D I T A T I O N T O G O
Let’s be frank: how many yoga, meditation
and fitness apps do you have on your
phone? Probably a few. That’s not a bad
thing! But we can’t expect that simply
installing an app on our phone will turn us
into a more spiritual, more balanced person
with increased inner peace. Unfortunately,
there’s no such thing as instant spirit-
uality that will change our thinking and
behaviour. After all, it’s still a process that
demands that we change our routines.
And as we well know, that’s a big challenge.
Because our brain is used to taking the
easiest route, nurturing our habits.
You know, the classics: scrolling
through Instagram in bed at
night or binging
Netflix. Somehow, we
feel rewarded, but
then also a bit bad.
Was it really worth
spending hours
watching
what other,
mostly
unknown,
people
are
doing?
How they turn out and present themselves,
beautifully dressed, especially on holiday,
or how they have done or got something
amazing. Do we really feel better when we
watch other people behaving in a way that’s
detached from reality?
Australian comedian, actress and author
Photo:
Mahdi
Chaghari
on
Unsplash
LIFE

6. 6
THE Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2022
Photos:
Aaron
Blanco
Tejedor
on
Unsplash,
Motoki
Tonn
on
Unsplash

7. 7
THE Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2022
I can’t do it. I can’t manage it. I’m not
beautiful enough. I’m not enough. I don’t
believe I can do it. Other people are always
better than me. I’m too fat. I’m too thin.
I don’t belong. Does this happen to you?
If not, I would say “lucky you!”. Because
apparently, you’ve already achieved it.
You love yourself, think you’re good, are
totally at peace with yourself and what
you do. You know what you’re capable of,
what you’re worth, that beauty comes from
within and is in the eye of the beholder.
Wow.
If those first lines seem familiar to you,
you’re probably among the majority of
people in the western world who are
more inclined to rob themselves
of self-confidence with these
negative affirmations than
to do the opposite and give
themselves a boost with pos-
itive affirmations. Perhaps
it’s our original sin we’re
dragging around with us.
This ever-present feeling of
doubt in yourself.
And that’s so bizarre!
Because we function
considerably better when
we believe in ourselves,
and we’re also much
happier. Nevertheless,
this self-criticism is
built into our brains.
Yes, there may well be
people who are more
able, more beautiful,
wealthier. At this
point, you can quote
what is probably
common knowledge –
that earning a certain
salary doesn’t make
you more content.
That you won’t be
happier or more
content overnight if
you’re seeking tried-
and-tested self-opti-
misation or external
optimisation, if you’re
seeking a plastic
surgeon. We can only
create self-satisfaction
ourselves. By liking
ourselves. With all of
our strengths and our
flaws. Yes, sometimes
we drink too much
alcohol, sometimes we
don’t eat that healthily,
sometimes we’re lazy,
sometimes we’re not very
nice. And? Let him who is
without sin cast the first
stone. What’s important is
that we transition from the
negative affirmations to the
positive. Why not formulate five
positive affirmations at the start
of every day? They can even
be written down on pieces of paper
and spread around the house.
Celeste Barber has the funniest way of
mocking people, mostly half-naked women
dancing or posing strangely. She exposes
the odd behaviour in photos and short vid-
eos by mimicking them in similar outfits,
with ungainly movements and amusing
grimaces. This laugh compensates for the
guilty conscience you have for continually
scrolling. But back to the routines we need
to change. It’s becoming easier to extract
yourself from everyday life and not be
exposed to the same habits. Like going
on holiday, for example. A new place is a
rewarding moment to put old things aside
and to embrace new things. Instead of
staring at your phone, you can actually
go to the yoga and meditation sessions
on offer. If you manage to outsmart your
brain once, you’ll be really grateful. Because
meditation feels like a real reward. Doing
something once isn’t enough to be healed
over the long term, of course. But it’s the
right way to initiate sustainable change.
When you get back from holiday, you just
can’t lapse back into your old patterns. This
is where the apps are actually quite good, as
they don’t let you go it alone. You can allow
yourself to be guided, over and over, in new
and varied ways. There are so many options
that you won’t be able to get through them
in just one night like you might with a
Netflix series, and then crave more like a
junkie. And when you close your eyes and
a voice says to you: “You did it. Keep going
a bit longer. You’re almost there. Great!”, it
doesn’t matter whether the praising voice
comes from your phone or not.
We did it really well.
A B O U T G O O D A N D B A D
A F F I R M A T I O N S
That way we can read them again and
again. Because it’s the same with the
affirmations as it is with bad habits:
at some point, a routine emerges and our
brain formulates them by itself. Then we’re
in a position to build ourselves up, to like
ourselves and to think well of ourselves.
Then our self-confidence grows and, as
is well known, when you’ve got positive
energy and a healthy level of self-love, you
attract more good things and other good
people. And that’s really what it all comes
down to. Liking yourself, being
embedded in a lovely
environment and
having wonderful
experiences
as often as
possible.
In this moment, we’ve reached a higher
level of consciousness, reached our new
spirituality.
Positive affirmations
for the
I AM BEAUTIFUL
AS I AM.
I BELIEVE MORE
AND MORE EVERY DAY
THAT I HAVE VALUABLE
QUALITIES.
I AM ENOUGH.
I BELIEVE I WILL
SUCCEED AT WHAT
I’M WORKING ON.
I DESERVE
TO BE HAPPY.
MY LIFE IS
FULL AND RICH.
I HAVE THE NECESSARY
RESOURCES AND ABILITY
TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
I DESERVE
TO BE LOVED.
IT’S OK TO
HAVE A BAD DAY.
day
LIFE

8. 8
THE Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2022
Photo:
Steve
Herud,
Arianna
Frickhinger
In my suitcase,
VISIONARY REMO MASALA HAS BEEN ACTIVE ON THE BOARDS OF LARGE TRAVEL COMPANIES
FOR TWENTY YEARS, AND THREE YEARS AGO FOUNDED HIS OWN CONCEPT AGENCY. AT VISION ALPHABET, HE PRIMARILY CREATES
BRANDS IN THE TOURISM INDUSTRY, BUT HE ALSO WORKS WITH COMPANIES LIKE AUDI, RICOLA AND CONDOR. HE IS THE (CO-)
FOUNDER OF NUMEROUS HOTEL BRANDS, SUCH AS 25HOURS, SUPERBUDE, BOLD HOTEL, PLAYITAS SPORTHOTEL, THE COMODO,
CASA COOK AND COOK’S CLUB, AND HAS RECEIVED MANY AWARDS FOR MARKETING AND HIS HOTEL BUSINESSES, INCLUDING FOR
OKU IBIZA.
I N T E R V I E W

9. 9
THE Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2022
What should never be missing from your
suitcase?
That question should be changed to what’s
always missing from my suitcase. And it’s
the same for everyone: space.
Naturally, over the years I’ve learnt to pack
efficiently and how to travel with a small
case, but that means you always have to
leave something behind.
Rescheduled flights, travel warning levels,
stricter entry requirements: travelling
at the moment also means carrying the
weight of worry related to COVID-19.
How will these side effects become minor
issues?
At some point, people get used to circum-
stances and adapt. Otherwise, the world
would come to a standstill.
Booking flights and hotels used to be
the time-consuming task, but now that’s
shifted to filling in passenger locator
forms and COVID-19 tests. But it’s good
that the willingness to travel is again
considerably greater than the fear of it.
Many companies have had to reinvent
themselves because of the pandemic
in order to survive. What has been the
impact on the hotel industry?
Reinventing yourself or stopping for a
moment to gather your thoughts isn’t
actually a bad thing. In this case it was
imposed on people, and hotels were
virtually powerless despite their creativity.
But what was very plain to see was that
hotels with an unmistakeable brand and
strong loyalty from guests suffered less
and recovered much more quickly than
the run-of-the-mill hotels. That says a lot.
The new and bigger challenge that hotels
and restaurants will have to contend with
for the future is the fact that staff have
disappeared to other jobs with better
conditions during the pandemic. That also
says a lot! This is where we need to push
for better concepts for employees and for
digitalisation.
You are considered a visionary in the
tourism industry. How do you manage to
keep mixing things up in the sector?
Well, mixing things up isn’t a long-term
job. I try to encourage my clients to see and
create things differently. Business always
gets exciting when you’re outside your
comfort zone. While the world is moving
rapidly and we have the first true digital
generations coming through, others are
fighting to keep their regular guests that
have been staying with them for years,
but who now don’t really travel that much.
We’re all in this field of tension between
having to integrate the new people and not
putting off the old ones. This balancing act
has to be resolved, especially before you get
into financial difficulty.
The Casa Cook hotels you’ve developed are
places for kindred spirits. Who are these
people? And who are the new generation
of travellers that spend their holidays at
Cook’s Club hotels?
Casa Cook has succeeded in finding its own
gap in the market. Many hotels have copied
the style and it’s become a huge trend – a
trend that moves far away from standards,
coldness and plastic towards something
more homely, warm, spontaneous and
comfortable. It’s pleasing to see that despite
the many copies, the original is continuing
to grow and fans are remaining loyal.
Cook’s Club is a more recent, rapidly
growing hotel brand that’s committed to
the wants of younger generations.
It’s about the right music at the right time,
a street food philosophy rather than all-
inclusive, affordable design without
showing off and cocktails that taste good.
It doesn’t sound like much, but unfor-
tunately it hasn’t reached many holiday
destinations yet.
What can we look forward to in the next
few years in terms of innovative travel
concepts?
It’s rare for someone to develop a concept.
Courage is like change, only earlier.
And all too often it’s missing in this indus-
try. The hotel sector is a copycat industry.
Change is usually there before it reveals
itself to us. It’s about taking the right steps
early on, then you’ll be well prepared.
Which destinations are popular right
now with design-savvy travellers?
Wherever bold hotel owners are coming
up with new ideas, that’s the place that’s
en vogue. It could be an exciting architec-
tural project, but it could also be also an
adventure that appeals to us because it’s
unfamiliar. Up-and-coming destinations
are either curated locations where people
want to mix with others, or a state of mind
someone wants to visit, so a place of
longing. In the best case, it’s a mix of the
two. But in no case is it about geographical
coordinates on a map.
Many hotels are rather uniform. How do
they acquire a soul?
Soul is the new “experience”: everyone is
establishing a soul in their hotel at the
moment (he laughs). At the end of the
day, it’s about seeing a hotel as a source
of inspiration and not simply as tourist
accommodation that changes your sheets.
The additional emotional benefit is the
deciding competitive factor. And it’s best
for that not to be fake, then it’s all good.
Thanks to the likes of Instagram, we’re
able to travel anywhere in the world
digitally – and often through a filter.
How do you deal with the expectations
of travellers in that regard?
I think it’s great that people can discover
the beauty of the world at any time via
social media, especially at the moment.
It encourages people to travel. The filter is
a personal preference and should in fact
make the captured moment even more
unique. We get inspiration aplenty these
days, and also accept disappointments.
It’s a part of travel. For example, if you
take a photo of Uluru in Australia as the
sun’s going down, for most people that’s
a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Almost no one thinks to turn around and
take a photo of the hundreds of other
people taking a photo at the same time.
We keep it silently to ourselves because
it’s Uluru that’s making us happy in this
moment and not the fact that we’re one
of many other tourists.
Spirituality while travelling: can you only
achieve it with yoga in Bali or meditation
in India?
When the world becomes more difficult to
understand and feels more threatening,
we tend to turn towards things that aren’t
that easy to explain in layman’s terms.
We search for answers.
And how do we do that? We disconnect
to reconnect, as it’s so nicely phrased.
We travel new paths to connect our body
with our mind and our soul. That opens
up new opportunities to grow as a person.
Ultimately, it’s about deep and meaningful
change in life. And that is a good place
to start that you can get going with when
you’re still at home.
To what extent are you still able to go on
a personal holiday?
People always tend to think about what
they’re lacking rather than what they have.
I’ve got a job that allows me to see a lot of
the world. And sometimes a coffee in the
sunshine in a beautiful place between two
meetings is like a little holiday that I’m
allowed to enjoy.
Which place are you raving about?
My place to retreat to is on a Greek island,
where there’s a tiny house surrounded by
nature and right on the beach. Watches
are set to slow mode and the oft forgotten
dimension of time, which doesn’t actually
pass chronologically, defines the day.
And if at some point you need to quickly run
to the bakery, you can go at a slower version
of quickly.
What have been your greatest journeys?
I think if you experienced the turbulent
early 80s like I did, you’ll forever be longing
for that hippy feeling of the time.
We stayed in basic bamboo huts on holiday,
caught fish and made music by the campfire
until the moon illuminated the way back to
our sleeping bag. It was a time when your
energy was recharged by the simple things
and you wandered with an open mind from
one adventure to the next. This excitement
lasted for as long as it took until you could
finally get your photos developed at home
and were able to share them, still had
stories to tell and were still being boosted
by dreams. It was perhaps a little bit like
what young people are looking for these
days at festivals: simply dancing the
night away alongside likeminded folk with
freedom and not a care in the world.
What do you take home with you after a
lovely holiday?
Memories and photos. I can’t fit any more
than that in my tiny suitcase.
I pack...
REMO MASALA IS ONE OF THE LEADING FIGURES
WHEN IT COMES TO BRANDS IN THE TOURISM INDUSTRY.
HE TRAVELS THE WORLD AND FILTERS IT THROUGH HIS
CREATIVE LENS. THE STYLEMATE INVITED HIM TO AN
INTERVIEW THAT WAS JUST AS LAID-BACK AS A RELAXING
HOLIDAY – INCLUDING TRAVEL ANECDOTES FROM
HIPPY TIMES, THOUGHTS ABOUT THE CONCEPT
OF TIME ON GREEK ISLANDS AND
IMAGES OF ULURU.
visionalphabet.com
R E M O M A S A L A
Interview:
Christina Wetter-Nohl

