The first issue of 'The Stylemate' for 2023 explores the theme of clarity across various facets of life, from well-being to design and lifestyle. Contributors discuss the importance of having a clear mind in a complex world while featuring interviews, product reviews, and insights into creativity and mindful living. Highlights include topics like addiction to clarity in relationships, architecture, travel, and the significance of mental health awareness.

1. THE
Style
mate
INSPIRATION FROM AROUND
THE WORLD FOR AN AESTHETIC
AND MEANINGFUL LIFESTYLE
ISSUE No 01 | 2023
thestylemate.com
Clarity

2. 2
THE Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2023
Photo:
Heldentheater
IN THIS ISSUE
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 - Agency NEUNZEHN-NULL-VIER-
Managing editor: Thomas Holzleithner LAYOUT: VON K Brand Design Cover: Kelly Wearstler/ Joyce Park
Concept and Editorial Office: Julia Rinesch, Hannah Stefitz - Agency NEUNZEHN-NULL-VIER-
Project management: Dominik Thamer - Agency NEUNZEHN-NULL-VIER- Writers: Franzobel, Helder Suffenplan
Translators: Katherine Nussey Advertising: office@thestylemate.com Printed by: Medienfabrik Graz, 8020 Graz
Published in: Graz Publication: 3x yearly
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thestylemate.com
What is worth striving for? Success, power, happiness,
love, recognition? Love, for sure, and probably happiness as
well. But why not also strive for clarity? In our increasingly
complicated world, having an unclouded view of things is
a huge advantage. We need to learn to understand relation-
ships in a new way – and increase what we demand of
everyone. Life is becoming more and more complex, so it’s
good to have a clear head. To be able to speak using clear
language. But also to be clear about what we want.
In this issue of THE Stylemate, we’re talking about clarity.
We want to hear clear language from people so we’re able to
understand better. We want to have a clear head so we can
have a better grasp on the world, as we find ourselves in an
increasingly swift state of transition.
We want to see clear lines in architecture and follow clear
visions. Because one thing is clear: nothing ever stays the
same. That’s what makes it so important to have an unclouded
view of the world. And this view of the world is our greatest
passion.
Clear language.
Essentials
Page 3
Clear mind,
clear life
Pages 4–7
LIFE:
Richard Branson:
Sundowner in Son Banyola
Pages 8–9
Icelandic adventure:
The land of fire and ice
Pages 10–13
Franzobel
Page 14
STYLE:
All clear
Page 15
Creative Industries Styria:
Light from all over the
world
Pages 16–17
GEBA rug gallery:
Rugs just asking
to be sat on
Pages 18–19
13&9 Design:
Celebrating a decade
of diversity
Pages 20–21
Kelly Wearstler:
A icon of design
Pages 22–24
Wiener Neustadt
Tourismus:
See sounds. Hear images.
Feel dance.
Page 25
Art by Tom Wenzl:
I don’t paint pictures –
I create dreams
Page 26
Helder Suffenplan:
Pump up the volume!
Page 27
Lifestylehotels™
Selection:
Hotel des Horlogers
Page LH-Cover 01
Directory
Lifestylehotels™
Page LH 02
Hotel des Horlogers
Page LH 03
Panoramahotel
Alpenstern
Page LH 04
dasMAX
Page LH 05
Gradonna ****s Mountain
Resort Chalets & Hotel
Page LH 06
Hotel SEPP
Page LH 07
Locanda al Colle
Page LH 08
Refugium Lunz
Page LH 9
Mia Alpina
Page LH 10
Steinach Townhouse
Page LH 11
Puradies
Page LH 12
Imprint
Page 2
Thomas Holzleithner & Hardy Egger
E D I T O R S

3. The meeting of water and matter. That’s the story
behind the Eau d’Issey Pivoine and Eau d’Issey
pour Homme Vétiver fragrances. Fresh, pure and
essential water combines with a natural material,
a flower, a plant. In doing so, Issey Miyake is celebrating
nature in its purest form. The bottles of these two new
fragrances are made out of 20% recycled glass,
while the caps are made entirely out of natural wood
without any plastic inserts. The wood comes from
responsibly managed forests, which helps to minimise
the impact on the environment. Thanks to these wooden
caps, the risk of polluting the oceans is reduced by
99%, and the amount of water required to make them is
lowered by over 95%. Added to that, the fragrances are
even vegan. What’s not to like?
isseymiyakeparfums.com, L’Eau d’Issey pour Homme
Vétiver, Eau de Toilette Intense, 100 ml,
approx. € 109
Think clearly, sleep well, generate healthy indoor air.
The Dyson Purifier Humidify+Cool Formaldehyde cleans
air automatically, recognises and breaks down
formaldehyde and uses UV-C technology. This allows up
to 99.9% of the dust, allergens and viruses to be removed,
as well as up to 99.9% of the bacteria in water vapour.
The automatic mode makes it possible for the device
to intelligently react to changing air quality and moisture
content, and it can be controlled remotely via the
Dyson Link app or activated by voice command.
Last but not least: it looks great.
dyson.at, Dyson Purifier Humidify+Cool Formaldehyde,
approx. € 799
3
THE Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2023
Essentials
I N T H I S E D I T I O N
CLEAR SHAPE
Rugs are made for dreaming. No matter whether
they’re round, oval or rectangular. A rug is a beautiful
complement in any room, in any shape, and is
always a true work of art. It quickly arouses all of the
senses – when we walk over them with bare feet or run
our fingers over the pattern. Geba rugs are made using
Tibetan wool and Chinese silk. But the Tibetan wool
from high mountain sheep in particular gives them
character and charm because it’s not pure white.
To make the rugs, Geba works with two different
studios that specialise in bringing a range of different
designs and shapes to life.
geba-teppiche.com, Karma rug,
from approx. € 1.170
CLEAR HEAD
The vision of founder Mark Livings is that everyone
should be able to drink their favourite drink in their own
way – even if it’s non-alcoholic. The result was Australian
brand Lyre’s Non-Alcoholic Spirits. No longer is it
just in Dry January that non-alcoholic drinks are a
welcome alternative. Those who want to keep a clear head
avoid alcohol. Gone are the days when you had to put up
with water, soft drinks and juice as the only options.
These days, there are proper drinks that actually taste
good. For spring, we’d recommend the many types
of spritz, which already have us dreaming of holidays
on the Amalfi coast.
lyres.eu, Lyre’s Aperitif Dry or Lyre’s Orange Sec,
approx. € 25,99
CLEAR VISION
New year, new glasses! And that means new designs
for the upcoming season, too. Featuring sporty chic,
colourful and loud, and pure glitz and glamour,
there’s no doubt that the new season promises variety.
In his models, David Beckham combines remarkable,
contemporary aesthetics with traditional
craftsmanship, and in doing so reflects his personal
vision and his love of all things vintage.
Stylish yet practical. Modern, furnished with a hint of
glasses history. Timeless design, British elegance.
wutscher.com, EYEWEAR by DAVID BECKHAM,
approx. € 188
Photos:
Geba
Teppiche,
Lyre’s,
EYEWEAR
by
DAVID
BECKHAM,
Issey
Miyake
Parfums,
Levi’s
X
Ambush,
Dyson
CLEAR SCENTS
CLEAR CUTS
Japanese brand AMBUSH® is principally known for
its punk approach to fashion that’s characterised by
luxury and streetwear style. Founded in 2008, the
Tokyo-based label has caused a stir with its vision and
innovative design perspectives. The brand’s idiosyncratic
style has led to commissions and collaborations with a list
of illustrious names ranging from fashion industry icons
to luxury European houses and American streetwear
brands. Building on their first collaboration from last
year, Levi’s® and AMBUSH® are back with a new collection
inspired by motorbike fashion for spring/summer 2023.
The new collection consists of two gender-neutral
pieces and includes a denim jacket and matching jeans,
clearly influenced by biker culture.
levi.com, Levi’s X Ambush trucker jacket,
approx. € 435
CLEAR AIR

4. 4
THE Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2023
2022 was a difficult year – as the clock struck
midnight on New Year’s Eve 2021, we said to
ourselves that it could only get better next year.
After this rather unassuming of years. Who
would have thought that it could actually get
worse? But it could. War and inflation reared
their ugly heads, and even though the pandem-
ic was receiving less attention, COVID-19 was
still a constant companion. Last new year, no
one dared to even think that it could only get
better. Especially now. We no longer believed
it – worse still, we had even become supersti-
tiousanddidn’twanttojinxthenewyearbefore
it had even started just by saying it. The WHO
reportedthatthecoronaviruspandemichasled
to a spike in mental illnesses, and it appears
as though this trend is continuing to advance.
So what can we do to protect ourselves?
Clear

5. 5
THE Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2023
LIFE
– (Jay Shetty)
Author:
Nina Prehofer
WHAT IS THE MOST VALUABLE ASSET IN THE WORLD? YOUR OWN
WELL-BEING. AND THAT’S NOT AN EXAGGERATION. BECAUSE WHEN YOU START
PRIORITISING YOUR WELL-BEING, EVERYTHING IN YOUR LIFE WILL CHANGE FOR
THE BETTER. DON’T BELIEVE THAT? THEN YOU SHOULD TAKE NOTE OF OUR
PODCAST TIPS.
My space.
I invite in everything that is good for me
I let go of everything that
doesn’t serve me.
It’s my time.
mind

