Il Sereno and Patricia Urquiola launch penthouse that celebrates Italian design
The Lake Como Hotel, designed by Patricia Urquiola in 2016, opens its latest penthouse dedicated to modernist design and a new e-commerce to shop furniture, accessories and textiles from the hotel
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Lake Como’s Il Sereno Hotel (opens in new tab) and Milanese designer Patricia Urquiola unveil a new penthouse space, ‘inspired by Post-war Italian glamour, La Dolce Vita, Modernist Italian Designers’ as well as local silk-manufacturing traditions.
The hotel originally opened in 2016, and expanded into a nearby 16th-century villa in 2018. When it opened, it was the first new structure to be built on the shores of Italy’s Lake Como in 70 years, with a design inspired by local architect Giuseppe Terragni’s Rationalist structures and a palette of colours and materials nodding to its lake surroundings. ‘The lake is all about integrity,’ said Urquiola, who referenced the architect’s rigorous lines in her façade design in glass, wood and stone.
Il Sereno Penthouse: a celebration of Italian design
The bedroom space in the penthouse features Patricia Urquiola's ‘L60’ bed for Cassina with bespoke textiles inspired by the lake surroundings
The latest space to open at Il Sereno is the Signature Penthouse. A one-bedroom suite with breathtaking floor-to-ceiling views of the lake and mountains, a living and dining area (opens in new tab) as well as lake-facing garden and terrace, the space features a material-rich palette of Venetian Terrazzo floors, Canaletto Walnut ceilings and Ceppo di Gre walls. Throughout, Urquiola selected contemporary pieces (such as her ‘Love Me Tender‘ sofa for Moroso and ‘L60’ bed (opens in new tab) for Cassina) as well as icons of Italian design, such as Gio Ponti chairs and an ‘Infinito’ bookcase (opens in new tab) by Franco Albini and Franca Helg dominating the living space.
The living space with Urquiola's ‘Love Me Tender’ sofa for Moroso and ‘Infinito’ bookcase by Franco Albini and Franca Helg. The sofa, as well as the Cassina coffee tables and ceramics from Bitossi are available from the hotel's newly-launched e-commerce
The penthouse also marks Il Sereno’s first foray into e-commerce, with a dedicated digital retail space offering the penthouse’s key furniture pieces (from the sofa and bed to the chairs, tables and lighting (opens in new tab)), modern and contemporary accessories by Ginori, Venini, Bitossi and Salvatori (opens in new tab). The shopping selection includes specially-commissioned rugs (opens in new tab) and blankets (opens in new tab) used throughout the hotel: ‘Guests were asking us about these pieces, so it felt like a natural move,’ says hotelier Luis Contreras, who worked closely with Urquiola on the hotel’s conception, design and future development. ‘We want to challenge ourselves and try to make something a little bit different,’ he says. ‘If possible, better.’
The study in the Penthouse, featuring Franco Albini's ‘Luisa’ chair by Cassina and the ‘Model 537’ lamp by Gino Sarfatti, produced by Astep
The bathroom at Il Sereno Hotel penthouse
The dining area features Franco Albini's ‘Luisa’ chairs and the ‘Luna’ lamp by Gio Ponti
Bespoke drinks cabinet in walnut and marble
The living area faces the lake, with furniture including Patricia Urquiola's ‘Love Me Tender’ sofa for Moroso and Franco Albini's ‘Infinito’ bookcase
The secluded garden of the Penthouse, with outdoors funiture by Patricia Urquiola
The lake-facing terrace
INFORMATION
Shop Il Sereno Hotel at serenohotels.com (opens in new tab)
ADDRESS
Via Torrazza, 10
22020 Torno CO
Italy
VIEW GOOGLE MAPS (opens in new tab)
Rosa Bertoli was born in Udine, Italy, and now lives in London. Since 2014, she has been the Design Editor of Wallpaper*, where she oversees design content for the print and online editions, as well as special editorial projects. Through her role at Wallpaper*, she has written extensively about all areas of design. Rosa has been speaker and moderator for various design talks and conferences including London Craft Week, Maison & Objet, The Italian Cultural Institute (London), Clippings, Zaha Hadid Design, Kartell and Frieze Art Fair. Rosa has been on judging panels for the Chart Architecture Award, the Dutch Design Awards and the DesignGuild Marks. She has written for numerous English and Italian language publications, and worked as a content and communication consultant for fashion and design brands.
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