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

Interior of Il Sereno Lake Como Hotel with floor to ceiling windows on two sides overlooking the lake and mountains in the background. An orange armchair is visible in the room
The Penthouse at Il Sereno Hotel, Lake Como, designed by Patricia Urquiola, boasting breathtaking views of the lake and featuring designs from Italian masters as well as the architect's own pieces for Italian furniture brands. The Penthouse, as well as several accessories and textiles from the hotel, will be available from the hotel's newly-launched e-commerce platform
(Image credit: TBC)

Lake Como’s Il Sereno Hotel 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

The bedroom space in the penthouse features Patricia Urquiola's ‘L60’ bed for Cassina with bespoke textiles inspired by the lake surroundings

(Image credit: TBC)

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 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 for Cassina) as well as icons of Italian design, such as Gio Ponti chairs and an ‘Infinito’ bookcase by Franco Albini and Franca Helg dominating the living space. 

Living room at Il Sereno penthouse with light blue sofa and wall shelving unit in black

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

(Image credit: TBC)

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), modern and contemporary accessories by Ginori, Venini, Bitossi and Salvatori. The shopping selection includes specially-commissioned rugs and blankets 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.’

Il Sereno Hotel penthouse interior with walnut and ceppo di gre walls and terrazzo floors

The study in the Penthouse, featuring Franco Albini's ‘Luisa’ chair by Cassina and the ‘Model 537’ lamp by Gino Sarfatti, produced by Astep

(Image credit: TBC)

Bathroom at Il Sereno Hotel penthouse with a white freestanding bathtub on the left, marble sinks on the right

The bathroom at Il Sereno Hotel penthouse

(Image credit: TBC)

Dining room area at Il Sereno Hotel with an oval table and chairs upholstered in green velvet

The dining area features Franco Albini's ‘Luisa’ chairs and the ‘Luna’ lamp by Gio Ponti

(Image credit: TBC)

A drinks cabinet in walnut with marble interior

Bespoke drinks cabinet in walnut and marble

(Image credit: TBC)

A light blue sofa facing a wide window in front of Lake Como at Il Sereno Hotel

The living area faces the lake, with furniture including Patricia Urquiola's ‘Love Me Tender’ sofa for Moroso and Franco Albini's ‘Infinito’ bookcase

(Image credit: TBC)

A secluded garden space with wood panelling at Il Sereno Hotel. Furniture includes a lounge chair, table and dining chairs

The secluded garden of the Penthouse, with outdoors funiture by Patricia Urquiola

(Image credit: TBC)

A lake-facing terrace at Il Sereno Hotel

The lake-facing terrace

(Image credit: TBC)

INFORMATION

Shop Il Sereno Hotel at serenohotels.com

ADDRESS

Via Torrazza, 10
22020 Torno CO
Italy

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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.

With contributions from