6. 6
THE Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2023
MINDFULNESS, SPIRITUALITY
AND LISTENING TIPS
Podcasts are booming, especially those
that remind us to do something for
ourselves. Former monk and author
Jay Shetty is one of the most famous
life coaches to be spreading his wisdom
via a podcast. And successfully so.
Among his guests are celebs such as
Alicia Keys, Khloe Kardashian and Drew
Barrymore. If you’re already part of his
Genius programme, you can look forward
to receiving new input for your own
well-being every day. Admittedly, you
have to want it, but if you put cynicism
aside and commit yourself to it, you can
really gain something for yourself. After
all, who doesn’t want to be their best self?
As Jay Shetty says, “your best self mani-
fests itself in kindness, creativity, success,
love, abundance, optimism and purpose.”
As soon as you recognise how caring,
creative, successful, loving, abundant,
optimistic and purposeful life can be,
there will no longer be anything holding
you back. He promises that something
“unbelievable” will happen during
his Genius workshops and meditation
sessions. People will be changed from
the inside out, disbelief will become belief,
failure will become success and a lack of
direction will become goal focus. It’s a
huge promise, but millions of people
follow him and listen to him every day.
Alex Cooper is also fortunate enough to
have millions of predominantly female
listeners. In her podcast Call Her Daddy,
you get a mix of advice that’s useful no
matter whether you’re in a relationship
or not, and can enjoy funny stories and
contributions from listeners.
Often, Cooper’s content is on the comical
side, with crazy stories that tend to revolve
C L E A R L A N G U A G E
L I S T E N I N G T O
ON PURPOSE WITH
JAY SHETTY
His name is Jay Shetty, and his purpose is to make wisdom go viral.
He’s fortunate to have fascinating conversations with the most insightful
people in the world, and on his podcast, he shares those conversations
with you. Live life today on purpose.
ALEX COOPER’S
CALL HER DADDY
Alex Cooper’s Call Her Daddy is the most listened to podcast by women
on Spotify. In a world prone to snap judgment, Cooper cuts through
the bullshit, asking the questions you want the answers to. You’ll laugh,
you’ll cry, you’ll feel, you’ll think.
DEEPAK CHOPRA’S
INFINITE POTENTIAL
What makes us conscious beings and why does it matter that we are?
In his first ever podcast, Deepak Chopra welcomes a far-ranging group
of guests, including Jane Goodall, Russell Brand, Dan Savage, Christopher
Wylie, Jean Houston, Dr Sanjay Gupta and many more, who have paved
new paths for understanding our present and future. How do we define,
harness and elevate our minds? How can we live creatively and purpose-
fully? What makes you… you? Explore your infinite potential.
MAYIM BIALIK’S
BREAKDOWN
Mayim Bialik’s Breakdown is a quirky, informative and interactive podcast
breaking down the myths and misunderstandings about mental health
and emotional well-being. Neuroscientist Mayim Bialik combines her
academic background with vast personal experience to provide listeners
with valuable practical advice focusing on removing the stigma surround-
ing mental health and encouraging an understanding of the mind-body
connection. Nothing is off limits as Mayim breaks it down with an
amazing collection of guests.
HUBERMAN LAB
Huberman Lab discusses neuroscience: how our brain and its connections
with the organs of our body control our perceptions, our behaviours and
our health. It also discusses existing and emerging tools for measuring
and changing how our nervous system works. Dr Andrew Huberman is a
tenured Professor of Neurobiology and Ophthalmology at Stanford School
of Medicine. His laboratory studies neural regeneration, neuroplasticity
and brain states such as stress, focus, fear and optimal performance.
For more than 20 years, Dr Huberman has consistently published original
research findings and review articles in top-level peer-reviewed journals.
around sex. A lot of the embarrassing
moments described in her episodes deal
with things that would be taboo for
many people. But incorporated into this
humorous and love-filled content, it’s
more easily accessible. And it helps people
to address their own difficulties with more
lightness, where they might otherwise
have afforded them too much attention
and gravity.
RECIPE FOR SUCCESS:
FAMOUS AND SCRUTINISED
Who still remembers the TV series Blossom?
It marked the start of the career of Mayim
Bialik, who later found further fame in
The Big Bang Theory. While many other
people might rest on their laurels and the
money they’ve earned, she completed a
PhD in neuroscience and now delights
and entertains us with her podcast Mayim
Bialik’s Breakdown.
Intelligent and funny, it’s all about mental
health. Her entry point is that there is so
much misinformation and great confusion
surrounding mental health, and her
goal is to break things down so we don’t
have to. There is huge stigma attached
to mental health, and the purpose of the
podcast is to learn together how to heal
and how to begin to understand. Because
the more we know, the better we’ll be able
to help ourselves.
So, what’s the main thing you want to do?
Who do you want to be? The answers to
these questions will lead us to our goals.
That means listening closely to what
your heart and the suggested podcasts are
saying loud and clear.
Clear

7. 7
THE Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2023
LIFE
LIFE
life
– (Jay Shetty)
I am present with myself
I am investing in myself
I am here
NOW.

8. 8
THE Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2023
WE ASKED VINCENT PADIOLEAU,
GENERAL MANAGER OF SON
BUNYOLA, ABOUT THE JOURNEY
OF CREATING THE HOTEL,
ABOUT RICHARD’S IMPACT ON THE
PLACE AND HOW THE HOTEL IS
CONTRIBUTING TO MAKING THE
WORLD A BETTER PLACE.
Please, tell us a bit about the journey
of creating the Son Bunyola hotel.
The creation of the Son Bunyola hotel
has been a long and patient journey –
but certainly a very worthwhile one.
When Richard originally purchased the
estate, it was always the plan to develop
the historic finca, and when he repur-
chased it back in 2015, we were delighted
to start work with the local government
to get the ball rolling again. Construction
of the hotel started in June 2021 with
a meticulous reconstruction project
focusing on the existing finca buildings
and structures, using traditional and local
materials. The hotel has been carefully
designed to celebrate and showcase the
heritage of the original buildings – with
traditional features including carpentry,
stone arches, wrought ironwork and lime
rendering. The combination of the new
design with existing historic elements
really brings the hotel to life. Although
the development of the Son Bunyola
hotel has taken longer than we originally
hoped and planned, it was incredibly
important to us that we got it exactly
right. Throughout the development, it
has always been essential to us that we
INTERVIEW
R I C H A R D
Sundowner in Son Bunyola
maintain the heritage of the historic
finca and the estate wherever possible,
and we’ve welcomed all feedback and
alterations from the local government,
who we’ve worked closely with throughout.
Now it’s very nearly complete, it’s a truly
stunning and unique place that we can’t
wait to share with future guests.
Why exactly did you choose Mallorca
for this hotel?
Richard’s love for Mallorca is longstanding,
and he has a particular fondness for the
northwest coast. This is, of course, where
he developed his very first hotel in 1987,
La Residencia – a hotel where I also worked
over 20 years ago, and where I started
my journey in Spain. The region has
some of the most historic and picturesque
towns on the island, with stunning
natural surroundings and crystal-clear sea.
Virgin Limited Edition already has three
villas on the Son Bunyola estate – Sa
Punta S’Aguila, Sa Terra Rotja and Son
Balagueret – and it was always our plan
to develop the finca on the estate, too.
Spanning more than one thousand acres,
located on a UNESCO World Heritage Site
and surrounded by breathtaking scenery,
there’s no question that this is the
perfect location for us to have a hotel in
Mallorca.
For me personally, I feel incredibly lucky
to have the opportunity to return to this
spectacular island to take up the role of
General Manager for such an incredible
and historic estate.
I feel so fortunate to be able to give back to
this amazing island that warmly welcomed
me from the moment I arrived, and I’ve
enjoyed being fully immersed in the
wonderful Mallorcan culture and falling in
love with it all over again. It’s an incredibly
exciting time, and I couldn’t be prouder to
be part of this spectacular project.
What is your favourite place at the hotel
and what is your favourite thing to do on
Mallorca’s northwest coast?
I have a real soft spot for the northwest
coast of Mallorca. I love being surrounded
by nature, and the Tramuntana mountain
range has such breathtaking scenery.
For me, nothing beats a swim in the crystal-
clear waters in the summer months, and I
really do enjoy the cycling opportunities –
some of the best in the world are right
on the doorstep of the Son Bunyola estate.
It’s very hard for me to pick a favourite
place at the hotel, but if I really had to
choose, it would have to be one of the
historic towers of the hotel, dating back
to the 13th century. It’s so exciting to bring
such a remarkable monument back to life
so that future guests can enjoy the incred-
ible views of the surrounding mountains
and the sea.
How will you ensure the new Son Bunyola
hotel contributes to making the world a
better place? And what can we do?
At Virgin Limited Edition, we strongly
believe that luxury doesn’t have to come
at the expense of sustainability – and this
is a huge focus across our whole portfolio.
B R A N S O N
At Son Bunyola, our commitment to
sustainability and maintaining the
beautiful surroundings is of paramount
importance. For example, hot water for
the hotel will be preheated using energy
collected from the air conditioning and
refrigeration cooling systems, while
the installation of a biomass boiler will
be powered by recycled wood chippings.
We are also cultivating a kitchen garden,
vineyards and olive trees on the estate
so we can grow aromatic herbs, olives,
tomatoes, cucumbers, watermelons and
eventually our own wine grapes. I’ve seen
first hand as a General Manager at Virgin
Limited Edition properties how even the
smallest changes can create the biggest
impact – an attitude that sits front and
centre for every decision we make here.
I think this is such an important fact to
take note of – and if we can all make
every effort to implement whatever small
changes we can to make the world a better
place, the impact will be colossal.
Photos:
Sa
Punta
de
S’Aguila,
Son
BunyolaVirgin
Limited
Edition,
These
photos
are
not
of
the
hotel
but
of
the
villas
on
the
Son
Bunyola
estate.

9. LIFE
9
THE Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2023
THE NEWEST HOTEL IN RICHARD BRANSON’S COLLECTION IS OPENING IN LATE SPRING FOLLOWING A LONG PROCESS OF
RECONSTRUCTING THE EXISTING FINCA BUILDINGS AND STRUCTURES USING TRADITIONAL AND LOCAL MATERIALS.
Photos:
Sa
Terra
Rotja,
Son
Bunyola,
Sa
Punta
d’Saguila,
Son
Bunyola,
Virgin
Limited
Edition

10. 10
THE Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2023
But where should
you start and what’s
the best way to
travel around Iceland?
Where are the hidden
gems and what do
you absolutely
have to see?
Our guide will help
you to see it all a little
more clearly.
ICELAND IS A MAGICAL PLACE, WITH WILD LANDSCAPES, PICTURE-PERFECT FJORDS AND UNBELIEVABLE NATURAL
SURROUNDINGS. IT’S A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN LOSE YOURSELF IN WONDER AND REDISCOVER WHO YOU ARE. BUT IT’S NOT JUST THE LANDSCAPE
THAT’S UNIQUE – ICELANDIC CULTURE AND TRADITIONS ARE ALSO LIKE NOTHING YOU’LL FIND ANYWHERE ELSE. ICELAND HAS SOME OF THE MOST
BREATHTAKING SIGHTS IN THE WORLD: THE STRIKING GEYSER REGION, THE SPECTACULAR WATERFALLS, THE RUGGED CLIFFS ALONG THE COAST
AND THE UNTAMED LANDSCAPES OF THE INLAND AREAS. THERE ARE MANY INCREDIBLE PLACES TO EXPLORE DURING A TRIP TO THIS EXCEPTIONAL
ISLAND.
Author:
Hannah Stefitz
THE LAND OF
FIRE AND ICE

11. 11
THE Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2023
LIFE
Photos:
Unsplash/Cassie
Boca

12. 12
THE Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2023
A D V E N T U R E
I C E L A N D I C
Photos:
AdobeStock/Marc
Jedamus,
Michal,
likingthings,AdobeStock/linda,
Unsplash/
Jon
Flobrant,
AdobeStock/Pawel
Uchorczak,
AdobeStock/Claudia,
Unsplash/Einar
Ingi
Sigmundsson,
AdobeStock/Unique
Vision,
AdobeStock/
Marcos,
Alekosa,
Oldmn