10. 10
THE Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2022
Photo:
AdobeStock

11. 11
THE Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2022
LIFE
SOME PLACES INSPIRE US. THEY GET THE BEST OUT OF US OR GIVE US THE OPPORTUNITY TO LOOK DEEP INTO
OURSELVES AND TO RECOGNISE WHO WE REALLY ARE. THE STYLEMATE HAS DISCOVERED THREE PLACES THAT MODERN SPIRITUAL SEEKERS ABSO-
LUTELY MUST VISIT.
SPIRITUAL
B A L I C O S T A R I C A I C E L A N D
PLACES

12. 12
THE Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2022
Situated among hills and rice fields, Ubud is Bali’s cultural and spiritual centre. The place has everything
your heart could desire as a modern spiritual seeker: excellent vegetarian restaurants, some of the world’s
best yoga studios and all kinds of meditation and healing. This is where western spirituality and Balinese
tradition exist side by side: traditional dances and elaborate temple ceremonies bring colour to the streets,
while travelling yogis watch on in fascination. In Ubud, the yoga mat is much more than a fitness aid, it’s a
place for your self-love routine and an absolute must-have accessory. Design and functionality combine in
the lovely mats from Om Ya. Made from natural rubber and recycled PET bottles, they have excellent grip
and are soft to the touch. All of the mats are available as light travel versions!
om-ya.de, Mint Terrazzo yoga mat
€ 69
Over the last ten years, Nosara has evolved into one of the most popular holistic hot spots in the world.
Lush tropical vegetation, undisturbed beaches, perfect waves and a selection of unique retreats attract
surfers, nature-lovers, yogis and spiritual seekers in equal measure. There’s no better place to connect
with nature and yourself than in Nosara. The reversible top from sustainable swimwear brand Mymarini
will accompany you from your yoga class to the waves of the Pacific and on to drinks while you watch the
spectacular sunset. The wide under-bust band offers good support and the shimmering gold edging lends a
touch of glamour that’s an essential part of all spirituality. Fully in line with the Costa Rican way of life,
“pura vida”!
mymarini.com, Shine yoga top,
€ 120
C O S T A R I C A
WHAT YOU’LL FIND THERE:
inner balance
THE ITEM:
a yoga mat
WHAT YOU’LL FIND THERE:
pure living
THE ITEM:
a yoga/surf top
Photos:
Niklas
Weiss
on
Unsplash,
Mario
Scheibl
on
Unsplash,
OM
YA,
MYMARINI
UBUD NOSARA
B A L I

13. 13
THE Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2022
LIFE
The 1,466-metre-high volcano and glacier in western Iceland could be considered the most significant source
of energy in our solar system and a spiritual centre. For Nobel Prize for Literature winner Halldór Laxness,
the volcano was otherworldly. French writer Jules Verne classed it as the ideal place from which to journey
to the centre of the earth. Healers and spiritual people have been meeting near the Snaefellsjökull glacier for
decades. The face mist "the intuitive" from the Viennese organic beauty manufacturer Max & Me prepares
your skin for your spiritual journey to the north. Every single drop has a skin-soothing effect, protects
sensitive skin and provides face, body and hair with an extra portion of moisture.
maxandme.at, „the intuitive“ face mist
€ 70
SNAEFELLSJÖKULL
WHAT YOU’LL FIND THERE:
energetic connection/spiritual contemplation
THE ITEM:
face oil
“THIS MOUNTAIN ISN’T YOUR USUAL MOUNTAIN,” READS HALLDÓR LAXNESS’ FAMOUS NOVEL UNDER THE GLACIER.
“THE GLACIER IS ILLUMINATED AT CERTAIN TIMES OF THE DAY BY A SPECIAL RADIANCE AND STANDS IN A GOLDEN GLOW WITH A POWERFUL
AUREOLE OF RAYS, AND EVERYTHING BECOMES INSIGNIFICANT EXCEPT IT. THEN IT’S AS IF THE MOUNTAIN IS NO LONGER TAKING PART IN THE
HISTORY OF GEOLOGY BUT HAS BECOME ICONIC...”
Photos:
AdobeStock,
Max&Me:
Courtney
Dailey
I C E L A N D

14. 14
THE Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2022
Photo:
Dirk
Skiba
LIFE
F RA N Z O B E L
If I’m asked about spirituality, I think of
Freistadt – a small town that’s known for its
beer. When you travel there by train, you arrive
at a station that has the right name, but you
then have to trek for almost five kilometres
through a sad industrial wasteland to reach
the town centre. A cathartic pilgrimage?
No, it’s not based on any geographical or
esoteric circumstances that would have made
it impossible to choose another route for the
track. Instead, it’s down to the business
acumen of a horse and cart businessman who
was worried about his profits 160 years ago,
and who kicked up a fuss for such a long time
that the station was built in the middle of
nowhere.
The justification for this nonsensical act?
The fear that the sparks from the tracks
represented an elevated fire risk. It seems
some people only have a head so they don’t get
rain down their throat. Not everything people
do serves the general population. Lots of things
happen for reasons of profiteering, and there
are people who are inherently the opposite of
decent, fair, moral and respectful. To avoid
everyone butting heads out of greed and lust,
a set of rules has been established over the
last two million years governing how to live a
decent life: religion. Although in the time since
Nietzsche proclaimed the death of God, that’s
lost its influence. Scientific discoveries about
the Big Bang, evolution, abuse scandals and
fanatics have led to religion becoming uncool
in the western world. Who still believes in God
in this country and puts the afterlife before
this life? Most people say they still have faith,
but not in a God of the church. Many just want
to live a comfortable life, and some even see
the meaning of their existence in getting likes
on social media. If heaven and hell did exist,
the first thing people would do there would be
to take a selfie to post on Instagram.
Living a life for virtual followers? At some
point everyone notices that there’s something
missing. The hole where meaning should be
is filled with gambling on the stock exchange,
cryptocurrency, working out, celebrity culture
or a wellness-oriented lifestyle.
But is that enough? What is life without a higher
meaning? There is a saying among atheists:
people will become believers or not at all.
It’s no wonder that in recent times, more and
more people have been searching for a higher
purpose. Or is it the pursuit of improvement?
Is it not about salvation at all but rather about
efficiency? A believer is ultimately happier than
an atheist, even if they believe in nonsense.
Faith gives strength and optimism, and takes
away responsibility.
Since the age of enlightenment, people have
been discussing truths, right and wrong, but
ultimately, it’s simply about what we need,
what benefits us and does us good. The new
esotericism promises greater happiness.
Spirituality is extremely personal – a new, freer
form of belief.
A lot of con artists are pushing this modern
faith, bogus gurus are in business, there are
charlatans and fraudulent promises of salva-
tion, and it might even be that spirituality also
has things that could be considered similar
to the station in Freistadt that are kilometres
away from their destination. But when esoteri-
cism serves to bring people closer to things, to
increase respect for creation, to see the wonder
of nature, I’m happy to accept this detour.
Because, as a famous atheist once said:
we need to have faith, even if it’s faith in non-
sense. Failing that, I’ll come back to Freistadt,
to the spirit provided by a freshly poured beer.
Magical
thinking
“Spirituality is
extremely personal
– a new, freer form
of belief”.
FRANZOBEL is an Austrian
writer. He has published
numerous plays, works of
prose and poems. His plays
have been produced in
countries including Mexico,
Argentina, Chile, Denmark,
France, Poland, Romania,
Ukraine, Italy, Russia and
the USA.
His great historical
adventure novel “Das Floß
der Medusa” (published by
Zsolnay) was awarded the
Bayerischer Buchpreis
(Bavarian Book Award) 2017
and was on the shortlist for
the German Book Prize 2017.