13. 13
THE Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2023
1. REYKJAVIK
A trip to Reykjavik is always an adventure.
Iceland’s capital city is a place that’s brimming with variety
and entertainment. Visitors can expect a pulsating
metropolis full of culture, beautiful nature and all kinds
of exciting activities. From breathtaking natural delights
and cultural sights to a vibrant art scene and countless
leisure options, Reykjavik is not somewhere you’ll ever
get bored.
Top tip: Don’t miss out on taking a look at the street art on
a walk through the three main roads, Laugavegur Street,
Grettisgata Street and Skólavörðustígur, and pay a visit to
the imposing Hallgrimskirkja!
HIRING A CAR
A road trip around Iceland is one of the best options for exploring and experiencing the wild north. The Icelandic landscape
is characterised by rugged mountains, impressive fjords and unique, untouched nature. So it’s advisable to book a rental
car so you not only have flexibility, but you can also get to remote spots much more easily. You should also factor enough
time into your trip to properly explore all of the beautiful sights and natural wonders. We recommend allowing 10 to 14
days to discover the island so you can fully immerse yourself in Icelandic clarity. The route will take you along the famous
Ring Road.
2. THINGVELLIR NATIONAL PARK AND
THE GULLFOSS WATERFALL
Thingvellir National Park is one of the most famous
conservation areas in Iceland. It is located in the Golden
Circle region, which is one of the most popular tourist
areas in the country. The park is renowned for its
unparalleled landscape, which is made up of lava fields,
geothermally active areas and distinctive flora and fauna.
Once you’re there, you’ll come across the first waterfall
of your road trip. The Gullfoss waterfall is one of Iceland’s
most famous waterfalls and perhaps even one of the
most popular attractions in the country. The waterfall
is an impressive combination of two waterfalls that span
32 metres in width with an impressive 11-metre drop.
It’s hard to imagine if you haven’t seen it for yourself.
Top tip: Between October and March, you can observe
the incredible Northern Lights from the Thingvellir National
Park, lighting up the night sky in a truly magical way.
3. SKOGAFOSS AND KVERNUFOSS
From the National Park, you can go right on to the next
natural spectacle – the Skogafoss waterfall. It’s a fantastic
spot to experience the beauty of nature and the power
of the elements. With its 80-metre-high rock face and
width of 25 metres, it is one of the largest waterfalls in
Iceland and makes for a stunning backdrop. Just five
minutes further on you’ll find a hidden gem: the Kvernu-
foss waterfall. Just as you can with the Seljalandsfoss,
you can walk behind the waterfall and take in the beautiful
sight in peace – away from the 300 other tourists.
Top tip: Stop by at sunset to make the most of the
Golden Hour.
4.
THAKGIL
Green and rugged. Wide fields and deep canyons.
A mix of The Shire and Mordor – that’s the best way
to describe Thakgil. It’s the perfect location to take
a breather after the first stops, unwind and simply
take a walk. The beautiful scenery is of course never
out of sight.
Top tip: Spend a night camping in the wilderness and
observe the starry night's sky. You might even see some
of the Northern Lights.
5. DYRHOLAEY PENINSULA
Dyrholaey Peninsula is an unbelievable location on
Iceland’s south coast. From the lookout point, visitors
can enjoy a breathtaking view of the rugged cliffs and
the pounding surf. The many puffins you’ll come across
on this coastline lend Dyrholaey Peninsula a certain
sense of flair, and not far away you can take a stroll on
the black sand beach at Reynisfjara.
Top tip: Spend a night in Vik, “the bay of the valley of the
swamp”, and watch the sunrise in the morning from the
parish church.
6. JOKULSARLON
This glacier lagoon in Iceland is one of the most spec-
tacular natural wonders in the world. With its glittering
icebergs, impressive waterfalls and unique landscape,
it’s a truly one-of-a-kind experience. But it’s not just the
natural surroundings that appeal – the animal life is also
a particular point of interest. Marine birds, seals and
even penguins turn the Jokulsarlon lagoon into something
quite special.
Top tip: You can also walk from here to the nearest black
sand beach – Diamond Beach – in just five minutes.
7. EAST FJORDS
Iceland’s East Fjords are a wonderful destination for
anyone wanting to experience a sense of vastness.
The East Fjords stretch along the southeast coast of
Iceland. No matter whether you go for a hike through
the glacier, a kayak tour of the fjords, a boat trip
along the coast or a tour of the geysers, Iceland’s East
Fjords make for an unforgettable experience.
Top tip: Discover the small town of Seydisfjordur and its
handicrafts.
8. STUDLAGIL CANYON
This canyon, deep in the Jökuldalur glacial valley, wasn’t
known about just a few years ago because it was still
flooded. Thanks to a major dam project, the once grey and
wild glacial river is now clear and serene. Surrounded by
towering reddish basalt columns, the river shimmers in
turquoise blue.
Top tip: Stop by in summer, as the river is made cloudy
by the rain and the hiking trail is also easier to complete.
9. HUSAVIK
Nestled amid Iceland’s wild beauty lies the charming
town of Husavik. With its picturesque streets, traditional
timber houses and breathtaking views, Husavik is a
veritable gem that simply has to be explored – from the
expansive landscapes to the local shops and restaurants.
Top tip: Go whale watching! Just book a boat tour in Husavik
and you’ll be guaranteed an unforgettable experience.
10. SKY LAGOON
The final stop, not far from where we started in Reykjavik,
is the place to unwind after a long road trip. The artificial
lagoon was opened in April 2021 and is located just outside
the city centre. In comparison to the popular Blue Lagoon,
everything is smaller and quieter, and it also boasts a
spectacular view of the sea.
Top tip: A must-try is the seven-step Sky Lagoon ritual –
for the ultimate relaxation.
L E T ’ S G O :
LIFE

14. 14
THE Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2023
Photo:
Dirk
Skiba
LIFE
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.
FRANZOBEL
Fog land
Do you like the fog? Damp, grey vapours
that make you feel like you’re groping around
in the insides of a cloud? Probably not.
Yet people crave internal fogginess, which
a range of smoking devices are more than
happy to help with.
In the Upper Austrian lake region where I
grew up, it is both beautiful and creepy and
foggy. It spends the whole year in a smoky
grey soup. In addition to the natural fog,
there’s also industrial fog and smoke from
household fires. And if that wasn’t enough,
there’s even fog from cooking sauerkraut.
The Upper Austrians eat sauerkraut with
everything – well, they do draw the line at
putting it in their coffee or sprinkling it on
cake. The world is also covered in a smoke
screen. God has been explained to death and
modern physics has taken away all certainty –
we can’t even rely on space and time anymore.
Global public debt amounts to €66 billion,
meaning that every person is born already
€8,250 in the red. But that doesn’t matter
because the money will never be paid back
anyway. We fiends of consumerism take on
credit at the expense of tomorrow. Capitalism
is marching onwards and is expanding just
like the universe, and no one knows when
it came into being. The same applies to the
internet: in theory, all knowledge is available,
but even that’s uncertain. So anyone looking
for a path through the fog will be in desperate
need of clear explanations.
Conspiracy theories are celebrating a comeback,
it’s cool for adolescents to change gender,
and all the others are woke, vegan or feel like
they’re morally above everyone else in the
world. Anything that blurs clarity and makes
it uncertain is instantly condemned. Since the
pandemic, no matter whether it’s about
war or a paedophile actor, any balancing
argument is shouted down as whataboutism
or trivialisation. Currently, however, people’s
purpose is to live, and their main obligation
is to respect life rather than directing it.
As a writer, I have always tried to understand
people, to make life stories understandable
in order to comprehend how someone became
the way they are. That’s not how it works
anymore. Anyone that expresses even the
slightest doubt about the measures imple-
mented against coronavirus is an anti-vaxxer,
someone spreading misinformation, a parasite
to society, and anyone quietly singing the
praises of pacifism is defamed as a Putin
supporter. And you’ll regret it if you sym-
pathise with the perpetrators. Then it’s all
over. The world wants clarity, certainty, and
anything that blurs that is condemned.
The result is an opinions dictatorship where
any nuance falls by the wayside. People like
getting intoxicated because when our insides
are all foggy, everything appears clear.
There’s a lot of talk about work-life balance,
but there should also be such a thing as
stoned-clear head balance. Everything
comes down to balance. Sometimes the fog is
beautiful, often it’s not worth being able to see
clearly. Now and then, it’s necessary to not
allow yourself to be unsettled, then at other
times it’s beneficial to differentiate.
But no matter whether it's clarity or diffusity,
the magic word is tolerance. I also like fog,
and not just because I grew up in it.
“Capitalism is
marching onwards
and is expanding just
like the universe, and
no one knows when
it came into being.”

15. 01/23
Lifestylehotels™
lifestylehotels.net
Photo:
Hotel
Horologers
Selection
Blurred Lines
Embedded in the Vallée de Joux and surrounded by untouched nature lies the Hotel des Horlogers with its
eye-catching zigzag design. Everywhere you look, the lines between nature and architecture are blurred, and
the result is an exceptionally harmonious setting.
HOTEL DES HORLOGERS
Switzerland / Vallée de Joux / Le Brassus
Where architecture and nature combine.
Interview on LH 03.
( + )

16. THE Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2023
LH 02
Lifestylehotels™
Directory
BAD GOISERN AM HALLSTÄTTERSEE Hallstatt Hideaway
Mountain | Lesehotel
DAMÜLS Alpenstern Panoramahotel
FISS Alps Lodge
FÜGEN Mia Alpina Zillertal Family Retreat
GASCHURN Montafon Lodge Design Lodgehotel und Spa
GEINBERG Geinberg5
Private Spa Villas
GRAZ Aiola Living
GRAZ Augarten Art Hotel
GRAZ Kai 36
GROSSARL Hotel Nesslerhof
HALLSTATT Hallstatt Hideaway
KALS AM GROSSGLOCKNER Gradonna Mountain Resort
KALTENBACH Das Kaltenbach
KITZBÜHEL Alpenhotel Kitzbühel am Schwarzsee
LEOGANG Puradies Mein Naturresort
LUNZ AM SEE Refugium Lunz
MARIA ALM Hotel Eder
MARIA ALM Hotel SEPP
MAYRHOFEN ElisabethHotel Premium Private Retreat
MELLAU 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
SEE Bergwiesenglück
SEEFELD dasMAX
SEEFELD/MÖSERN Nidum Casual Luxury Hotel
SERFAUS Alfa Hotel
SÖLDEN Bergland Design and Wellness Hotel Sölden
SÖLDEN The Secret Sölden
STAINACH-PÜRGG Gästehaus Krenn
UDERNS IM ZILLERTAL Sportresidenz Zillertal
VIENNA Hotel Das Tyrol
ZELL AM SEE Senses Violett Suites
AUSTRIA
ALENTEJO Sublime Comporta Country Retreat & Spa
ALGARVE Vila Valverde
AZORES Santa Bárbara Eco-Beach Resort
AZORES White Exclusive Suites & Villas
LISBON Torel Palace Lisbon
MADEIRA Quinta da Bela Vista
PORTO Torel Avantgarde
PORTO Torel Palace Porto
PORTO Torel 1884 Suites & Apartments
PORTUGAL
LUCERNE Hotel des Balances
VALLÉE DE JOUX Hotel des Horlogers
ZERMATT Hotel Matterhorn Focus
LAPLAND Treehotel
SWITZERLAND
SWEDEN
ARTÁ Es Racó d’Artàa
MALLORCA Convent de la Missio
MALLORCA Fontsanta Hotel Thermal Spa & Wellness
MALLORCA Hotel Can Simoneta
MALLORCA Pleta de Mar
MALLORCA LJs Ratxó Eco-Luxury Retreat
TENERIFE Ecohotel El Agua
SPAIN
GARMISCH-PARTENKIRCHEN Das Graseck
PIRNA Laurichhof
TIMMENDORFER STRAND Sand
TIMMENDORFER STRAND SeeHuus
GERMANY
ITALY
AMALIADA/PELOPONNESE Dexamenes Seaside Hotel
SIFNOS Verina Astra
SIFNOS Verina Terra
SUMBA Nihi Sumba
GREECE
INDONESIA
APUGLIA Paragon 700 Boutique Hotel & Spa
CAMAIORE Locanda al Colle
CALABRIA Praia Art Resort
LIMONE SUL GARDA EALA My Lakeside Dream
MATERA Sextantio Le Grotte della Civita
MERANO Steinach Townhouse Meran
MONTEFOLLONICO Follonico
NAZ NEAR BRESSANONE Seehof Nature Retreat
RIMINI i-Suite
RIPOSTO Zash Country Boutique Hotel
SANTO STEFANO DI SESSANIO Sextantio Albergo Diffuso
SICILY Monaci delle Terre Nere
ST. LEONHARD Apfelhotel Torgglerhof
VENICE Hotel Heureka
IN THIS ISSUE
ANTWERP Hotel August
ANTWERP Hotel Julien
BELGIUM
The demand for aesthetics and quality is central to LifestylehotelsTM
vision of a modern hotel industry and it is inextricably linked to its
commitment to sustainability and mindfulness.
Direct contact with the hotel.
Information straight from the source.
The best price.
The best availability.
Stylish retreats
for inspiring
timeouts.
lifestylehotels.net
Hotel des Horlogers, Le Brassus (Cover, LH 03)
Alpenstern Panoramahotel, Damüls (LH 04)
dasMAX, Seefeld in Tirol (LH 05)
Gradonna Mountain Resort, Kals am Großglockner (LH 06)
Hotel SEPP, Maria Alm (LH 07)
Locanda al Colle, Camaiore(LH 08)
Refugium Lunz, Lunz am See (LH 09)
Mia Alpina, Fügen im Zillertal (LH 10)
Steinach Townhouse Meran, Merano (LH 11)
Puradies, Leogang (LH 12)
CROATIA
BALE/ISTRIA Meneghetti Wine Hotel & Winery
BRAČ Hotel Lemongarden
STARI GRAD/HVAR Maslina Resort
MEXICO CITY La Valise Mexico City
SAN MIGUEL La Valise San Miguel
TULUM La Valise Tulum
MEXICO
USA
ARIZONA AmbienteTM
Sedona

17. THE Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2023
LH 03
HOTEL DES HORLOGERS Switzerland / Vallée de Joux / Le Brassus
Lifestylehotels: How did you come up with
the zigzag design of the slabs?
Bjarke Ingels Group: The hotel celebrates
the Vallée de Joux’s topography; the
zigzagging slabs gradually descend towards
the valley, tilting slightly to embrace the site
and create a visual path between nature and
architecture. While the Audemars Piguet
museum located just a few steps away (also
designed by BIG) defines a visitor experience
inspired by the centripetal and centrifugal
forces of time through the spiral form, the
hotel welcomes its guests into the “time”
journey by reimagining the historic winding
watchmakers’ trail that the region is known
for. In the interior, the building’s zigzag five-
floor layout forms a single, continuous
ramping corridor – connecting the interior
spaces and facilitating both guest and
service circulation. This layout also provides
all guest rooms with views of the surrounding
Risoud Forest.
LH: What were the main materials that you
used for the hotel?
BIG: The materials were very much selected
for their performance and natural properties.
In a similar way to watches, the interplay
between finishes and structural or mechanical
properties is what gives the design its unique
character. For example, the hotel’s sustaina-
bility commitments can be seen in the careful
selection of materials and design. Solid timber
is used for the roof structures in the hotel
rooms. This holistic, eco-friendly approach
has enabled Hotel des Horlogers to obtain
the Minergie-ECO® certification based on
its energy efficiency and building ecology.
The hotel is equipped with 86 photovoltaic
panels, which fulfil part of the building’s energy
needs. As guests transition from the main
entrance into the reception area, the visual
Bringing the
outside in
Nestled in the Vallée de Joux, surrounded by woods, mountains and lakes,
Hotel des Horlogers has broken down the boundaries between nature and
architecture – creating a space of harmony. We asked the architects of Hotel
des Horlogers how they came up with the concept and how exactly they
brought the two together.
language becomes more sinuous and rustic,
with materials such as glass, concrete, stone
and wood blurring the delineation between the
constructed and the natural.
LH: How did you manage to incorporate
nature within the hotel?
BIG: In the same vein as the BIG-designed
Musée Atelier Audemars Piguet next door,
we knew that we had to design the hotel
with the same sensibility to the landscape
and the valley. We thought about the two
buildings as part of the same landscape,
guided by the idea that visitors and guests
seamlessly move between the village, the
hotel and the museum – blurring the bound-
aries between landscape and building.
There is a local cross-country trail just in
front of the building, so we instantly felt that
visitors should be able to arrive and enter
the building from the valley. So, we designed
the roofscape as a continuation of the
valley, with trails and native planting.
HOTEL DES HORLOGERS
Switzerland / Vallée de Joux / Le Brassus
hoteldeshorlogers.com
The connection between
architecture and nature.
( + )
Photos:
Hotel
des
Horlogers

18. THE Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2023
LH 04
Photos:
Alpenstern
Panoramahotel
What makes the Alpenstern in Damüls
THE place to be between the mountain
and the valley? We’ve put together our
top three justifications.
The striking mountain panorama surrounding the hotel at
1,600 metres above sea level provides the perfect backdrop
for starting the day relaxed and excited about an active day in
the mountains. Right outside the hotel, alpine athletes will find
the very best kind of winter holiday: top-class ski in, ski out.
For those who would rather use the snowy landscape as a
place to recharge, the best way to do this is during a romantic
snowshoe hike or a winter hike starting from the hotel itself.
Summer is brimming with hiking experiences and a variety of
cycling routes, summit tours and delicious food at the moun-
tain restaurants.
The half board Alpenstern is all about exclusive, award-worthy
dining. The breakfast buffet offers freshly prepared eggs, and
in the evening there’s a gourmet set menu with five courses
to provide a feast for both the taste buds and the eyes. A
further option for connoisseurs is the Alpenstern’s fine dining
restaurant, where everything from cocktails to a tasting menu
are served. The exclusive Novum hotel bar, which was recently
mentioned in the Falstaff bar guide, a wine cellar with more
than 1,000 options for tastings and the Genusshalde à la carte
restaurant with a sun terrace will be a treat for all discerning
foodies.
Being the winner of the Leading Spa Award guarantees that
wellness at the Alpenstern will meet all requirements. Guests
seeking peace and quiet will appreciate the heavenly SPA on
the third floor, with its various saunas, cosy and calm oases,
sun terrace and vitamin bar. The stylish infinity pool on the
ground floor has a stunning panoramic view and tempts you in
from both inside and out to swim a few lengths and relax in the
weightlessness of the water. The masseurs at the Alpenstern
will treat you to an excellent selection of exclusive massages.
Expert knowledge, skill and a focus on personalisation ensure
the ultimate relaxation. The state-of-the-art gym rounds off
the wellness experience at the Alpenstern Panoramahotel.
It’s time to create shared memories and give love more room
to blossom. Grant your wish for comfort and togetherness in
Damüls’ romantic mountain setting.
ALPENSTERN PANORAMAHOTEL
Austria / Vorarlberg / Damüls
hotel-alpenstern.at
A retreat with picturesque views.
( + )
Finally, you can have time for one another. Time to devote yourself to your favourite person in total tranquillity, in a setting simply made for well-being. At the four-star Alpenstern Panoramahotel
in the Bregenz Forest, anyone longing for togetherness will find the ideal retreat. Embedded in the picturesque landscape of Damüls, in the heart of the Damüls-Mellau skiing and hiking resort,
the wellness hotel boasting the prestigious Leading Spa Award is home to everything you need for a couple of days dedicated to love, relaxation and the finest cuisine.
Location Cuisine Relaxation and togetherness
Time
for
two
ALPENSTERN PANORAMAHOTEL Austria / Vorarlberg / Damüls

19. THE Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2023
LH 05
DASMAX Austria / Tyrol / Seefeld
Photos:
dasMAX
A DIY
drink!
At the dasMAX lifestyle hotel in Seefeld
in Tirol, there’s a bar. Nothing special
about that, you might say. But oh, how
wrong you would be! Because the
philosophy of the Honesty Bar at the
dasMAX is “Sisters (and brothers)
are doing it for themselves”, and that
means you can pour and mix your own
drinks or cocktails 24/7.
DASMAX
Austria / Tyrol / Seefeld
www.dasmax.at
An urban lifestyle hotel in
Alpine surroundings.
( + )
Let's have
a drink
Sometimes, the craving for a refreshing drink, savoury
snacks or a sweet treat just comes out of nowhere.
Thank goodness there’s the Honesty Bar. As well as non-
alcoholic drinks, you’ll find beer, wine and various spirits
that you can help yourself to. What’s more, guests can put
their bartending skills to the test and mix their own cock-
tails. And if you’re feeling a bit peckish between meals,
there are sweet and savoury snacks available.
The self-service bar is straightforward and always open.
Simply grab what takes your fancy at the time and write it
all down on the Honesty Bar list, then you can pay when
you check out. Then what? Take your drink out to the roof
terrace and marvel at the view across Seefeld and the
mountains. Or just enjoy your drinks and snacks in your room!
So, got the urge to make a homemade cocktail?
Don’t forget that if making your own drink doesn’t sound all
that appealing, you can order one from the dasMAX Bistro,
where you’ll also find breakfast, delicious drinks and tasty
snacks to keep you going.

20. THE Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2023
LH 06
Photos:
gert,
Gradonna****s
Mountain
Resort
Lifestylehotels: What makes the working environment
at the Gradonna****s Mountain Resort so special?
Thomas Krobath: The hotel itself is already quite special
on its own. It’s unique for its exceptional architecture, its
position in the skiing and hiking resort, the top quality and
above all the friendly atmosphere up here at 1,350 metres
above sea level. Many guests have been coming back to
us for several years, and they hold our staff in high regard
– that’s clear to see. And of course, as employers we offer
many benefits, such as fixed working hours and time off,
the option to bring your kids to work and have them looked
after, and a free season ski pass for the Ski)Hit resort.
Plus, it goes without saying that there’s free food and
lodging.
LH: Are the demands greater if the location is as isolated
as the Gradonna****s Mountain Resort?
TK: I believe so. Here, it’s even more important that every
cog is perfectly aligned with the next. The pay, accommo-
dation, free time and of course the work need to be right,
otherwise we wouldn’t be able to retain our staff up here.
We also put a lot of effort into our trainees and always try
to give them a few days off in a row so it’s worth their while
travelling back home. For this reason, our nine trainees
come from East Tyrol itself. In addition to chefs and hotel
managers, we also provide training on reception duties
and to become a restaurant specialist.
LH: What are the prospects for promotion for Gradonna
employees?
TK: The Gradonna is a large hotel of an international standard.
There are a great many attractive options for employees.
Whether people are looking for a leadership role, something
in hotel, events or front desk management or various posi-
tions in marketing – we look specifically at the development
potential and the skills of our staff and are very flexible.
The employees in our multicultural team come from 16
different countries and are just as flexible and eager to learn.
At our hotel, everyone learns from one other – on a personal
and a professional level.
LH: Why is it worth working in tourism?
TK: The guests appreciate us and the staff so much.
The satisfaction of both guests and staff is dependent
on the other. And that’s really clear to see here, because
when the employees are happy, the guests are happy,
too. We make sure that’s the case! Our many returning
guests will also confirm that.
The architecturally visionary resort combines four-star
superior luxury and generous spa indulgence with
unique views of the Großglockner and the surrounding
mountain landscape.
Jobs
with an
outlook
GRADONNA****S MOUNTAIN RESORT Austria / Tyrol / Kals am Großglockner
GRADONNA****S MOUNTAIN RESORT
Austria / Tyrol / Kals am Großglockner
gradonna.at
A natural Alpine paradise like no other.
( + )
Quite literally! The 140-person team at the Gradonna****s Mountain Resort works
where others take their holidays. Employees at the four-star hotel don’t just get a whole
load of benefits for doing so, they also enjoy the appreciation of the hotel management
and every one of the guests. Hotel director Thomas Krobath tells us all about it in this
interview.