15. 01 / 22
Lifestylehotels™
F RAN Ç O I S D E L A R O C H E FO U CAU L D
lifestylehotels.net
“To eat is a necessity, but to eat intelligently is an art.”
And it's this art of enjoyment that you'll find at the Nesslerhof – in the sauna, the rooms, the
spa and the restaurant. The team at the Nesslerhof has made it their aim to turn a necessity
into a pleasure, be it the necessity for relaxation, nature or nourishment for the body and soul.
Relax and enjoy.
Photo:
Nesslerhof
HOTEL NESSLERHOF
Austria / Salzburg / Großarl
Continue your reading
enjoyment on page 3.
( + )
Selection

16. THE Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2022
LH 02
Lifestylehotels™
Directory
BAD GOISERN AM HALSTÄTTERSEE Lesehotel
DAMÜLS Alpenstern Panoramahotel
FISS Alps Lodge
FÜGEN Mia Alpina . Zillertal Family Retreat
GASCHURN Montafon Lodge Design Lodgehotel und Spa
GEINBERG Geinberg5
Private Spa Villas
GRAZ Aiola Living
GRAZ Augarten Art Hotel
GRAZ Lendhotel
GROSSARL Hotel Nesslerhof
HALLSTATT Hallstatt Hideaway
KALS AM GROSSGLOCKNER Gradonna Mountain Resort
KALTENBACH Das Kaltenbach
KITZBÜHEL Alpenhotel Kitzbühel am Schwarzsee
LEOGANG Puradies Mein Naturresort
MARIA ALM Hotel Eder
MARIA ALM Hotel SEPP
MAYRHOFEN ElisabethHotel Premium Private Retreat
MELLAU Sonne Lifestyle Resort
MÜHLDORF LA PETITE IVY
NAUDERS Arabella Retreat & Spa
OBERGURGL The Crystal VAYA Unique
SAALBACH HINTERGLEMM Alpin Juwel
SALZBURG Hotel Goldgasse
SALZBURG Hotel Stein
SCHLADMING Stadthotel brunner
SEEFELD dasMAX
SEEFELD/MÖSERN Nidum Casual Luxury Hotel
SERFAUS Alfa Hotel
SÖLDEN Bergland Design and Wellness Hotel
SÖLDEN The Secret Sölden
STAINACH-PÜRGG Gästehaus Krenn
UDERNS IM ZILLERTAL Sportresidenz Zillertal
WAGRAIN Almmonte Präclarum Suites
WAGRAIN Almmonte Sensum Suites
VIENNA Hotel Das Tyrol
VIENNA Hotel Schani Salon
ZELL AM SEE Senses Violett Suites
AUSTRIA
GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN Das Graseck
NUREMBERG art&business Hotel
OFFENBURG Hotel Liberty
PIRNA Laurichhof
SANKT ENGLMAR Berghotel Maibrunn
TIMMENDORFER STRAND Sand
TIMMENDORFER STRAND SeeHuus
GERMANY
ALENTEJO Sublime Comporta Country Retreat & Spa
ALGARVE Vila Valverde
AZORES Santa Bárbara Eco-Beach Resort
AZORES White Exclusive Suites & Villas
CASCAIS The Oitavos
LISBON Torel Palace Lisbon
MADEIRA Quinta da Bela Vista
PORTO Torel Avantgarde
PORTO Torel Palace Porto
PORTO Torel 1884 Suites & Apartments
ITALY
PORTUGAL
LUCERNE Hotel des Balances
ZERMATT Hotel Matterhorn Focus
LAPLAND Treehotel
SWITZERLAND
SWEDEN
BALEARICS Es Raco d‘Arta
MALLORCA Convent de la Missio
MALLORCA Fontsanta Hotel Thermal Spa & Wellness
MALLORCA Hotel Can Simoneta
MALLORCA Pleta de Mar
SPAIN
HUNGARY
BUDAPEST Hotel Collect
AMALIADA / PELOPONNES Dexamenes Seaside Hotel
SANTORINI Myst Boutique Hotel
SANTORINI Saint Santorini
SIFNOS Verina Astra
SIFNOS Verina Terra
SUMBA Nihi Sumba
GREECE
INDONESIA
AMALFI COAST Casa Angelina
APULIA Paragon 700 Boutique Hotel & Spa
CAMAIORE Locanda al Colle
CALABRIA Praia Art Resort
LIMONE SUL GARDA EALA My Lakeside Dream
MATERA Sextantio Le Grotte della Civita
MERANO Steinach Townhouse Meran
MONTEFOLLONICO Follonico
NATZ BEI BRIXEN Seehof Nature Retreat
RIMINI i-Suite
SANTO STEFANO DI SESSANIO Sextantio Albergo Diffuso
SICILY Monaci delle Terre Nere
SICILY ZASH Country Boutique Hotel
VENICE Hotel Heureka
CROATIA
BRAČ Hotel Lemongarden
ISTRIA Meneghetti Wine Hotel & Winery
STARI GRAD-HVAR Maslina Resort
Hotel Nesslerhof, Großarl (Cover, LH 03)
ElisabethHotel, Mayrhofen (LH 04)
Alpenhotel Kitzbühel am Schwarzsee, Kitzbühel (LH 05)
dasMAX, Seefeld (LH 06)
Gradonna Mountain Resort, Kals am Großglockner (LH 07)
Alpenstern Panoramahotel, Damüls (LH 08)
Hotel Eder/Hotel SEPP, Maria Alm (LH 09)
Locanda al Colle, Camaiore (LH 10)
Alpin Juwel, Saalbach-Hinterglemm (LH 11)
Steinach Townhouse Meran, Merano (LH 12 )
We provide design enthusiasts and trend-conscious globetrotters with
a hand-picked selection of exceptional hotels.
Direct contact with the hotel.
Information straight from the source.
The best price.
The best availability.
Stylish retreats
for inspiring
timeouts.
lifestylehotels.net
IN THIS ISSUE
AMSTERDAM Sir Adam
AMSTERDAM Sir Albert
AMSTERDAM TwentySeven Amsterdam
NETHERLANDS

17. THE Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2022
LH 03
Season the meat well and sear in a hot roaster
with the clarified butter. Pre-heat the oven to 130°C,
remove the meat from the pan and put to one side.
Brown the vegetables and onions. Add the tomato
purée, deglaze with the red wine and leave to reduce.
Pour in the stock, bring to the boil then add the
remaining herbs. Put the meat back into the pan,
cover and stew in the oven for 2 hours. Finally,
remove the meat and strain the juices. Stir the jam
into the sauce. Add a thickening agent if required.
Mix all of the ingredients for the Spätzle into a dough
using a dough hook. Press the dough through a
Spätzle sieve into a large pan of boiling, salted water.
Stir continuously, bring to the boil then drain the
Spätzle. Rinse in iced water. For the red cabbage,
sweat the onion in oil, add the apple and sugar
and sauté briefly. Add the red cabbage to the pan,
deglaze with vinegar and steam for around 10 min-
utes with the lid on. Pour the orange juice over the
cabbage and season, then gently steam for around
35 minutes and refine with red wine.
Carve the venison into slices and reheat the sauce.
Heat the Spätzle with some butter and garnish with
chives. Plate with the red cabbage.
Regional
Cuisine is a main priority at the Nesslerhof
in Großarl. But Hermann Neudegger, the
hotel manager, isn’t just a passionate
gourmet, he’s also a trained chef himself.
He knows what’s important in the kitchen:
respectful handling of food and regionality.
On the latter point, the hotel family laid
a solid foundation by establishing their
own butcher’s and has since got the main
ingredients for their delicious meat dishes
pretty much off their own shelves, including
venison from the local forests for their
legendary roast venison:
NESSLERHOF ROAST VENISON
USING LOCAL GAME
HERMANN NEUDEGGER
Hermann Neudegger is a trained chef and is actively involved in the kitchen even after having
taken over management of the Nesslerhof. These days, he leaves all things food to his kitchen
team, who create sustainable, seasonal and regional dishes based on his principles.
HOTEL NESSLERHOF Austria / Salzburg / Großarl
FOR THE ROAST:
1 kg boneless venison haunch
Salt, pepper, thyme
2 onions, roughly chopped
½ celeriac and 3 carrots, diced
2 tsp tomato purée
1 splash red wine
250 ml beef or game stock
2 garlic cloves
2 bay leaves
15 juniper berries
2 tsp cranberry jam
Clarified butter
FOR THE SPÄTZLE:
500 g coarse-grained flour
9 eggs
Salt, pepper, nutmeg
FOR THE RED CABBAGE:
5 tbsp oil
1 onion, chopped
2 apples, diced
1 tbsp sugar
2 kg red cabbage, shredded
1 splash vinegar
250 ml orange juice
2 bay leaves, pepper, salt
1 splash red wine
INGREDIENTS TO SERVE 6
METHOD
enjoyment
HOTEL NESSLERHOF
Austria / Salzburg / Großarl
Wellness hotel in Salzburger Land for
out-of-the-box thinkers and the ultimate
connoisseurs.
nesslerhof.at
( + )
Photos:
Hotel
Nesslerhof
TO SERVE

18. THE Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2022
LH 04
What’s it like having a hotel for a home? To grow up among guests and
employees? “For us, it was totally normal,” say siblings Sebastian and Sophia
Moigg. The pair spent their childhood in Mayrhofen, where today they give
their guests at the Elisabeth­
Hotel a very warm welcome.
It was obvious from a young age that the
brother and sister would end up working
in tourism themselves. “Sophia and I both
trained in tourism in Klessheim. I then
studied in Innsbruck and worked as a
chef, among other things, in France before
moving to Canada, where I worked in events
management at a hotel. The international
experiences were a lot of fun,” explains
Sebastian. His younger sister gained hotel
experience right after completing her
secondary education at Lake Achensee in
Tyrol and the legendary Arlberg. And both
ended up moving back to the Zillertal valley.
HOME
AGAIN
Today, Mayrhofen isn’t just their home once
more – Sebastian and Sophia have also
found their calling here at the ElisabethHotel.
The adults-only accommodation owned by
the Moigg family promises tranquillity and
relaxation in an architecturally appealing
environment for anyone looking to unwind.
“Home is still the Neuhaus hotel, meaning
our family hotel that’s run by my parents.
It’s where we grew up,” explains Sophia,
who decided several years ago to support
her brother Sebastian as host of the
ElisabethHotel. “But these days, we put our
passion for hospitality into action primarily
at our hotel for adults.” And guests can feel
and appreciate this passion.
TO EACH
HIS OWN
Both of the siblings see working together
with family as enriching. “Every one of us
is able to bring our own strengths to the
business,” asserts Sebastian. For Sophia,
it’s quite clearly having contact with guests.
With her calm and diligent nature, she
makes a huge contribution to the pleasant
peacefulness that accompanies us
throughout the ElisabethHotel, from
reception to the rooms and into the
1,600-square-metre Elisense spa. It is this
tranquillity that entices many guests into
the sophisticated atmosphere of the hotel
in the centre of Mayrhofen, where natural
materials like wood ground the body, mind
and soul. Sebastian ensures that everything
behind the scenes runs smoothly, while also
helping out at the Neuhaus Zillertal Resort –
along with many other family members.
The Neuhaus and ElisabethHotel are and
always will be traditional family-run
businesses.
NATURE IN THE CENTRE
OF MAYRHOFEN
The Moigg family wishes to preserve their
home and the stunning nature that sur-
rounds them for the following generation.
It is a matter of the heart for all of them.
For this reason, the original agricultural
farm from which the family’s first hotel was
created has been retained, including the
mountain restaurant and fishmonger –
as has the ancient population of fruit trees
in the 15,000-square-metre outdoor area,
which is also open to guests at the
ElisabethHotel. Here, you can take a stroll
through the romantic garden beneath
the shady fruit trees that have been
tended for many decades, and enjoy the
1,000-square-metre natural bathing lake.
ELISABETHHOTEL PREMIUM
PRIVATE RETREAT
Austria / Tyrol / Mayrhofen
Tranquil retreat for those aged over 16
to unwind, featuring modern design for
extraordinary views and sophisticated
demands.
elisabethhotel.com
( + )
Photos:
ElisabethHotel
ELISABETHHOTEL PREMIUM PRIVATE RETREAT Austria / Tyrol / Mayrhofen
“Traditional and modern aren’t a con-
tradiction at the ElisabethHotel, and
instead they complement one another
perfectly,” comments Sophia Moigg,
before getting back to what really
matters: guests and their experiences.
Passion