21. THE Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2023
LH 07
HOTEL SEPP Austria / Salzburg / Maria Alm
Open door
Photos:
Hotel
SEPP
The SEPP boasts Alpine charm, modern twists and delightful coolness – you
might call it exSEPPtional. The hotel doesn’t just blend old and new, tradition
and contemporary influences – it also brings all of its guests together, in line
with the philosophy that you’re never alone when surrounded by others.
HOTEL SEPP
Austria / Salzburg / Maria Alm
edersepp.com
Charming extravagance and unconventional
well-being for the over-21s.
( + )
Lifestylehotels: Why adults only?
Hotel SEPP: The Eder Collection consists of
several hotels, and we want each of them to
appeal to a specific target audience.
The Tante Frida hotel, for example, is the
wacky, family-friendly equivalent of the SEPP.
With the SEPP, on the other hand, we want
to provide a retreat for those over 21 – with
no families or frantic kids running around,
so there’s a really tranquil, cosy feel to the
place. That means the boutique hotel doesn’t
just feel exclusive – it IS exclusive.
LH: Summer or winter?
HS: It’s so difficult to choose. We’re open all
year round. The infinity pool is heated so it
can be used in winter, plus there are of course
saunas for our guests. And no matter what
time of year it is, summer or winter, there’s
always something going on in the area
around Maria Alm. In spring and autumn,
you can get around by hiking or on an electric
bike. In summer, it’s all about biking, hiking
and wine, with the option to hike to the summit
and be treated to a wine tasting at the top.
For the more adventurous, there are also
mountain bikes so you can cycle around the
mountains and forests, and for those who
enjoy things a bit more on the comfy side,
there are the SEPP Classics – a classic car
tour around the beautiful nearby areas of
Kitzbühel, Königsee and beyond. In winter,
the ski lifts are running to whisk you off to
ski and tour, before you settle down at our
hotel to toast marshmallows over the fire
or stay into the evening for the DJ set. Then
the next morning, it’s time for the floating
brunch in the infinity pool. What more could
you want?
LH: Open door, open mind: what does this
saying mean?
HS: Open door, open mind simply means
that we’re open to everyone and that
everyone can feel at ease when they stay
with us. Even in the kitchen and in the
services we provide, we are open-minded.
Our employees come from all over the world,
and in addition to the refreshing caipirinhas
made by our Brazilian bartender, there are
vegan and vegetarian dishes, plus traditional
sausages and beer. In the evening, top chefs
from across Austria serve up their creations
on the rooftop of the hotel and open the
show kitchen for guests – bartender included.
Sustainability is also a huge priority for us.
The hotel is heated via district heating and
was constructed using recycled scrap timber
and natural stone sourced from the Rauris
Valley, which we’ve used inside and out.
For us, all of that is the essence of open door,
open mind.
open mind
We found out why the hotel is only open to those over 21, whether SEPP is
better in summer or winter in Maria Alm and what they actually mean by
“open door, open mind”.

22. THE Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2023
LH 08
LOCANDA AL COLLE Italy / Tuscany / Camaiore
Photos:
Locanda
al
Colle
High up on a hill, overlooking Camaiore in the province of Lucca, you will find Locanda al Colle – an ancient farmhouse that has been restored into a contemporary guest house. Not far from
the sea, surrounded by the Apuanian Alps and close to surrounding cities, the country home offers activities for everyone. In the evening, once the guests return from their adventures, they
are greeted by chef Gian Luca’s exceptional dishes. We asked how he comes up with new recipes every day, what ingredients he likes to use and what he loves most about being a chef!
LOCANDA AL COLLE
Italy / Tuscany / Camaiore
locandaalcolle.com
From former farmhouse to guesthouse
with feel-good factor.
( + )
Lifestylehotels: How do you devise a new menu every day?
Gian Luca: The process of creating the menu mostly depends on what’s available at the market.
We propose a small number of options that change every day. I usually buy the ingredients first
and then write the menu based on what I’ve bought fresh no more than two days in advance.
We are only a small hotel and we want to serve fresh food. I prefer to buy less and more often,
as nowadays it’s important to avoid unnecessary waste. With this in mind, we never repeat the
same course or a similar preparation two days in a row. Every day we try to serve some fish or
seafood, some meat and a vegetarian course, so that guests staying with us every evening during
a week can enjoy several different dishes. It’s also important to consider guests’ dietary needs; if
I know in advance, I can decide on a menu that will be suitable for someone with food allergies,
intolerances or other special dietary requirements.
LH: What ingredients do you use? Is regionality or local produce a big factor for you?
GL: We don’t buy anything that is already prepared, for example we bake bread and pastries in
house, we make our pasta and ravioli and only use our own homemade fresh tomato sauce. It’s
a lot of work but being a small hotel, it helps us to maintain a high standard. It’s a great pleas-
ure to serve food that is completely homemade, but of course buying local food also plays an
important role in our kitchen. The vegetable market nearby provides most of the vegetables and
fruit we use. The nearby city of Viareggio is by the sea and it’s famous for fishing, so anchovies
and other local fishes are always present on our menu. The corn we use is also milled in town.
Even the charcuterie is prepared by our local butcher, who also selects the meat I use. Obviously,
not everything is sourced locally but the majority of the products I use are from Tuscany.
LH: What do you like most about being a chef?
GL: There’s a kind of alchemy to the cooking process. You have some ingredients and you com-
bine them together to create something totally different to what you started with, and that’s
always fascinated me. Doing it at Locanda al Colle is an even greater pleasure, as I have direct
contact with the guests and that’s an amazing feeling. People passing by going to the pool or
having a coffee can watch me roll out the croissant dough and have a chat. I have learnt a lot.
I have the opportunity to talk with people from all over the world, and there’s always an interesting
story to hear, or sometimes it’s just a friendly greeting. It’s a human touch that isn’t really possible
in a restaurant kitchen.
LH: What do you like about the cooking classes and what can participants expect?
GL: They can expect fun. The cooking class must be an experience, a moment where I can share
some tips, teach something new while people get stuck in, but it has to be relaxing, too. I like to
tell my students stories about what they’re cooking and share some jokes. They have to feel like
they’re at home preparing dinner with the family, and of course at the end of the class we always
have a toast. What I like most about the cooking classes is this human touch, this exchange.
They learn something about my cooking, and I have the opportunity to learn something from
them. It has changed me in so many ways; it has opened my mind and it’s something I really
treasure.
Gian Luca
and
his
cuisine
There’s a kind of
alchemy to the
cooking process. ”
“

23. THE Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2023
LH 09
The story of the Refugium takes us back
to a snowy winter’s night. Joachim Mayr,
born and raised in Lunz, was trudging
through the snow in the main square with
Heinz Glatzl, past his favourite building,
and noticed a for sale sign. He decided that
very evening that he was going to transform
this building into a bed and breakfast.
But Joachim Mayrlikes to think bigger and
better, so the bed and breakfast quickly
became a hotel – because an upgrade is
always better than a downgrade. The idea
of the hotel was established and, during
the planning process, carpenter and interior
designer Joachim and Heinz weren’t just
able to capitalise on the full spectrum of
expertise of their interior design and
construction planning company M&G – they
were also able to draw on the experience
of their Vienna-based design forum FORM-
DEPOT, a cooperative for craftsmanship,
architecture and design. At that point, all that
was missing was everything else, but that
was never cause for concern.
Because they live by the saying: Chance
treads paths that intent could never even
reach. And it was by chance that Stefanie
Metzger and her husband Christian Metzger
were suddenly in their path – along with their
experience of the hotel and food industries.
What wasn’t by chance was that the couple
had been successful in running their restau-
rant Die Metzgerei in Vienna.
And that’s where the adventure started. With
the primary focus on designing the ideal
hotel where people could finally feel like they
mattered – and that’s so obvious here.
REFUGIUM LUNZ Austria / Mostviertel / Lunz am See
You come home in the evening exhausted from work, from the traffic, from stress. You need a holiday, relaxation, to unwind. What if there were a hotel, a home away from home, a retreat where
you could feel at ease? A place where the fox and the hare wish you goodnight, where it’s calm and you can do what you like, but also don’t have to do anything at all? Such a place does exist:
Refugium Lunz.
REFUGIUM LUNZ
Austria / Mostviertel / Lunz am See
refugium-lunz.at
A place of wellness
and rejuvenation.
( + )
The concept of the Refugium Lunz blends
20 years of collective experience of bringing
to life ambitious architectural and residential
projects with a great deal of passion for
hospitality and delight. From the paint col-
ours to the parquet flooring and the infinite
details, everything is of the highest quality.
As hosts, people always go the extra mile.
The architects also created a balance
between old and new, and in doing so were
able to preserve the character of the building.
They are especially proud of the heart of the
hotel, the Salonküche. It’s a genuine kitchen
in the hotel that looks like one guests would
have at home. That way, you can feel like
you’re really at home. You bring back ingre-
dients after a stroll, and suddenly there’s an
apple strudel in front of you. You can watch
head chef Christian while he cooks, ask him
questions and listen to his answers. You can
even cook, bake and of course chat alongside
him. The ingredients for the dishes you can
later savour at the Refugium are sourced
from the region.
By doing this, Refugium Lunz wants to make
a contribution to maintaining sustainable
agriculture and traditional production in the
area, and drive it forward in future.
It’s now not long until the historic building
opens its doors in April 2023. As a place of
tranquillity and well-being, the Hofhaus
and the garden are the ideal spots to unwind.
But you can also go hiking, swimming and
walking, before paying a visit to the hotel’s
own sauna in the evening, or you might find
inspiration among the yoga and exercise
options. Entirely in keeping with the motto
of the Refugium: “You don’t have to do
anything. But you can do a lot.”
A home away
from home
Photos:
Sophie
Kirchner,
Gregor
Hofbauer

24. THE Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2023
LH 10
Photos:
Hotel
Mia
Alpina
MIA ALPINA Austria / Tyrol / Fügen im Zillertal
SO NEAR, SO GOOD
An unwritten rule for all families with small children is that the shorter the journey, the better. After
all, the holiday doesn’t start at the destination – it starts in the car, on the plane or on the train.
So it’s great that the Mia Alpina is so easy to get to. From Munich, it’s just a 90-minute drive, and
the closest airport is barely 45 minutes away. Short travel time = happy children AND parents.
EVERYONE HAS THEIR OWN TIME
Time spent together is made all the more enjoyable when everyone gets to treat themselves
to a little time out on their own every now and then. The Mia Alpina has plenty of options to
make this happen. Even the suites, which measure up to 105 square metres, seem to be pur-
pose-made for lavish comfort on holiday. Variety and huge amounts of fun are guaranteed in
the 4,000-square-metre family play zone. And while the kids let off steam there under the best
possible supervision, mum and dad can relax in the exclusive adults-only PenthouseSPA.
Holiday time is precious. Holiday time spent together is priceless. That’s exactly
why it’s all the more important on family holidays to make sure the conditions
are absolutely right. Like they are at the Mia Alpina, the hotel for young and old
alike. Here are four good reasons to spend your family holiday in Zillertal.
NO TIME TO BE BORED
At the Mia Alpina, it’s not a matter of what to do, it’s what to do first. Indoors and outdoors,
there is so much to explore! For example, the large wellness area for the whole family, the
play zone with adventure play areas, bowling lanes, bouncy castle, zip line, trampoline and
so much more – at the Mia Alpina, adventure is the order of the day, every day.
FOOD IS THE SOURCE OF HAPPINESS
Every family has different requirements, including when it comes to food preferences. In this
case, it’s not just tastes that are taken into account at the Mia Alpina but also nap times and
early wake-up times. And not just that: families decide whether to go for a cosy family table or
to switch to a romantic dinner for two. And the kids? They get to eat dinner with their friends
in the kids club. That way, everyone is happy.
MIA ALPINA
Austria / Tyrol / Fügen im Zillertal
mia-alpina.at
A family retreat with a successful
blend of lifestyle and tradition, set
amid the breathtaking Zillertal Alps.
( + )
One
for all

25. THE Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2023
LH 11
STEINACH TOWNHOUSE MERAN Italy / South Tyrol / Merano
Photos:
Steinach
Townhouse
Meran
Merano: for many, it’s love at first sight. That’s exactly how it was for Milan native
and designer Roger Botti who, many years ago, fell in love with what was then
a run down Merano townhouse. What became of it? It was transformed into a
romantic hideaway in the heart of the old town. We present five townhouse facts
that are sure to set guests’ hearts aflutter.
STEINACH TOWNHOUSE MERAN
Italy / South Tyrol / Merano
steinachmeran.com
A unique hideaway in the heart
of South Tyrol.
( + )
love story
A never-
ending
THE PERSONAL TOUCH
IS THE NEW CHIC
The Steinach Townhouse is less of a hotel,
and much more of a very lovingly and
personally furnished private home, where
every picture, every piece of furniture and
every decorative object has a story to tell.
Designer pieces have been skilfully combined
with the latest in modern comfort by the
owners. As Roger Botti reveals, it “brought
great joy to renovate and furnish the old
house”.
SUITES FOR
MY SWEETS
As Benjamin Franklin once said, “Early to
bed and early to rise makes a man healthy,
wealthy and wise.” Great attention has been
paid to the eight suites at the Steinach
Townhouse. Measuring between 55 and 65
square metres, the individually designed
suites offer ample space, they all have the
perfect indoor climate whether it’s summer
or winter, and of course the double beds
are extremely comfortable. Soft duvets and
a range of pillows ensure the sweetest of
dreams.
THE WAY TO THE HEART IS
THROUGH THE STOMACH
Breakfast isn’t just a meal. On the menu at
the Steinach Townhouse are culinary delights
like pancakes, porridge with nuts and fresh
fruit, smoked fish with horseradish and chut-
ney, freshly pressed juices and sausages
from South Tyrol. Great emphasis is placed
on the origin of the individual products –
they have to be regional and seasonal.
Everything is served by the international
Townhouse team in the hotel’s bistro, or
in your suite on request.
LOCATION IS (NEARLY)
EVERYTHING
Have you been to Merano? No? Then what
are you waiting for?! The Steinach Town-
house is located in the oldest part of Merano,
away from the hustle and bustle but only a
stone’s throw from the lively Laubengasse
and the beautiful promenade along the
Passer. The Steinach neighbourhood around
the Townhouse is popular mainly with artists,
and the paths leading towards it draw you
up the hill for extended strolls with spectacu-
lar views.
TRUE LOVE IN
ALL SEASONS
The Steinach Townhouse is the perfect
holiday destination in spring, summer,
autumn and winter! Open all year round
for its guests, you can keep discovering
Merano and the surrounding area anew at
any time of year. Spring and early summer
are ideal for long mountain or bike tours,
golf and shopping. At the peak of summer,
the many lakes, the high mountain areas
and the warm city nights are what attract
visitors. In vibrant autumn, you can enjoy
Merano’s natural surroundings in all
their colourful glory, and in winter you can
go snowshoe hiking, skiing, ski touring
or cross-country skiing, and experience
everything that your winter heart desires.
After all of that exertion, the Therme Meran
thermal baths, a trusted partner of the
Steinach Townhouse, is then the perfect
place to unwind.

26. THE Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2023
LH 12
Photos:
Hotel
Puradies
PURADIES
Austria / Salzburg / Leogang
puradies.com
Traditional and characterful
Alpine nature resort.
( + )
PURADIES Austria / Salzburg / Leogang
The
Garden
of Eden
Could wellness be a sin? Not at the Puradies: the extended Heaven Spa was embedded into the landscape with great care and regard for sustainability. The new sauna building with a
restaurant will open its doors from summer 2023, not just for Adam and Eve but for all guests at the nature resort in Leogang.
Since the family-run Embachhof in Leogang was modern-
ised and stylishly extended in 2016 and reopened as the
Puradies, it’s been clear to hotel managers and brothers
Michael and Philipp Madreiter that the day would come
when they would have to expand the wellness facilities.
Now, after a few years of careful planning, it’s time: from
1 June, Puradies guests will be able to explore, experience
and enjoy the extended Heaven Spa and restaurant.
When planning the new wellness area, the topic of water
was top of the list of guest requests – and those of the two
hotel managers.
Michael Madreiter: “For a number of years, our Innere
Mitte sauna building has provided a range of saunas and
relaxation rooms. With the new extended Heaven Spa,
it’s possible to enjoy a bathing experience at a pleasant
temperature while looking out at the mountains 365 days
a year.”
In addition to an outdoor pool that can be accessed from
inside, a shallow children’s pool and cosy new relaxation
rooms, the Heaven Spa also offers a light-filled yoga studio
with direct access to the garden.
MM: “It was important to us to be able to give our guests
more space for relaxation while remaining true to our
principles, so the new Heaven Spa has been carefully set
into the landscape. We wanted to keep any interference
with nature to a minimum. Some of the roofs and walls are
planted, geothermal energy ensures a sustainable sense
of well-being, and large expanses of glass allow in the light
and the landscape. The view from the new wellness spaces
of the Steinernes Meer is fantastic. And the new sauna
building also provides unobstructed views – our goal was
to refine the view, to focus on the essentials, as it were.”
The icing on the cake – in the truest sense of the words –
of the new spaces is the restaurant that’s also open to
external guests, located on the upper floor. The restaurant,
with its open kitchen and large terrace, is affectionately
known as the Bistro, and offers exquisite cuisine with a
focus on sustainability and an informal atmosphere at lunch
and dinner.

27. 15
THE Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2023
When it comes to clear design language, be-
auty lies in the simplicity and purity of forms.
It’s about removing unnecessary elements and
focusingontheessenceofthedesign.Here,less
is certainly more. Rather than using a plethora
of colours and patterns, designs tend towards
clean lines and spaces so as to draw the eye to-
wardsthekeycomponents.Calmnessandorder
set in and the observer is able to concentrate on
the beauty of simplicity. Anything superfluous
is eliminated and functionality is placed front
andcentre.Clarityprevails,anddistractionsare
avoided. As a result, it’s a case of ensuring that
clarity doesn’t equate to boring or simple, but
rather a question of balance of form and functi-
on. Various forms can be found at the Geba rug
gallery,cleardesignisthenormat13&9Design,
and we create clarity at home thanks to lamps
from Creative Industries Styria.
STYLE
clear.
All

28. 16
THE Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2023
Photos:
Bandido
Studio,
Anıl
Tontuş
and
Limay,
Grüne
Erde
The name of the Buna Table Lamp was inspired by the buna shimeji mushroom.
Mushrooms can be found in a variety of ecosystems in Mexico, which is why
Mexican design company Bandido Studio has long been working with a number
of species of mushroom. Similar to a lamp, which also comes in lots of shapes
and spreads light, the main function of a mushroom is to spread its spores.
The final design of the lamp is the result of many observations and experiments,
and imitates the soft, rounded proportions of the buna shimeji. The lamp
provides living spaces with subtle and soft illumination.
Milkyway is a smart light made from an aluminium alloy with an LED
primary light source. This is complemented by an RGB LED strip around the
upper part, which allows the ambient light to be configured in various colour
combinations. The designers were inspired by the stars and constellations in
the sky and tried to emulate the Milky Way – a unique natural source of light.
The aim was to create an object that is both useful and pleasing to the eye.
It is also a perfect technical lighting solution for outside spaces. It is available
in a range of colour temperatures and has a wide beam angle for increased
scattering and illumination. The main body is made up of a small number of
parts that are all connected by sophisticated yet simple details. Milkyway is a
sustainable and environmentally friendly product thanks to the use of smart
materials and well-designed manufacturing processes.
The juxtaposition of wood and glass is what lends the
Avo lights their unique charm. Avo boasts a simple yet
classic spherical shape and is a subtle combination of two
materials: wood for stability, and glass for brightness.
The complicated manufacturing process requires a high
degree of skill on the part of the woodturners and glass
blowers. The base of the Avo is made up of lots of small
pieces of solid wood that have been glued together to
form a cube. The semi-transparent glass sphere protects
the light bulb and is housed in a glass form with a conical
indent. The lampshade features a specially designed,
complex shape, in which the glass is mouthblown and
intricately worked. It is available in oak or beech, finished
with oil, and can be used as a ceiling, table or floor lamp.
cis.at
BUNA TABLE LAMP
FROM MEXICO
MILKYWAY GARDEN LAMP
FROM TURKEY
Designer:
bandido studio, € 258
AVO CEILING LIGHT
FROM AUSTRIA
Designer:
Johannes Scherr Design, € 298
Designer:
Anıl Tontuş and Limay Türkkan, € 310

29. 17
THE Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2023
O V E R
F R O M A L L
STYLE
T H E W O R L D
Lights don’t just add brightness to a room, they
alsobringfreshnessandtransparency,depend-
ing on the design. In this issue, Creative Indus-
tries Styria presents three different lights from
threevastlydifferentregionsthatwillmakeour
homes somewhat clearer in an instant.
Light

30. Photos:
Teppichgalerie
GEBA
18
THE Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2023
Rugs just
asking to be
sat on A WEALTH OF DESIGNS
The Geba rug gallery showcases a wide
range of designs, colours and styles for
customers from all over the world to
adorn boutique hotels, offices and private
homes. But before the Geba rug gallery
gets started with the design process, they
offer an exclusive service that involves
assessing the location in order to be able
to create the perfect rug for the space.
It is then designed in collaboration with
the customer and can be tailored to their
wishes – be it modern or traditional, free
design or aligned with the branding of the
hotel or company. The Geba colour palette
comprises 256 individual shades that can
be used in any combination in any design.
A special feature of the company’s service
is that the rug that’s designed can be
visualised in the space virtually, or even
left in place for a short time to check
in advance that it will definitely suit the
room.
UNCOMPROMISING QUALITY
When it comes to quality, the manufactur-
ers at the Geba rug gallery accept no
compromises. The wool processed in
Nepal comes from the high mountain
sheep of Tibet. Very long fibres and a lot
of wool grease are particular character-
istics that protect the animals in their
harsh habitat and form the basis of a
long-lasting rug. This means the rugs
are not only extremely hard wearing and
resistant to dirt, they’re also incredibly
warm and quite literally make people
want to sit on them.
geba-teppich.com

31. Photos:
Teppichgalerie
GEBA
19
THE Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2023
STYLE
THE GEBA RUG GALLERY HAS ITS ROOTS IN THE ANCIENT TRADITION OF HAND
WEAVING. THE GALLERY HAS BEEN LOCATED IN THE OLD TOWN OF GRAZ SINCE
1987 AND IS AN INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED SYMBOL OF QUALITY AND SKILL
WHEN IT COMES TO RUG DESIGN. HARALD GEBA WAS A TRAILBLAZER IN AUSTRIA,
REVOLUTIONISING THE CLASSIC ORIENTAL RUG AND IN DOING SO, CASTING ASIDE
OLD-FASHIONED IDEAS BY COMBINING MODERN DESIGNS WITH TRADITIONAL
CRAFTSMANSHIP.
In addition to sheep’s wool, the Geba rug
gallery utilises materials such as nettle,
hemp and linen, which are ideally suited
to those with allergies.
A RUG FOR EVERYONE
A customer initially gets to know a Geba
rug through their eyes: they see the
pattern, the colours and make first contact.
Then they enter a hotel, an office or a
home and instantly feel welcome – it’s
become an oasis of well-being. But rugs
aren’t just a highlight of interior design
or a work of art you can walk on – they
also improve acoustics and the indoor
climate.

32. 20
THE Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2023
Photo:
Stefan
Haider
13and9design.com
Martin and Anastasija Lesjak with the Geometric Collection Diamond Shades, a limited edition glasses collection in collaboration with Martin Lasnik and winner of the Red Dot Award.
Photo right: Well-being concepts were implemented at INNOCAD's recently completed MAM Competence Center, including 13&9 product ranges such as the BuzziPleat acoustic solution, the
Active Furniture BuzziBalance stool and board for BuzziSpace and the Relaxing Floors carpet collection for the Mohawk Group. The fractal pattern on the floor was developed in collaboration
with Professor Richard Taylor. Photo top right: HEX-O modular lighting and acoustic solution for XAL at the EANS Flight Control Centre by KAMP Arhitektid.