19. THE Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2022
LH 05
If thinking of Kitzbühel only brings to mind ski slopes and cockscomb, you
should visit the famous winter sports resort during the summer, not least so
you can swim in the idyllic Lake Schwarzsee, where the Alpenhotel Kitzbühel
offers a new wellness escape right on the water’s edge.
NATURAL BATHING LAKE
The appeal of the natural bathing lake at the hotel lies not
only in the exceptional quality of the water and the fact
the water temperature reaches 27°C in summer. It’s also
impressive for its unbeatable view of the peaks of the Wilder
Kaiser mountain range – which can also be enjoyed from the
private beach at the Alpenhotel Kitzbühel. Surrounded by a
well-maintained nature reserve, you’re guaranteed a great
view when bathing here. Also recommended is a casual
stroll around the lake – perhaps after a gourmet meal at the
Alpenhotel’s à la carte restaurant, Das Steghaus.
Summer by
the lake
Photos:
Alpenhotel
Kitzbühel
Picturesque
Lake
Schwarzsee
THE ALPENHOTEL KITZBÜHEL
Right on the banks of Lake Schwarzsee, the Alpenhotel
Kitzbühel is home to a large wellness area that’s intended
to soothe the body, mind and soul. Here, those seeking to
unwind will find an escape from everyday life and enjoy the
infinity pool, numerous saunas, steam room, infrared cabin
and the sun terrace, where the warm summer rays of the
mountain sun will make your skin tingle. Wherever you find
your place, be it the cosy relaxation room, state-of-the-art
gym or the tucked-away sauna right by the lake – you’ll
always be able to enjoy a view of nature, making switching
off that bit easier.
Summer
well-being
THAT’S WHAT WE ASKED HOTEL MANAGER PETER
PÖLL, AND HE REPLIED:
PP: Of course! It’s always the right season to take time out
for yourself, and it’s just as beneficial in summer as it is in
winter. Also, the legendary winter sports resort of Kitzbühel
is located in such a picturesque part of the world that it has
something special to offer all year round.
LH: So what is there to do in the region around the Alpenhotel
in summer?
PP: The mountains make Kitzbühel an absolute hiking paradise.
There are also five golf courses in Tyrol, and of course
there’s Lake Schwarzsee, which can reach temperatures
of 27°C, making it the warmest lake in Tyrol. A holiday by
the lake doesn’t get more relaxing than this. And if you like
your indoor comforts, we recommend one of our Lakeside
Lodges – lake access and private sauna included.
LH: And for the active holidaymakers?
PP: There’s not just the lake to walk around here, there are
also countless peaks just waiting to be climbed. Or why not
jump into the cool Lake Schwarzsee or set off on a lap of
stand-up paddle boarding? Alternatively, you could take a
bike out to discover the local area on a range of valley and
mountain routes. And after that, there’s yoga by the lake or
a relaxing massage in the spa. Lovely!
Wellness and
summer: do they
go together?
ALPENHOTEL KITZBÜHEL
AM SCHWARZSEE
Austria / Tyrol / Kitzbühel
Unique place to relax on the banks of
Lake Schwarzsee near Kitzbühel with
private lake access.
alpenhotel-kitzbuehel.at
( + )
ALPENHOTEL KITZBÜHEL AM SCHWARZSEE Austria / Tyrol / Kitzbühel

20. THE Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2022
LH 06
DASMAX Austria / Tyrol / Seefeld
Photos:
Olympiaregion
Seefeld,
Archiv
Marcati,
Derick
McKinney
on
Unsplash
Local goodies
MORE INSIDER TIPS
The team at the dasMAX has plenty more top tips in four categories: Sports, Highlights, Food & Drink and
Must See. With its local guides as an alternative to the typical concierge service, the dasMAX lifestyle hotel
is the perfect base for a holiday where you decide exactly how you want to spend it – in keeping with the
dasMAX motto: holiday as you want it.
Top tips for your next holiday in Tyrol: sport, wellness,
culture… Holidays mean different things to different people.
You’ll find out just how many ways there are to spend free
time in Seefeld in Tirol in the local guides provided by
lifestyle hotel dasMAX, available online and in paper form
to provide guests with all the tips they need for a holiday
that suits them.
02
No, you’re not in the wrong
country – it’s the name of a
climbing area near Seefeld,
and with 176 routes of
varying difficulty, it’s sure to
have something to excite all
climbing enthusiasts.
THE “CHINESISCHE MAUER”,
OR CHINESE WALL
The Leutasch gorge, known as the Geisterklamm, is a
mystical place, and the perfect spot for hot summer days
thanks to its 23-metre waterfall.
GEISTERKLAMM
In Seefeld itself, there are
alpacas that love to join
visitors on hikes then invite
them to a picnic in their
pasture, before the visitors
pedal their way back to the
hotel on the electric bikes
they hired from the dasMAX.
ALPACA HIKE
The Friedensglocke is the
largest freestanding bell in
the Alps and rings every
day at 5 pm for the neigh-
bourhood and the Alpine
region. There is also a hiking
trail that even inexperienced
walkers will be able to
manage.
LA TRATTORIA THE FRIEDENSGLOCKE
01
04
03
05
If you needed proof that
Italian delicacies are the
perfect accompaniment
for the imposing Tyrolean
mountain scenery,
La Trattoria in Seefeld is it.
Grab yourself a slice “of la
dolce vita” in the Alps at the
end of an active day.
DASMAX
Austria / Tyrol / Seefeld
Nordic minimalism in a top location.
dasmax.at
( + )

21. THE Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2022
LH 07
GRADONNA MOUNTAIN RESORT Austria / East Tyrol / Kals am Großglockner
We’re not just taken in by the captivating view
as we arrive via the mountain pass and the
switchback roads snaking through the land-
scape – there are three particular highlights
here that you won’t find in many other places:
0 CARS
Reaching the Gradonna at the end of the
Kals valley without a car might sound diffi-
cult, but spending your holiday here “ohne
Auto” couldn’t be easier. The resort is
a car-free zone, meaning it fades further into
the natural surroundings of the imposing
mountains. Guests therefore aren’t faced
with concrete between the main building
and the encircling chalets, but instead their
eyes are greeted by flowering meadows in
summer and prepared pistes in winter – the
Großglockner resort of Kals-Matrei offers
total winter joy thanks to the ski-in, ski-out
location. Be it summer or winter, guests at
the Gradonna are always at the heart of the
action.
1,350 METRES
While at 1,350 metres above sea level on
other mountains the first mountain restau-
rants might be tempting you to make
a stop, in Kals am Großglockner you’ll
find a modern mountain resort in a class of
its own waiting to greet its guests. What may
initially seem like a contrast quickly turns out
to be a successful interplay at the Gradonna
four-star superior hotel. In the heart of a
mountain forest at the gateway to the Hohe
Tauern National Park, shingled external
walls provide the perfect camouflage, with
the dark façade of the tower suites rising
up in the centre. Standing out yet blending
in – the Gradonna Mountain Resort proves
that this doesn’t have to be a contradiction
in terms.
30 3,000-METRE PEAKS
The Großglockner itself – 3,798 metres high,
the tallest in the Alpine Republic – can be
seen with the naked eye from the viewing
platform at the Kals mountain railway station,
and you’ll quickly see that this giant is in
good company. In the Kals am Großglockner
skiing and hiking region, thirty peaks over
3,000 metres high tower into the sky, cre-
ating a mountain panorama that you won’t
forget in a hurry. Just like the holiday you’ll
spend in four-star luxury at the Gradonna
Mountain Resort.
There are many popular places to go skiing and hiking on holiday. But at
the Gradonna ****s Mountain Resort at the foot of the Großglockner, guests
experience the mountain in its purest form: from 0 to 3,798.
Photos:
Gert
Perauer
GRADONNA MOUNTAIN RESORT
Austria / East Tyrol / Kals am Großglockner
Natural Alpine paradise of the highest level.
gradonna.at
( + )
the mountain
holiday
A new take on

22. THE Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2022
LH 08
Photos:
Mia
Feline
|
www.goldenfox.com
ALPENSTERN PANORAMAHOTEL Austria / Vorarlberg / Damüls
The magic
of mixology
Bartenders are thought to be good listeners, but is that
really the case? We spoke to Oliver Polster from Bar
Novum at the Alpenstern Panoramahotel in Damüls.
ABOUT OLIVER
Oliver comes from Germany, is a trained hotel and hospitality professional and loves working behind the bar.
As well as being an excellent host, he is also a passionate liquid alchemist and collects all types of whiskey.
The bar manager gave us a glimpse behind
the scenes – or to put it a better way, behind
the bar, where it’s not just people’s cocktail
dreams he makes come true.
Lifestylehotels: Oliver, are bartenders really
such good listeners?
Oliver Polster: The secret for anyone work-
ing in hospitality is to observe people and
to listen to them. As a bartender, I want to
know what my guests want before they even
know it themselves. In order to achieve this,
you need a genuine interest in people, and
our guests can sense that. For me, there’s
nothing better than being able to guarantee
first-class service in a relaxed environment
so that people feel comfortable.
LH: Bar Novum is known for its many in-
house creations and modern interpretations
of the classics. What’s in your gin and tonic
that we can’t replicate at home?
OP: I love drinks and have been working
with them for a long time. Even simple cock-
tails like a gin and tonic can be refreshed
without any major changes. One example
of this is our frozen cucumber, which we
grate into the gin and tonic to create grainy
ice that has a more intense flavour. I like the
traditional recipes, but mixing exceptional
drinks is also about listening to your
stomach and trying new things.
ALPENSTERN PANORAMAHOTEL
Austria / Vorarlberg / Damüls
Exclusivity and home comforts for
design-lovers in informal surroundings.
hotel-alpenstern.at
( + )
LH: You prepare some of the spirits and
syrups yourself. Why is that?
OP: Why not? With syrups we’ve prepared
ourselves, like our cardamom syrup, I’ve
got even more control over the quality
of our drinks. I get the exact consistency
and flavour that I’m looking for. The same
applies to our spirits. For example, in our
high-quality lemon vodka, we don’t just
add lemon peel – we also mix in a splash of
orange liqueur then use it to make a Fresh
Cosmopolitan to give it a more intense
flavour than ever.
LH: 13 May 2022 is World Cocktail Day.
Which cocktail would you recommend to
celebrate the occasion, and why?
OP: I would recommend taking an imaginary
trip to old London, sitting in a heavy leather
armchair in a gentlemen’s club surrounded
by antique furniture and dark wood
panelling. The perfect accompaniment is
a Smooth Jazz at the Garrick, one of our
signature cocktails and a favourite among
our guests.
THE ALPENSTERN SIGNATURE COCKTAIL
10 ml Roe & Co Irish Whiskey
20 ml chartreuse green liqueur
20 ml Psenner apple liqueur
3 splashes Sexy Bitters
40 ml cider
Mix everything together and stir for a while with ice. Pour over ice cubes
in a glass and top up with the 40 ml of cider. For the traditional fragrance
of tanned leather, spray the glass with the smoky whiskey infused with
Tasmanian pepper and serve in a large cognac glass with ice cubes.