33. 21
THE Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2023
You’re celebrating an anniversary this year.
What have been the highs and lows of the last
decade?
Anastasija Lesjak: Since we started the
company in 2013, our approach has
been to constantly search for what’s real
and beautiful, but indeed also what’s
extraordinary and unconventional, so as
to design products with added value, or as
we poetically call it, with a soul. To design
products that are as flexible, transformable
and reusable as possible, we consider
diversity and integrate several disciplines
into our working processes, which is also
reflected in our long-standing access to
series production. Maintaining this access
for a decade with the same development
and production partners is a valuable
feature of our company, but at the same
time has been a constant challenge. That
was the case for almost all new products,
but we built on our tendency towards
perseverance paired with a certain sense
of lightness so that we didn’t lose the joy
of developing, even on tricky projects.
Looking back, I feel extremely grateful
TEN YEARS AGO, PRODUCT DESIGN STUDIO 13&9 DESIGN INITIATED A COLLABORATION BETWEEN DESIGN, SCIENCE AND
ART FOR THE FIRST TIME AT NEW YORK DESIGN WEEK, WITH THE INTENTION OF FINDING NEW CREATIVE SOLUTIONS THROUGH A HOLISTIC, TRANS-
DISCIPLINARY APPROACH. 13&9 DESIGN WORKS ON PROJECTS AROUND THE WORLD AND WAS FOUNDED IN GRAZ BY ARCHITECTS MARTIN LESJAK
(CO-FOUNDER AND MANAGING DIRECTOR OF ARCHITECTURAL FIRM INNOCAD) AND DR ANASTASIJA LESJAK. THE TEAM CREATES COLLECTIONS OF
PRODUCTS IN COLLABORATION WITH SPECIALIST PARTNERS – ALL THE WAY FROM CONCEPT THROUGH TO PRODUCTION – IN THE FIELDS OF LIGHT-
ING, FURNITURE, FLOOR COVERINGS, ACCESSORIES, EXHIBITIONS AND SOUND DESIGN, AND ALSO HAS ITS OWN LABEL. ON THE OCCASION OF THEIR
ANNIVERSARY, THE FOUNDERS TAKE A LOOK BACK AT THE CREATIVE PROCESS AND THEIR DIVERSE PROJECTS.
that we’ve been able to work in a holistic
way and that we’ve now been able to
evolve into an international design studio
alongside our partners. At this point, I’d
also like to express my sincere thanks to
all of our colleagues and partners that
we’ve had the pleasure of working with
over the last ten years!
What is one of your favourite projects that
you’ve developed together in the last decade?
Anastasija Lesjak: When I look back,
I don’t really have one project that stands
out more than the others. The reason
for that is that we support each develop-
ment with the corresponding planning,
infrastructure, production and communi-
cation, and consider all parameters
so that we can ultimately focus on
the creative heart of the project. At the
start, it obviously wasn’t always clear
if something would be “relevant”, no
matter how innovative the idea was.
Our work also usually involves a group of
contributors and from my perspective,
the more open and profound the people
in the team were, the rounder and more
beautiful the overall result was. This gives
me hope that interpersonal essence is
an important ingredient and cannot be
substituted in the product development
process. To finish, I must admit that I find
the projects centring around health and
well-being to be particularly interesting.
Anastasija, you have a very diverse and
impressive background. How do you bridge
the gap between science and design?
Anastasija Lesjak: When learning,
researching and designing, my existing
knowledge combines with new ideas.
During the creative process, my expertise
from the medical field often acts as a
connector in the case of multidiscipli-
nary collaborations, for example on
the ScienceDesignLab with Professor
Richard Taylor from the University of
Oregon/Fractals Research and with
his expert psychology team from the
University of Wales. Together, we pursue
the development of design concepts and
product applications that are based on
scientific findings on reducing stress
in the built environment, and that are
intended for modern working environ-
ments and healthcare and educational
establishments in particular. If anyone
wants to delve into the topic further, I
would suggest reading the Aesthetics and
Psychological Effects of Fractal Based
Design study, which was published in the
journal Frontiers in Psychology.
13&9 Design focuses on holistic concepts.
What is the process for these concepts and
how do you remain innovative?
Martin Lesjak: On the one hand, holistic
access is quite naturally a result of
the diverse backgrounds of our team:
architecture, interior design, product
design, fashion and music, paired with
a research-based working process
supported by scientific collaborations.
On the other hand, we have developed
a holistic working philosophy and
strategy that relies on several pillars.
This places people’s critical requirements
front and centre, at the same time as
being responsible towards society and
the environment, and seeks to find
answers to the social challenges of our
time. As soon as a concept aligns with
this approach, we see it as innovative,
because it also generates added value
on top of its original use.
Your approach to work encourages
environmentally friendly concepts.
How do you find small, local producers
to support your production?
Martin Lesjak: Our sustainability strategy
aims to consider the principles of the
circular economy and sourcing materials
and producing locally from the very begin-
ning, and extends all the way through
to packaging and shipping efficiencies.
Thanks to this early focus, we often
have the opportunity to collaborate
with smaller, local producers without
succumbing to price pressure.
Anything else to finish off?
Anastasija Lesjak: The wonderful thing
about this anniversary for me is actually
that I’ve been able to build 13&9 Design
with my husband Martin. It’s a personal
point, but it’s part of how I look back on
it all.
Martin Lesjak: A lot of the work carried
out by 13&9 is a brilliant example of the
fact that creativity and commitment
can make it possible to achieve social,
environmental and economically viable
sustainability.
ADVERTORIAL
Celebrating
a decade
of diversity 13&9
WITH
DESIGN
Photos:
Paul
Ott,
Tonu
Tunnel

34. 22
THE Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2023
Photo:
Joyce
Park
D
E
S
I
G
N
A N
O
F
K E L L Y W E A R S T L E R
ICON

35. 23
THE Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2023

36. 24
THE Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2023
Photo:
Joyce
Park
THE MALIBU SURF SHACK
Imagine an old, secluded house from the 1950s transformed into the perfect summer surf
shack. Kelly Wearstler refurbished the house keeping many of the original interior elements
intact, like kitchen and bathroom fittings that were still in good condition, but replaced
things like the shag carpet with seagrass. She was inspired by the architectural shell of
the house, its earthy and rustic tones, and wanted to furnish it with handmade, rustic and
raw objects. Vintage and contemporary designs make the property feel new yet still tell
its untold history, with Isamu Noguci lamps, comfortable Soriana sofas by Afra and Tobia
Scarpa and a blackened wood console by Base 10. Kelly Wearstler also “borrowed” a number
of pieces from her warehouse in downtown Los Angeles, which are vintage treasures she
has found throughout her career. “I have a huge collection of items that I’ve bought over
the years at auctions and online,” she says. “I stock them in my inventory for exactly this
type of project.”
VINTAGE VOLTAGE
In its previous incarnation, it took a lot of imagination to see through this home’s imper-
fections to envision its full potential. This California bungalow, with brown ceiling beams
and white walls, was remodelled and expanded into a large modern home with an open
but strangely divided floor plan. Creating a cohesive space began with removing unseemly
details that had been added by previous owners and adding subtle yet meaningful architec-
tural elements that were better suited to the style of the house. The furniture spans styles
and eras, from bespoke to avant-garde contemporary pieces, often featuring dramatic
shapes and vibrant colours that celebrate the client’s love of art and sculpture.
THE WEARSTLER-KORZEN RESIDENCE
Kelly’s family home for the past fifteen years was originally built in 1926 as a Spanish
Colonial Revival, and was remodelled five years later by “architect to the stars” James E.
Dolena in a classic Georgian style. They bought it from the Broccoli family (Cubby Broccoli
created and produced the James Bond films), but had to reassure them that they wouldn’t
tear it down. The two-storey main house retains many original, refined details, from the
intricate Georgian, Federal and Neoclassical mouldings, to the handsome marble bath-
rooms and even the solid, boiserie panelled doors. Kelly was intent on preserving the
historic integrity of the home and took steps to ensure it was listed as a historic property
and protected going forward. She remained true to her belief in mixing styles, eras and
mediums, bringing together the stars of the past with today’s emerging artists to create
environments – indoors and out – that are at once inviting, comfortable and evocative.
KELLY
WEARSTLER
IS
AN
AMERICAN
DESIGNER
WITH
HER
OWN
DESIGN
STUDIO
WHO
CREATES
DIVERSE
AND
EXPERIEN-
TIAL
RESIDENTIAL,
HOSPITALITY,
COMMERCIAL
AND
RETAIL
ENVIRONMENTS,
AS
WELL
AS
AN
EXTENSIVE
COLLECTION
OF
LIFESTYLE
PROD-
UCT
DESIGNS.
SHE
HAS
NOW
BECOME
AN
INTER-
NATIONALLY
RENOWNED
DESIGN
ICON.
MULTI-
LAYERED,
IMMERSIVE,
SENSORY
EXPERIENCES
ARE
AT
THE
HEART
OF
WEARSTLER’S
APPROACH
TO
DESIGN.
EXPLORING
MATERIALITY,
COLOUR
A
N
D
FORM,
INTUITIVELY
JUXTAPOSING
MODERN
A
N
D
CLASSIC,
ARCHITECTURE
AND
ORGANIC,
GRAPH-
IC
AND
INSTINCTIVE,
SHE
INJECTS
A
WEALTH
OF
EXPERIENCE
INTO
EACH
SPACE.
HER
RECENT
PROJECTS
ARE
FURTHER
PHENOMENAL
ADDI-
TIONS
TO
HER
PORTFOLIO,
AND
WE
TOOK
A
CLOSER
LOOK
AT
THEM!

37. 25
THE Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2023
IN WIENER NEUSTADT, A NEW CULTURAL FESTIVAL WILL BE TAKING
TO THE STAGE IN SPRING 2023 BETWEEN 14 APRIL AND 12 MAY:
MILCH & HONIG (MILK & HONEY).
Photos:
Harald
Hoffmann,
Tim
Cadavini,
Yiorgos
Mavropoulos
In the role of artistic director, clarinettist
Christoph Zimper is bringing innovative
concert formats and a variety of artists to
the city that’s daring to revolutionise the
traditional concert. During eight specially
created concerts with eight different
approaches, audiences will be treated to
concert experiences like they’ve never
experienced before.
Artistic director Christoph Zimper:
“I really respect the task ahead of us –
above all, the fact that it doesn’t take
place just anywhere, but rather ‘at home’.
At the same time, I’m immensely looking
forward to the performances from all
of the amazing artists from the fields
of music, film, dance, painting and more,
who have now come together to create
something in the form of Milch & Honig.”
Music, the spoken word and the art of
sand animation join forces to tell the
story of The Little Prince in a totally
new way.
Tibetan Buddhist culture meets Mozart’s
Gran Partita for a deeply relaxing concert
on yoga mats, or perhaps you would
prefer a concert in absolute darkness, or
outdoors in the park equipped with
a bulging picnic basket? Also taking part
are renowned classical musicians, singer
songwriters, dancers and artists from
a wide range of disciplines, all with one
declared vision: making sounds visible,
images audible and dance tangible.
Anyone wanting to use the Milch & Honig
festival as an excuse to rediscover Wiener
Neustadt will find the best option is to
go for one of three weekend packages:
the Prince Weekend, the Sound & Healing
Weekend and the King Weekend.
THE LITTLE PRINCE: 14 April, 19.30, Kasematten/Neue Bastei
CONCERT IN THE DARK: 15 April, 19.30, MÄX
PAINTING SONGS: 23 April, 19.30, Kasematten/Neue Bastei
NEW ART ON OLD WALLS: 28 April, 19.30, historic Kasematten
THE MOZART SOUND HEALING: 30 April, 19.30, Kasematten/Neue Bastei
SCHUBERT AS I KNOW HIM: 5 May, 19.30, historic Kasematten
SILENT CONCERT: 7 May, 11.00, outdoors at the Kasematten café Tscherte
THE BLISSFUL NIGHT – AND HOW IT CAME TO BE…: 12 May, 19.30, Kasematten/Neue Bastei
Top soprano Marlis Petersen
Artistic director Christoph Zimper
Vision
String
Quartet
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A CONCERT IS NO LONGER JUST A CONCERT, BUT RATHER MUSIC
MIXED WITH OTHER INGREDIENTS LIKE PAINTING, FILM, DANCE, POETRY, SAND ANIMATION OR EVEN TOTAL DARKNESS
AND MEDITATION?
ADVERTORIAL
CONCERT DATES AND TICKET INFORMATION:
+43 2622 373311
milchundhonig-wn.at
See sounds.
Hear images.
Feel dance.