23. THE Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2022
LH 09
HOTEL SEPP Austria / Salzburg / Maria Alm
Photo:
Eder
Collection
HOTEL SEPP
Austria / Salzburg / Maria Alm
Charming extravagance and an unconven-
tional sense of well-being for the over 21s.
edersepp.com
( + )
HOTEL EDER
Austria / Salzburg / Maria Alm
Right in the middle between vibrant village
life and the breathtaking natural backdrop
of the Hochkönig.
hoteleder.com
( + )
Despite this, the qualified architect remains as down-
to-earth as the rest of the extended Eder/Schwaiger family,
many of whom work for the business. Sepp grew up at the
main hotel, the Hotel Eder, which was built by his grand­
father in the 1960s out of a stable in the heart of Maria Alm.
So in the 1980s, the kitchen and guest areas were young
Sepp’s playground, meaning hospitality isn’t just a way of
life, it’s also in his DNA.
Sepp:
wild at heart
“But I wasn’t interested at first,” he explains. “I wanted to
build houses, went to a technical college and then studied
architecture at uni.” His response to the question as to what
encouraged him to return home is a smile: “The odd cocktail
party,” which he had with friends during his wild mid-twen-
ties in a bar he opened in what was an empty back room of
the hotel at the time. It wasn’t just a success, it also provided
him with so much joy that Sepp decided to follow in the
footsteps of his predecessors. Luckily for us, otherwise
Maria Alm would today be a couple of attractions worse off.
Sepp:
a man of many ideas
“The first thing we did was to transform the Hotel Eder into
a four-star lifestyle hotel for holidaymakers who like the
social side of life. That worked really well,” says the cosmo-
politan Salzburger. The Hotel Sepp followed, aimed
at young adventurers – complete with a rooftop sauna in
a converted camper van. His brother Tom meanwhile gave
free rein to his own creative streak at the Tom Almhütte at
1,166 metres above sea level, and immediately made
Choupette the pug its universally adored mascot.
The Schwaigers replaced the village grocers with the cool
Consepp Store, and also made Maria Alm worth a visit for
smaller guests when they opened Tante Frida in December
2021 – a children’s hotel where a well-travelled aunt tells
crazy stories and makes many a childhood dream come
true.
It’s entirely conceivable that a good number of the game
ideas at the newly opened family haven came from Sepp’s
four-year-old son – or at least were extensively tested
by him. Because if one thing is important to Sepp, it’s his
family. And even his guests can feel that, no matter which
hotel in the Eder Collection they spend their holiday in.
The Salzburg resident from Maria Alm has a laid-back and likeable demeanour, and he’s
younger than you might expect. You wouldn’t think at first glance that Josef Schwaiger,
also known as Sepp, runs three hotels and a concept store, but he does, and he does it
with immense passion, even more creativity and huge success.
SEPP, the hotelier

24. THE Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2022
LH 10
Photos:
Locanda
al
Colle,
Emanuele
Rambaldi
LOCANDA AL COLLE Italy / Tuscany / Camaiore
Lifestylehotels: Why did you start collecting art and sculp-
tures, and what was your first piece?
Riccardo Barsottelli: When I bought my first apartment in
London, I needed to furnish it so I started visiting the gal-
leries in Fulham, Soho and Mayfair. My first buy was three
black and white female nudes by Robert Mapplethorpe – I
was very impressed by the beauty of his work.
LH: Why did you decide to share your collection with the
guests at the hotel?
RB: I always wanted to have a home that was open to paying
guests – a step up from a B&B but more relaxed than
staying at a big hotel. So because this is a home, it had to
be furnished and decorated with my own personal items.
LH: What role does the history of the region play in the
growth of your collection?
RB: Having grown up in this area of Tuscany, I had been
mainly exposed to classical art, and from cities around the
world I filled in the modern and contemporary. I only realised
the importance of this area when I saw it from abroad,
and that’s what made me decide to come back and open
a guesthouse here rather than somewhere else. This area
is one of the major international sculpting centres, with
Carrara’s marble quarries providing the raw material and
Pietrasanta being home to skilled artisans.
LH: How important is it for you to support local artists
by exhibiting their works?
RB: One of the main features of the guesthouse is giving
local artists exposure. The sculptures here are on loan from
artists working in the area, offering them the opportunity
to show their work in situ and outside an art gallery. It’s also
a chance for people to get an idea of how something could
look in their home, and that’s what inspires them to make
a purchase. Furthermore, it creates a pleasant and ever-
changing energy throughout the property. It’s a very
different experience to visiting a gallery.
Perched atop a sunny hill just outside Camaiore in Tuscany, the Locanda al Colle
guesthouse is a renovated farmhouse that now boasts 12 tastefully designed rooms
and suites. But that’s not all: it also has its very own art collection. We spoke to owner
Riccardo Barsottelli about the importance of sharing these pieces with his guests.
LOCANDA AL COLLE
Italy / Tuscany / Camaiore
A retreat and the perfect backdrop for modern art that amazes, enchants and moves, with views
over the gentle hills of Camaiore and the sea.
To be a guest at Locanda al Colle is to be a guest of the artists themselves, with so much to
explore and marvel at. Don’t be surprised if you arrive through the olive groves with just your suitcase,
and leave with a wealth of inspiration and a new-found appreciation of this fascinating region.
locandaalcolle.com
( + )
One of the main features of
the guesthouse is giving local
artists exposure.”
“
A location
imbued with art

25. THE Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2022
LH 11
paths to
deep
relaxation
Escape the daily routine for a few days, soothe the soul and really relax – this is the goal
of many people when they go on holiday. The four-star Alpin Juwel hotel in Saalbach-
Hinterglemm has a spa especially for those looking to unwind, with an area of more than
1,000 square metres playing host to several saunas, pools and traditional massages, plus
a range of Ayurvedic treatments. Spa manager Carolina reveals five tips on how to relax
sustainably on holiday:
AYURVEDIC MASSAGE
Ayurveda is an Indian form of medicine with a holistic approach, meaning the body and
the mind receive equal attention. An important element of Ayurveda is massages, such as
the Abhyanga. Using an individually tailored herbal oil, it stimulates self-healing energy and
detoxifies – for a feeling of balance, tranquillity and harmony.
BALANCED DIET
We are what we eat. That’s why it’s recommended to eat a healthy diet based on regional,
seasonal produce that’s been farmed sustainably, just like what’s served at the certified
organic Alpin Juwel. Head chef Max refines his natural creations with a sprinkle of love, herbs
from the hotel garden and absolutely no processed ingredients with flavour enhancers.
YOGA
Yoga is more than an activity, it’s a philosophy. Through specific exercises, it strengthens
muscles, mobilises the spine, supports detoxification and relaxes the mind. At yoga classes
at the Alpin Juwel, we learn how it all works.
FRESH AIR AND NATURE
Countless studies have shown that nature has a calming effect on us. It lowers blood
pressure and heart rate and reduces cortisol levels in the blood. It shows its most beautiful
side in Saalbach-Hinterglemm, where we can enjoy fresh mountain air at 1,100 metres above
sea level. It has an especially holistic effect when hiking in summer or cross-country skiing
in winter. “Here in the Salzburger Land, we have the best conditions for a really relaxing
wellness holiday. We are in the heart of nature and we know how best to appreciate it.
Nature is all around us, in the architecture of our building, the interior décor, the rooms and
of course our wellness area. That somehow enables us to feel everything a little deeper, and
the feeling of relaxation starts incredibly quickly,” enthuses Carolina, who is already looking
forward to drawing on her wellness expertise to pamper the next guests at the Alpin Juwel
from head to toe.
RESTFUL SLEEP
Around a quarter of people suffer from disturbed sleep, so good sleep forms the basis of our
well-being. To ensure a really restful night’s sleep while on holiday, guests at the Alpin Juwel
sleep on pine beds with SAMINA sleep systems and earthing sheets, the Wi-Fi is turned off
between 11 pm and 7 am, and electronic smog is eliminated via network isolators. Furthermore,
the Alpin Juwel was the first hotel in the industry to wash its linen entirely without chemicals
over five years ago. The result is a wholly harmonious environment that allows us to sleep
soundly night after night.
ALPIN JUWEL Austria / Salzburg / Saalbach-Hinterglemm
5
ALPIN JUWEL
Austria / Salzburg / Saalbach-Hinterglemm
Certified organic lifestyle hotel with unique
architecture in an idyllic and panoramic
setting – exclusive, individual, different.
alpinjuwel.at
( + )
Photos:
Alpin
Juwel

26. THE Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2022
LH 12
South Tyrol is characterised by the fusion of Alpine tradition and Mediterranean
flair, which may seem like contrasts at first, but actually result in a harmonious
blend of architecture, cuisine and natural highlights. A true gem in this area of
northern Italy is Merano, just the tonic you need to celebrate lighter, warmer
days after the lethargic winter months.
As we come in to spring, a visit to Merano
is infused with the wonders of nature.
The eye is drawn down from the striking
mountain backdrop to the town’s pleasant
parks and gardens, verdant oases of
rejuvenation. The most stunning examples
can be found at Trauttmansdorff Castle on
the eastern edge of town, whose botanical
gardens are among the most beautiful in
the world. The town also plays host to the
Merano Flower Festival in April, signalling
that spring has well and truly arrived.
Being a small town, it’s easy to access most
places on foot, and the 18 kilometres of easy
walking trails make it almost impossible
not to do so. The Passer Promenade wends
its way past historic buildings in the centre
of town, while Sissi’s Path, named after
frequent visitor Empress Sissi of Austria,
allows visitors to take in her favourite spots,
including castles, gardens and squares.
You can even take a walk with an expert
local guide, who will be happy to share their
knowledge of the sights and the landscape.
Anyone with a bit more energy in the tank
can take to the area’s bike paths to explore
further afield, with routes leading to Bolzano
or into the Passeiertal and Vinschgau valleys.
You’re guaranteed superb views, with
altitudes ranging from 300 to 3,000 metres.
If that sounds too much like hard work,
e-bikes will give you the same reward for a
fraction of the effort.
As this is just a small portion of what there
is to see and do around Merano, it’s obvious
that you’ll need more than just one day
to experience the full joy of this town, so
accommodation is a must. Look no further
than the Steinach Townhouse Meran, an
urban retreat in one of the oldest parts of
Merano, and the ideal base from which to
explore. Highlights include e-bike hire, the
MeranCard for free travel on public trans-
port throughout South Tyrol, discounted
golf packages, a central location and a
mouthwatering breakfast menu. Need we
say more?
Photos:
Steinach
Townhouse
Meran,
Die
Gärten
von
Schloss
Trauttmansdorff
Merano
for the
mind
STEINACH TOWNHOUSE MERAN
Italy / South Tyrol / Merano
An unparalleled retreat at any time
of year in the heart of Merano.
steinachmeran.com
( + )
STEINACH TOWNHOUSE MERAN Italy / South Tyrol / Merano

27. Photos:
Serena
Eller
Vainicher
15
THE Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2022
STYLE
IS IT PERHAPS A SALMON, A HAWK, A BEAVER OR A DEER?
WE DIDN’T KNOW OURS UNTIL NOW, EITHER.
BUT SINCE SEEING THE CHIC APARTMENT BY STUDIOTAMAT,
WE HAVEN’T JUST WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT OUR SPIRIT ANIMAL,
WE’VE MAINLY WANTED TO GO TO ROME.
D O Y O U K N O W W H A T Y O U R T O T E M G U I D E I S ?
T O T E M
C A S A

28. 16
THE Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2022

29. 17
THE Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2022
STYLE
Photos:
Serena
Eller
Vainicher
Hidden away in the heart of Trastevere,
one of the busiest parts of the city, you’ll
find the 65-square-metre Casa Totem on
the first floor of a heritage-listed building.
Casa Totem was designed by architecture
firm STUDIOTAMAT to greet travellers
longing to explore the contemporary
side to Rome. The modern apartment
can accommodate up to four people and
comprises an entrance hall, two bedrooms,
a kitchenette and a living room with
versatile furniture so it can serve a variety
of purposes. The original 70s wallpaper
was removed to make way for the new
and fresh appearance, with layers of
original colours and glazes from the time
coming to the surface and being exposed.
At this point, the architects decided on
a complementary colour scheme that
would work with the existing plaster and
retain the imperfections. “The challenge
was to carry out a contemporary design
intervention that was a continuation of the
past, allowing us to maintain the historic
features of the apartment and to enhance
them with elements of modern architecture
to create an interplay of contrasts. The
result was a heterogeneous setting with a
strong character,” explains Matteo Soddu,
co-founder of STUDIOTAMAT.
SCULPTURAL
VOLUME
The entrance is dominated by a rough
wall that bears scratches in the original
colours and the original brick vaulted
ceiling. A round burgundy metal mirror,
the Glo-Ball Mini by Flos and horizontal
linear light fittings are the only embel-
lishments in this area. What’s most
impressive about this apartment is the
“totem”, a multifunctional and sculptural
volume that rises up from the floor to the
ceiling and acts as a kind of scenographic
backdrop and focal point for the new room
layout in the centre of the apartment.
Thanks to the totem, it was possible to
create a layout that conceals the bedroom
and provides a passage through to the
custom-made kitchenette, illuminated by
a floor-to-ceiling window.
Articulated in a seemingly random way in
the space, the totem screens off the
bedroom from the living room and is home
to all kinds of functional features, such as
a wardrobe, lighting, a fridge, a wine fridge
and bookshelves.
A large horizontal surface made out of
black painted wood provides additional
seating for the dining table or serves as a
chaise longue where you can read a book.
The informal approach to colour is the
stylistic signature of the entire pied-à-
terre, where warm and cool tones alternate
to complement the original colours,
without overpowering them.
COVER PAGE IMAGE, PAGE 15:
Sofa: Divanidea, Moss / Console: Connubia,
DEE-J table / Stool: Kartell, EUR stool /
TOTEM lamps: Italy light and design,
handcrafted on project 1/5 / Totem color:
Paper and Paint Library, Enamel color, Ice IV
Totem made of plasterboard and integrated
with wooden parts such as color enamelled
doors and black lacquered bench. / Cylindrical
tubular wall lamp: Italia light and design,
handcrafted on project / Floor: CP parquet,
natural oak planks / Floor: Casalgrande
Padana, resin effect stoneware
IMAGE LEFT:
Iron bed including headboard and bedside /
Tables in sheet metal: handcrafted on a
project basis / Bed cushion: Bludiprussia,
L'opificio / Pendants on brass bedside tables:
Italia luce e design, handcrafted on project /
Fifth colored: Paper and Paint Library,
Enamel color, Cordoba / Walk-in closet with
hanger in tubulariron: handcrafted on project /
Floor: CP parquet, natural oak planks /
Floor: Casalgrande Padana, resin effect
stoneware
IMAGE RIGHT (TOP):
Totem color: Paper and Paint Library, Enamel color,
Ice IV / Totem made of plasterboard and integrated
with wooden partssuch as color enamelled doors
and black lacquered bench. / Cylindrical tubular
wall lamp: Italia light and design, handcrafted on
project / Fifth colored: Paper and Paint Library,
Enamel color, Cordoba / Floor: CP parquet, natural
oak planks / Floor: Casalgrande Padana, resin
effect stoneware
IMAGE RIGHT (BOTTOM):
Mirror / console: handcrafted according to the
project / Applique: Flos, mini globe / Linear wall
lights: Italy Light and Design, handcrafted on
project / Floor: CP parquet, natural oak planks

30. 18
THE Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2022
Photos:
Serena
Eller
Vainicher
studiotamat.com
PROJECT NAME: Casa Totem (Totem House)
LOCATION: Trastevere, Rome (Italy)
ARCHITECTS: STUDIOTAMAT
(Tommaso Amato, Matteo Soddu,
Valentina Paiola)
COLOUR CONSULTANT: Sabina Guidotti
Completed: September 2021
GFA: 65 m2
(renovated)
BOLD DESIGN
VOCABULARY
The second bedroom is rather more
secluded and cut off, and at first glance
it seems to contrast with the rest of the
apartment with its bold design vocabulary.
It presents itself as an interplay between
walls painted with plain colours, finely
patterned fabrics and geometric mate-
rials. And this was no accident – it’s an
invitation from the architects to curious
guests to explore all of the spaces in the
apartment.The en suite bathroom is
perfectly integrated, yet partitioned off
from the room by a perforated brick wall
made from Mutina terracotta, which
is part of the Celosia range designed by
Patricia Urquiola. It partially conceals the
shower and the basin. The window over
the basin looks out onto a cloister in the
internal courtyard.The neighbourhood
has always been home to small shops and
craftspeople that have shaped the history
of this area. With its custom-made and
beautifully handcrafted furnishings and
lighting, Casa Totem pays homage to this
neighbourhood. This new hotspot in
Rome is brimming with warm hospitality,
a place where you can feel at home and at
the same time explore the surrounding
area. A place that depicts a creative and
buzzing city far removed from any clichés,
yet always with careful consideration of
the past.
IMAGE LEFT (TOP):
Bedside table lamps: Italia luce e design,
handcrafted on aproject basis / Tubular
suspension lamp: Italia luce e design, hand-
crafted on an Italia luce e design project /
Bed: handcrafted on project / Multifunctional
cabinet for hanging clothes and mini fridge:
handcrafted on project / Perforated brick wall:
Mutina, Celosia line
IMAGE LEFT (BOTTOM):
Tiles Bathroom floor and window trim:
Appiani, Regolo line, brick color /
Shower cladding: EnergieKer, Ceppo di Grè
gres / Black taps: Paffoni / Sink under the
window: Art Ceram, Cognac / Black metal
shelves and shower enclosure: handcrafted on
aproject basis / Perforated brick wall: Mutina,
Celosia line

31. 19
THE Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2022
Photos:
Geba
GmbH
ADVERTORIAL
comfort zone
Your philosophy is to bring people down to
the floor. Why should people prefer sitting
on a rug to the sofa?
People spend so much time in cars or
meetings. When you then get home, kick
off your shoes and there’s a big rug there,
you get an instant feeling of cosiness.
A rug provides support and grounds you.
It invites you to relax and sprawl out, and
can also have a meditative effect. As a
family, we really like sitting on the rug to
watch TV, eat a snack or sip a glass of red
wine. This also results in more topics of
conversation than if you’re sitting opposite
someone.
Where is it best to roll out a rug?
When I first started out at an oriental rug
distributor, it was customary to have rugs
everywhere. These days, it’s recommended
to have individual large pieces to define
certain areas and create zones. In a home,
that could be the sofa area or a dining area.
In meeting rooms, rugs provide a more
interesting environment for discussion
and improved acoustics. And in hotels,
where there are rugs as soon as you enter
reception, you don’t just feel welcome,
you also have the sense of having arrived.
Can you tell us about the most exciting
commissions you’ve had?
There was the collaboration with fashion
designer Emanuel Ungaro, who sent us
fabric and asked us to make a rug collection
out of it. For Salzburg cathedral, we were
contracted to design rugs using religious
colours for the altar area. We’ve also had
some interesting commissions from
New York-based star architect Richard
Meier and Austrian architect Gustav Peichl.
The motifs resemble works of art. What
stories are you telling us as a designer?
I try to give the rugs a timeless design:
not fully on trend, yet still modern.
For me, it’s about creating a link between
a knotting tradition that’s thousands of
years old and our culture. To do this, I
reinterpret ancient oriental motifs that
have been passed down. Coming from
southern Styria, I’m also impressed by
nature, and I pick out individual elements
and massively strip them back. Of course,
I’m not saying that my designs are the
best, which is why we also really like to
collaborate with designers and apply their
ideas in combination with our expertise.
We designed and made a rug with Patrick
Rampelotto that was bought by MAK and
added to the collection.
You mainly use sheep’s wool in production.
What are the benefits of this?
Tibetan wool has character and charm
because it’s not pure white, meaning the
colour takes on different tones.
STORIES FROM TIBET, NEPAL AND STYRIA
WITH HIS ABSTRACT MOTIFS,
HARALD GEBA BRINGS
NEW LIFE TO TRADITIONAL
TIBETAN KNOTTING.
HE LINKS ANCIENT CULTURES
WITH MODERN DESIGN
AND CAPTIVATES ARCHITECTS,
HOTEL OWNERS AND INDIVI-
DUALS WITH TIMELESS RUGS
THAT ARE MADE BY HAND
UNDER FAIR CONDITIONS IN
NEPAL. DURING OUR CONVER-
SATION, HARALD EXPLAINS
WHY PEOPLE SHOULD PREFER
RUGS OVER THE SOFA, WHERE
HE GETS HIS INSPIRATION
FROM AND WHAT FAIR
PRODUCTION ACTUALLY
MEANS.
The sheep live at an altitude of over 4,000
metres and are protected from the cold by
their fat content, which makes the wool
durable and resistant to dirt. The rugs are
flame retardant and easy to clean, so you
don’t have to take your shoes off!
You also sell vegan versions.
What are they like?
If wool isn’t suitable for some people or
they have chosen to avoid animal products,
there are a number of alternatives that
might be also interesting for non-vegans:
stinging nettle and hemp are perfect for
bathrooms and spa areas because they’re
extremely hard-wearing and quick-drying.
Soysilk has similar properties to its animal
equivalent and linen has a cooling and
pleasant effect.
Rugs for your
From shearing to knotting, there are
many people involved in production.
What role does the feel play in the end
product?
The wool is brushed and spun by hand,
meaning it varies in thickness and
therefore has more personality. We can
achieve great effects with Tibetan knots
if you don’t cut off certain rows as usual.
Rugs also become sculptural through
the combination of materials used or by
using different pile heights. One result
of this is visual appeal, while it can also
make them coarser or softer. In some
cases, rugs can have the same effect as
reflexology.
Geba rugs are produced in line with fair
policies. What does that mean in practice?
We’re members of Label STEP, an
organisation established specifically for
this purpose. That means a ban on child
labour, a fair wage, gender equality and
fair working conditions – such as having
enough light and enforcing rules about
breaks. Part of the purchase price people
pay also goes towards funding a school.
I regularly travel to Nepal to see this in
action for myself.
They’re too nice to walk on, really.
What do you think about displaying
rugs on the wall?
If you hang rugs on the wall, they become
pictures. Unlike a painting, they also have
a texture. You can feel the wool, and the
acoustics in the room are improved as well.
This can help with meditation.
geba.cc
Interview:
Christina Wetter-Nohl