38. 26
THE Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2023
Photos:
Oliver
Wolf
Foto
GmbH
Tom, tell us a little about yourself:
how did you get into this form of art?
When I was younger, I often used to travel
from my home town of Judenburg to
Tarvisio. I was always captivated by the
bustling markets and the vivacity of
the place, and I was especially taken with
these bold leather jackets. But I didn’t
want a black one, I wanted a bright blue
one instead, which at the time was only
available in the women’s section. Of course,
I wouldn’t buy something like that these
days, but it just shows the weakness I had
for loud colours back then. I then trained
as a bodywork technician and was soon
spraying my mopeds and Vespas in bright
colours like purple, pearl, pink and neon
colours. Several years later, I was in Miami
and walked past a gallery – where I had
my first real encounter with pop art!
The images in there were garish and
brightly coloured, depicting Karl Lagerfeld
or Marilyn Monroe. From that point on,
I’ve always been fascinated by galleries.
All the more considering I was working for
a company at the time that was working
intensively and professionally with graphics
and Photoshop. I desperately wanted to
“recreate” an intriguing image, so I asked
if I could take a photo. When I got home,
with the photo for inspiration, I immedi-
ately put together an art collage, used it
as a background and at the end, I coated
the whole image. That’s how it all started,
and my experiments were actually an
immediate hit.
What or who are you inspired by?
I love any environment with creative
colours and elements. I’ve also experimen-
ted with that many times over.
And I got over the concern or anxiety
that I can’t paint “properly” when I had
the opportunity to draw Dominic Thiem
at a live event and it was received really
positively. I then tried more and more
frequently to creatively embellish common
objects with a different vibe and additional
elements, mostly using new techniques –
digital printing, spray painting, acrylic and
glazing. Actually, as the “pop art kid”, as I
was known, it was my wish to “import” a
bit of California and a bit of New York to
Austria. There’s a hint of Andy Warhol in
there, plus Mr Brainwash, genius French
pop art and street artist Thierry Guetta,
and Banksy, the unmatched British street
artist. I like things that are expressive,
sometimes even loud, jarring and eccentric.
Images like these in particular aren’t just
TOM WENZL, AKA WENZO, A BODYWORK SPECIALIST AND PAINTWORK TECHNICIAN, STARTED HIS ARTISTIC CAREER IN
A SMALL BASEMENT STUDIO. THE TRAINED METALWORKER TOLD HIMSELF TO STICK TO WHAT HE KNOWS, AND ELEVATED HIS TASTEFUL CRAFT TO
THE LEVEL OF ART. THEN, AROUND SEVEN YEARS AGO, HE STARTED PAINTING FULL TIME – POP ART WAS HIS CHOSEN GENRE. ARTISTICALLY, HE IS
NOW AT HOME BETWEEN MONACO AND CALIFORNIA, AND HAS ALSO CREATED PIECES FOR ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER. “TRUST YOURSELF AND YOUR
PASSION; BE HONEST AND CORRECT,” IS ONE OF HIS SAYINGS. WE ASKED HIM WHAT MAKES HIS POP ART PIECES SO DISTINCTIVE, WHERE HE GETS
HIS INSPIRATION FROM, WHAT HIS FAVOURITE PIECE IS AND HOW LONG THE CREATIVE PROCESS TAKES BEFORE THE FINISHED WORK CAN BEEN
SEEN BY THE (ART) WORLD.
there to be looked at, their main purpose
is to inspire. It’s not by chance that they
attract so many fans worldwide.
Which techniques do you use for
your images?
I used to mainly use graphics, digital
printing and collages. Now, I use brushes
and spray paints, and I usually collage the
background around the image. At the end,
everything is coated so that the surface
looks like a sheet of glass, but is also UV
resistant.
How long does that process take?
It can take anywhere between two days and
two weeks – it really depends on what I’m
doing, and mostly on when the famous
wow moment happens, when I know that
I’ve finished the image. The coating then
normally takes another two to three days.
What is your favourite piece of art?
At the beginning, there was always a piece
that I’d grown particularly fond of. It would
hang in my home for a while and I never
wanted to sell it. But at some point, I stopped
thinking like that because there was always
something new and creative that came
after it. But there are also art­
works that
have a human story attached to them,
like if there’s been an opportunity to
collaborate with celebrities – like Arnold
Schwarzenegger, or Dominic Thiem at the
Tennis Open at the Wiener Stadthalle in
2019, among others. These pieces include
artbywenzo.com
instagram.com/artby_wenzo
I create dreams
any images that were created for the Licht
ins Dunkel charity event, which were
inspired by Arnie’s phrase “When you take
something, you have to give back”. They’re
all really special to me – not because of the
images themselves but because of the story
behind them and what they represent.
What are you looking forward to this
year?
There are some more exhibitions sched-
uled, mostly in Switzerland and nearby
regions. I currently have exhibitions
planned in Zug in Switzerland, at Schloss
Gamlitz in southern Styria and at Schloss
St. Martin in Graz. There might also be
something exciting happening in Leogang
at the Puradies hotel quite soon! We’ll have
to wait and see…
I don’t paint pictures ...
ADVERTORIAL

39. 27
THE Stylemate
Issue No 01 | 2023
scentury.com
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.
STYLE
If you don’t want to see, taste or hear,
you can keep your eyes, mouth and
ears closed. The nose has to remain
clear though, otherwise you’ll suffocate!
There’s no escaping scent molecules,
and they trigger our emotions and
memories. That’s why I think about my
first great love whenever I smell Cool
Water somewhere – there’s nothing I
can do about it.
While the sense of smell is the most
immediate, we often lack the words to
talk about it. For that reason, we like to
borrow terms from music: we talk about
fragrance notes and accords, and the
ephemeral nature of a perfume creation
is even reminiscent of a symphony.
Loud fragrances drown out their sur-
roundings, and you have to listen closely
to the quiet ones – sorry, smell closely.
So, just like there’s a perfect moment for
Highway to Hell and Pour Elise, there’s also
a right time for loud and quiet perfumes –
when the crowd is sweating in a club, you
need something with a bit of punch, but
for a tête-à-tête beneath the stars, more
subtlety is required.
It’s the ingredients that make a fragrance
loud or quiet. Some take over entire
rooms and cause people to keep their dis-
tance, while others invite you to move in
closer. But a loud scent doesn’t necessarily
have to be vulgar; perfumes are often
simply mirroring their time.
Until the 1960s, a respectable woman
was prohibited from sending erotic
signals through their outfit; showing
your décolleté, flowing hair and heavy
make-up were reserved for actresses and
prostitutes. For housewives and women
who worked, sharply tailored suits and
very little skin on show was expected. But
a sensual, animalistic perfume gave them
the opportunity to send subtly seductive
messages. Revlon’s Intimate from 1955
already had this in its name and promoted
the use of two animal-derived secret
weapons: the secretions of the civet cat
and the territory markings of the beaver,
castoreum.
The sixties therefore meant new olfactory
territory for men in particular. Before
then, they were able to play the cleanli-
ness card in order to smell good: soap,
aftershave, Brilliantine – barber shop
fragrances, essentially. Gender clichés
were now put to the test. People with
long hair wearing frilly blouses in the
Woodstock documentary literally wafted
around in a haze of patchouli and musk,
and even today, Patchouli by Crabtree
& Evelyn is still considered the Holy
Grail among Goths. However, witnesses
reported hostility towards women in
communes and agitprop groups – you
could still be a vain macho even if you
were wearing a flowery shirt, it seems.
How apt that the vibrant men’s fashion
of the 70s was retrospectively named
Peacock Revolution.
The restorative 80s, on the other hand,
saw the arrival of power dressing: big
hair, oversized jewellery for women,
shoulder pads and wide ties for men.
These extremes found their match in
potent powerhouse fragrances that took
no prisoners. Unforgotten firecracker
classics are fougère trailblazer Azzaro and
the animalistic chypre Antaeus (Chanel)
for men, the white blossom Giorgio
(Giorgio Beverly Hills) and the ambergris
bombshell Obsession (Calvin Klein)
for women. I can remember a girl in my
advanced English class who liberally
applied Poison by Dior. It was really
testing, especially for the first lesson of
the day and on an empty stomach.
The 1990s saw an about-turn: grunge
forced out gender clichés and fashion
became cerebral with the likes of Helmut
Lang and Margiela. At the intersection of
this trend and perfumes was an insecure
body image caused by HIV: animalistic
sultriness gave way to asexual cleanliness
and perfumes became quiet, with citrus
fresh, aquatic, clean, ozonic and abstract
notes. Differences between men’s and
women’s fragrances became blurred, and
in 1994, ck one from Calvin Klein was the
first fragrance to be marketed explicitly as
unisex.
There’s no trend without a countertrend:
at the turn of the millennium, the Arabian
fragrance oud was introduced to western
bottles in the form of M7 by Yves Saint
Laurent. The oil derived from the resin of
the agar tree makes perfumes warm and
sexy, and in larger quantities animalistic
and overripe. The new fragrance notes
crashed in like a bomb, partly as a coun-
ter-reaction to the clean 90s, partly as an
echo of Middle Eastern fragrance habits
as a result of the development of lucrative
gulf markets by luxury European brands.
Since then, the volume control has been
turned up and up, and today, fashion and
fragrances reflect the times.
On Instagram and TikTok, everything
and everyone is becoming a competing
brand: extreme looks as click bait even
for venerable couture houses, the filtered
face of an influencer as a battleground
in the fight for attention. It’s no wonder
young, label-obsessed target groups are
looking for something clear-cut even
when it comes to fragrances. Silage is the
magic word, a more elegant expression
for effectiveness. So, as the large logo for
the buying power of the wearer declares,
some expensive fragrance houses with
particularly inconsiderate dosage levels
have become status symbols.
Volume without a message is just noise.
Volume with attitude is rock and roll. Just
like the music from every era has had
crashing passion and genuine unwield-
iness, today there is olfactory Dolby
surround sound, which people are happy
to be overpowered by.
Pump up
the volume!
Raw Gold by Thomas de Monaco trans-
poses youthful rebellion and the desire for
freedom into a powerful mix of bourbon,
black coffee, smoky vetiver and pepper.
Ormonde Jayne’s Ambre Royal reveals a
beguiling technicolour opulence of the
utmost elegance with its notes of patchouli,
musk, tonka bean and a generous helping
of ambergris. If you’re brave enough
for an ingenious fortissimo, you’re brave
enough for volume!
Photos:
TDM
Raw
Gold
/
Portrait:
Holger
Homann