32. 20
THE Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2022
holiday
House
5
1
2
6
ORANGE,
LEMON
AND
LIME:
NOT ONLY ARE THESE THREE
CLASSIC CITRUS FRUITS FOUND
IN YOUR COCKTAIL GLASS,
THEIR COLOURS ARE ALSO
PERFECT FOR BAR ACCESSORIES
TO SET A MEDITERRANEAN
TONE.
bar
1 THE FLYING SOMMELIER
This brightly coloured parrot hurries to
help when a bottle of wine needs opening:
Parrot by Alessandro Mendini for Alessi.
2 HAPPY HOUR
The Crispy diamond-cut highball glasses
from Frederik Bagger are available in
many colours, including citrine.
3 WELL SHAKEN
It stands out thanks to its rounded shape:
the Alir cocktail shaker made out of
stainless steel with a brass finish is from
House Doctor.
4 TRAINING SESSION
Good cocktails take practice: the set from
Jonathan Adler has just the right tools and
looks like a barbell.
5 GREEN ALTERNATIVE
The glass drinking straw has already
replaced the plastic version in many places
– why not try this pack of four from Ladelle.
6 CELEBRATIONS
The iconic Alpha range of drinks glasses
is celebrating its 70th anniversary and
continues to appeal with its harmonious
shape, thin muslin glass and subtle colour
palette.
7 BIG BOWL
Inspired by Cubism, the Strøm bowl by
Nicholai Wiig Hansen for Raawii is just
crying out to be filled with citrus fruits.
Or ice cubes, of course.
8 COOL DOWN
Refreshing design for refreshing drinks:
the Wave pitcher made out of borosilicate
glass is by Sophie Lou Jacobsen.
9 FAMILY FRIEND
The Barboy trolley by Verpan is always
there when you need it. And in bright
orange, you definitely won’t miss it.
7
Photos:
Alessandro
Mendini,
Frederik
Bagger,
House
Doctor,
Jonathan
Adler,
ladelle,
Lobmeyr,
Nicholai
Wiig
Hansen,
Sophie
Lou
Jacobsen,
Verpan
8
Text:
Christina Wetter-Nohl
3
9
4

33. 21
THE Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2022
ADVERTORIAL
Photos:
yiting_photo,
Drinks
at
home
Cocktails
STAYING IN IS THE NEW GOING
OUT: WITH THE BOTTLED
COCKTAILS FROM DRINKS AT
HOME, YOU CAN TURN YOUR OWN
LIVING ROOM INTO YOUR NEW
FAVOURITE BAR, AND IT’LL SERVE
MORE THAN JUST GIN AND TONIC.
FRESH INTERPRETATIONS OF
THE CLASSICS AND INNOVATIVE
CREATIONS FROM NOTEWORTHY
AUSTRIAN BARTENDERS ARE
READY-MIXED IN BOTTLES
AND DELIVERED TO YOUR HOME.
ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS PUT
ICE CUBES IN A GLASS, POUR IT
IN, ADD A GARNISH AND ENJOY,
AND YOU DON’T NEED TO WORRY
ABOUT CLOSING TIME. WHY NOT
TRY THE HEDONIST AND LOOK
FORWARD TO SUNNIER DAYS?
CHEERS!
THE DESCRIPTION:
Dry, Mediterranean, loaded with citrus,
slightly sharp and refreshing:
the Hedonist adds a summer holiday feel
to the bar atmosphere and lifts the spirits
THE BARTENDER:
Multi-award-winning Damir Bušić runs
Liquid Diary in Innsbruck, allows guests
to use the cocktail menu as a diary, takes
inspiration from the Alpine and Mediter-
ranean surroundings and loves aromatic
ingredients
THE INGREDIENTS:
Belvedere vodka, orange, lemon, lime,
rosemary, ginger, Supersawa, rhubarb,
tonic
THE GLASS:
Slim and robust: that’s how a highball
glass should be so the carbon dioxide
doesn’t escape too quickly and the sparkle
lasts longer. A good example is one by
Riedel from the Drink Specific Glassware
range
T H E H E D O N I S T
THE PREPARATION:
Place whole ice cubes in the glass, pour in
the cocktail, garnish with lemon peel and a
sprig of rosemary and top up with tonic as
required
THE BASIS:
A vodka fizz is the sparkling version of
the vodka sour, with vodka, lemon juice
and sugar being topped up with soda
couch
on
the
Text:
Christina Wetter-Nohl
drinks-at-home.at

34. 22
THE Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2022
It
was
during
a
walk
when
life
seemed
to
stand
still
for
the
first
time,
a
walk
that
brought
hope,
lifted
the
spirits
and
relieved
the
feeling
of
confinement.
It
was
a
walk
that
changed
life
unexpectedly.
In
a
leafy
part
of
Graz,
the
second-largest
city
in
Austria,
fashion
designer
and
artist
Bettina
Reichl
took
advantage
of
her
surroundings
to
get
some
movement
during
the
pandemic.
Along
the
way,
she
came
across
a
small
sheep
farm.
It
had
been
there
for
a
long
time
but
she’d
never
really
noticed
it.
But
then
she
caught
sight
of
this
one
sheep.
A
sheep
that
was
sitting
there
strangely
like
a
cat
and
looked
her
straight
in
the
eye.
It
looked
at
her
sear-
chingly
and,
rather
oddly,
she
recognised
something
familiar
in
it.
“I
saw
this
sheep
and
saw
in
it
my
cat
that
had
recently
died.
It
sounds
so
ridiculous,
but
this
sheep
made
me
spiritual.
More
than
anything
else,
it
touched
my
heart.”
And
she
couldn’t
get
it
out
of
her
head.
She
immediately
knocked
on
the
door
of
the
farmer
and
asked
whether
she
could
work
at
the
farm.
The
help
was
welcome,
so
fashion
designer
Reichl
worked
for
six
months
on
the
sheep
farm
and
learnt
everything
there
was
to
learn.
She
was
fascinated
by
the
personality
of
the
sheep
and
the
interesting
process
between
animal
and
human.
Soon
another
thought
blossomed:
she
wanted
to
sponsor
an
animal
and
make
a
dress
out
of
the
wool.
F
ROM
T
H
E
PA
ST
URE
T
O
T
H
E
CAT
WA
L
K
It
takes
many
stages,
a
lot
of
dedication
and
a
great
deal
of
passion
to
make
an
item
of
clothing
from
the
wool
of
one
sheep.
Especially
when
you’re
doing
everything
yourself
with
your
own
two
hands.
Bettina
Reichl
learnt
the
entire
process
and
took
on
board
the
knowledge
of
everyone
from
the
sheep
farmer
to
the
felter.
She
found
support
for
the
elaborate
work
in
her
sister
and
friends,
who
took
inspiration
from
her
and
helped
out.
She
set
up
a
wool
studio
in
her
cellar
where
she
worked
and
which
became
something
of
a
spiritual
place.
Many
tasks
were
also
carried
out
in
the
open
air
in
the
pasture.
Everything
was
produced
by
hand.
The
labels
on
the
clothing
bear
the
name
of
the
sheep.
“It
was
meditative
work
that
involved
many
lovely
conversations.”
The
designer
herself
describes
the
project
as
the
“high
point”
of
her
career.
It’s
an
art
project
that
has
produced
clothing
for
the
soul
out
of
the
association
of
partnership,
design
and
mindfulness.
PROJECT
Weidekleid
Photos:
Marija
Kanizaj

35. 23
THE Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2022
STYLE
Photos:
Marija
Kanizaj
DUR
I
NG
T
H
E
F
I
R
ST
LO
C
KD
OWN
I
N
AUS
T
RIA
,
GRA
Z-BA
SED
FASH
ION
DE
SIGN
E
R
BE
T
T
I
NA
R
E
IC
H
L
S
T
U
M
BL
E
D
U
P
ON
A
VE
RY
SPE
C
IAL
PROJ
E
C
T
–
I
N
T
H
E
F
OR
M
OF
A
SH
EE
P.
H
ER
E’S
HOW
AN
AC
QUA
I
N
TANC
E
WI
T
H
AN
AN
I
MA
L
WAS
T
U
RN
ED
I
N
TO
I
NC
R
E
DI
BLY
S
OPH
IST
IC
AT
E
D
FASH
ION
PI
E
C
E
S
T
HAT
C
HANGE
D
PE
OPL
E
’S
R
E
L
AT
ION
SH
I
P
S
AN
D
T
HOUGH
T
S
DU
RI
NG
T
H
E
MANU
FACT
U
RI
NG
PRO
C
ESS.

36. 24
THE Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2022
For
Bettina
Reichl,
fashion
is
a
language
that
can
express
culture
and
identity,
and
the
pieces
from
the
Weidekleid
(pasture
dress)
project
can
do
even
more.
They
represent
a
new
beauty
and
a
sense
of
solidarity.
It’s
what
you
feel
when
you
touch
or
wear
the
garments.
They
have
the
effect
of
a
protective
hug
and
possess
their
own
energy.
For
Bettina
Reichl,
the
project
was
a
catharsis
and
a
sudden,
crystal-clear
realisation:
we
are
all
living
beings
with
one
soul.
At
some
point,
it
became
clear
to
her
that
there
was
only
one
goal:
slaugh-
ter
has
to
stop
and
animal
wool
should
be
worth
so
much
that
sheep
farmers
can
make
a
living
from
selling
it.
She
became
vegetarian,
but
she
remains
realistic:
“It’s
not
possible
to
stop
slaughter
over-
night,
as
animal
meat
is
worth
more
than
wool.
But
my
high
level
of
design
can
make
it
possible
for
wool
to
be
sold
for
more.”
To
move
closer
to
the
goal,
you
can
sponsor
a
sheep
via
Bettina
Reichl
with
“her”
sheep
farmer.
And
if
you
want,
you
can
even
join
her
in
making
an
item
of
clothing
out
of
the
wool.
An
item
with
real
meaning.
odrowaz.at
ABOUT
BETTINA
REICHL
Bettina
Reichl’s
label
ODROWAZ
specialises
in
sustainable
fashion.
She
works
with
jersey,
woven
and
loden
fabrics
made
out
of
natural
fibres,
soft
and
flowing,
and
she
tailors
them
in
an
often
archaic,
monastic
and
yet
erotic
way
around
the
body.
Traditional
items
of
clothing
like
capes
and
hoods
are
the
unmistakable
foundations
of
her
work,
complemented
by
futuristic
elements
like
skintight
overalls.
The
Weidekleid
project
was
displayed
at
the
Kunsthaus
Graz
in
August
2021
under
the
title
Mode_Tanz_Performance,
and
the
subsequent
collection
United
Felt
will
be
on
show
at
the
EXPO
in
Dubai
in
March
2022
as
part
of
the
Austria
Rwanda
Fashion
Connect
intercultural
fashion
project.
Photos:
Marija
Kanizaj

37. to create fragrance layers, like Wunder-Selig
(wonder-bliss) or Glück-Sucht (happiness-
addiction), and thereby strengthen or hack
your current mood.
These are only a few examples of how
spirituality, neuroscience and self-care
can be crystalised into innovative products.
Enjoy discovering these new trends, and
Sat Nam!
25
THE Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2022
Photos:
Annet
Teapel
/
Portrait:
Holger
Homann
HELDER SUFFENPLAN is an independent
journalist and creative consultant from Berlin,
and has had a particular passion for perfumes
since he was a child. With his successful 2013
launch of SCENTURY.com – the very first
online mag­
azine for perfume storytelling –
Helder has become a recognised authority in
the global world of fragrance. He has been on
the jury for events such as The Arts & Olfaction
Awards in Los Angeles and the Prix Inter­
national
du Parfumeur Créateur in Paris. As a writer,
he combines his passion topic of fragrances
with a range of fields such as contemporary
art, popular culture, literature, film and
geopolitics.
“Science is the contemporary language of
mysticism,” claims Dr Joe Dispenza from
the US. It sounds almost as though he
wants to replace God with machines and
medication. In actual fact, what he means
is something quite different: it’s about
putting an end to the ancient opposition
between what spiritual traditions have
been teaching and practising for hun-
dreds of years and what is scientifically
explainable, and therefore what is “true”
or “real”.
Thanks to findings in neuroscience,
consciousness research and medicine,
phenomena that until now had fallen into
the category of esotericism have become
scientifically explainable. For example,
it’s been proven that we’re able to change
the material structure of our brains
through meditation, and that the question
of whether hereditary cancer genes are
activated or not largely depends on the
mental and emotional state of the person
carrying them. Dr Dispenza himself has
developed meditation programmes to
activate self-healing mechanisms that
are used by thousands of people around
the world, and whose results are now
the subject of scientific studies.
When this development first began,
the quantum physics understanding was
that consciousness isn’t an accidental
by-product of matter, but rather the
opposite, that counsciousness only creats
matter. Something similar takes place on
a molecular level in our bodies: thoughts
generate feelings, and feelings become
chemical and energetic messenger
substances that have a huge impact on
our health and our happiness. Based
on this idea, anyone who masters their
thoughts becomes the author of their own
story. So it’s no wonder that even in the
West, more and more people are becom-
ing fascinated by meditation, yoga and
Buddhism – traditions that put the key to
happiness in the hands of the individual
rather than in those of the sometimes
blessing, sometimes punishing God above.
Yet even Christianity once had mystical
traditions that are gradually being
rediscovered.
There have also been spectacular findings
in the area of smell over the last few years.
While good old aromatherapy still often
means rank lavender oil in a dusty
fragrance lamp, aromachology now looks
at what happens in the brain when it’s
triggered by scent molecules.
Anne Churchill, an in-house researcher
at perfume developers Givaudan, explains
more on this on coveteur.com: “Over
the past 20 to 30 years there’s been an
enormous increase in the amount of
knowledge in this area, particularly
related to improvements in the technology
available to actually measure brain
responses or other physiological responses
[via] brain scanning equipment and
things like facial recognition equipment,
the ability to measure heart rate accurately,
and skin conductance.” Givaudan was
therefore able to launch three collections
of fragrance technologies that can be used
by perfumers to create what are known
as functional fragrances. The MoodScentz
collection, for example, is intended to
promote relaxation and well-being.
We’re now seeing an influx of totally new
products whose goal is to have a targeted
and scientifically founded influence on
our mood, our concentration levels and
our sleep, and therefore to integrate a new
spirituality into our lives.
Sound a bit too ambitious? Anyone
doubting the power of smell should be
reminded of the mind-altering effect of
a full baby’s nappy on a long-haul flight
or a sweaty cheese left in the bin in
glaring sunshine. Why shouldn’t it work
just as well the other way round?
The Nue Co., for example, actually sells
supplements for the skin, hair and gut,
but has now expanded its range to include
a few fragrances. Mind Energy has shown
in studies that 86% of subjects felt they
had more focus and 76% felt their produc-
tivity levels improved. Forest Lungs brings
the woods into your home office and your
lungs thanks to patented phytoncides, a
molecular compound produced by trees.
London brand DOSE uses the slogan
“Taking control of your moods” to promote
their mood-boosting mists. Hit Me Up
energises and motivates you for your
workout, while Smells Like Yoga soothes
and relaxes. You’ll learn more about
the philosophy behind the brand on the
brand’s own podcast Hacking Happiness.
Adidas has also caught wind of the trend,
although is a bit more performance-
orientated with its Culture of Sport collec-
tion: fragrances including CHRG, UPLFT
and STRK are intended to stimulate the
same parts of the brain as sport in order
to increase “the desire and the ability to
train”. Vera Portz and Marion Lange from
Hamburg-based Mavemade are taking a
playfully different approach: using nine
fragrances with names like Eifer (vigour),
Artig (good) and Glück (happiness), you
can mix and match the words and scents
Happiness
a bottle
in
scentury.com

38. 26
THE Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2022
I S T A N B U L
Photos:
GPOD,
Stefanie
Hödlmoser,
LUMBRE,
Juskani
Alonso,
Stephany
Hildebrand
Design meets
G R A Z M E X I C O C I T Y
“FOR ME, SPIRITUALITY IS
BEING WITH MYSELF AND DOING
EVERYTHING WITH PURPOSE.
MY OWN ASPIRATION TO CREATE
DESIGN PIECES THAT ALIGN WITH
MY VALUES OR AREN’T JUST MADE
FOR AESTHETIC REASONS REPRE-
SENTS MY COMMITMENT TO THIS
SPIRITUALITY AS A DESIGNER.”
Stefanie Hödlmoser
“THE HUGE PLATEAU OF
SOGMATAR LET THE PEOPLE
OBSERVE THE SKY CLEARLY
AND CONSTANTLY, BECOMING A
VALUABLE PART OF THEIR LIVES
AND THEY CREATED A BELIEF
SYSTEM ACCORDING TO THE
PLANETS IN ORDER TO
UNDERSTAND THE UNIVERSE.
THE SEARCH FOR THE MEANING
OF THE UNIVERSE IS THE INSPIRA-
TION FOR SOGMATAR. THE ROUND
SHAPE AND THE PROPORTIONS
REPRESENT THE ECLIPSES OF
PLANETS AND THE ENCAPSULA-
TING PIECES KEEP YOUR SECRETS
AND WHATEVER YOU VALUE.”
Şule Koç
GO WITHIN SHINE BRIGHT STAY HYDRATED
The story of the ancient city of Sogmatar
in eastern Turkey, where seven circular
structures were placed around a sacred
hill in 200 AD to represent seven planets,
inspired the creations by designer
Şule Koç. The three-piece set comprises a
plate with a lid and a diffuser made out of
oak, and they can be used in a number of
different ways. Together, the pieces won’t
just embellish any home, they’ll also form
a small altar: a place to relax and pause
briefly between working from home and
your daily routine. Nature-based design
for your connection to the universe.
Atlas Harran,
Sogmatar set, € 92
Sustainability meets modern simplicity.
The Almost Gone range of design pieces
by Stefanie Hödlmoser is made out
of waste from the manufacturing of items
made from Corian – a composite material
made from minerals and plastic that is
predominantly used for outdoor
furniture, lamps and in construction
projects. For her candlesticks, the
designer prioritises clean lines and
functionality. With a shape based on
traditional nightlight candleholders, the
upper part serves as a form of handle.
This means the candlesticks can be used
universally for meditation sessions and
mindfulness routines so you can be
inspired by the magic of the light.
Stefanie Hödlmoser, Almost Gone
candlesticks € 35
Drinking a lot of water isn’t just healthy,
it also has a healing effect on our soul.
Thanks to the Botijo water bottle,
it’s easy to drink enough and look good
while doing it – be it at your desk, in the
kitchen or next to your yoga mat.
Created by designer Yunuén Hernández,
Botijo is a reinterpretation of traditional
Mexican jarrito earthenware jugs.
The container with an integrated beaker
is made out of terracotta and keeps
water fresh for a long time because
of the porous nature of the material.
For an invigorating sip of fresh water
in all situations.
Merakia, Botijo water bottle,
€ 44

39. 27
THE Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2022
STYLE
TRAVEL THE WORLD WITHIN YOUR OWN
FOUR WALLS! THESE DESIGN OBJECTS
FROM ACROSS THE GLOBE ARE THE
PERFECT TRAVEL COMPANIONS TO ADD
A SPIRITUAL TOUCH TO DAILY LIFE AND
INSPIRE AN INTERNATIONAL, SPIRITUAL
LIFESTYLE EVEN AT HOME.
THE WORLD WIDE THINGS COLLECTION assembles design pieces from the global UNESCO
Creative Cities network. The carefully selected pieces in the collection are united by an
authentic and independent design language. The platform supports interaction between cities
and connects designers, products, manufacturers and distributors. All of the products can be
purchased through online shops.
P U E B L A M O N T R É A L
Photos:
GPOD,
Stefanie
Hödlmoser,
LUMBRE,
Juskani
Alonso,
Stephany
Hildebrand
spirituality
DRINK SLOW COLOUR YOUR LIFE
designcities.net/wwtc
Scattered in temples, thrown at
celebrations and worn in the hair –
flowers have always carried huge symbolic
value. They represent life and mother
Earth, and often form part of traditional
rituals. The artistically playful vases
and vessels from design studio mpgmb
are perfect for floral arrangements
or displayed alone as an eye-catching
ornament. Each of the handcrafted
and hand-painted pieces has a unique
combination of shapes and colours that
are inspired by paper cuttings. Artistic
zest for life in the form of a design piece
that reminds us of the beauty of the Earth.
mpgmb, Lola vase,
€ 250
Tea ceremonies have been a tradition in
many cultures, especially in Japan, for
thousands of years. Today, they are being
revived as a practice to escape the fast
pace of everyday life. Juskani Alonso
created the ideal tea service for this
purpose: a sculptural walnut monolith
serves as a rack for three oak bowls
that can be arranged in different ways.
With the Camelia tea set, there’s nothing
more to do than to celebrate drinking tea:
rather than quickly pouring hot water
over a bag, drinking this ancient beverage
is turned into a ritual for mindfulness and
relaxation. Slow down with tea!
Se’Wá Productora, Camelia Tea Set,
€ 210