Odles Lodge is the latest offering from Forestis, the high-altitude wellness retreat near Brixen, South Tyrol. Inspired by the region’s traditional rifugios, or rustic mountain huts for skiers and hikers, this adults-only property comprises four chalet-style lodges perched on the southern slope of the Plose mountain, granting guests the opportunity to immerse themselves in the area’s rich natural bounty while retaining the comfort of a private home.
Retreat into simplicity at Odles Lodge
According to the vision of owners Stefan Hinteregger and Teresa Unterthiner, the lodges share Forestis’ ethos of simplicity, prioritising peace and wellbeing through minimalist design choices. Designer Armin Sader of Asaggio Architects foregrounds nature through pared-back interiors and an emphasis on high-quality, locally sourced materials. While the timber exterior of Odles Lodge is clad in larch trunks, the interiors see a health-promoting Swiss stone pine. ‘Both woods grow naturally in this area and blend in with the surrounding forests,’ says Sader. ‘In order to preserve the integrity of the wood, each was left untreated.’
Moss green accents in naturally woven fabrics and traditional South Tyrolean tiled stoves add warmth to an otherwise restrained colour palette of neutral tones. ‘To complete the look, all metal parts such as taps and lights were kept in white to give the ensemble a softness,’ Sader adds. And though guests go unencumbered by unnecessary stimuli, the lodges are ideal for longer stays, with fully equipped kitchens, WiFi, tucked-away TVs and freestanding stone bathtubs.
Blurring the line between indoor and outdoor, each of the south-facing lodges benefits from panoramic views of the saw-toothed Dolomites, which are framed by floor-to-ceiling windows and mirrored by geometric angles. The communal areas feature an exclusive-use garden, wine cellar, and shared spa where natural cement filler containing light green pigment was used for the sauna and outdoor swimming pool. ‘This creates a natural interplay between the stone pine wood and the healing clay – or in this case, cement – with which these areas were designed.’
By allowing each material to speak for itself, this uncluttered approach to design facilitates mental clarity and offers urbanites the chance to connect with the region’s holistic roots, which date back to the Celtic Druids. And though the remote location of Odles Lodge ranks among its main draws, it sits just under two kilometres north of the main Forestis site, where guests of the lodges can access the parent property’s spa and restaurant, with a chauffeured shuttle available to ferry them back and forth.
-
Remembering Frank Gehry, a titan of architecture and a brilliant human beingLong-time Wallpaper* contributor Michael Webb reflects on the legacy of the Los Angeles architect, who died today at age 96
-
Lexus finally confirms the name of its all-electric LFA Concept supercarStill designated a design study, the Lexus LFA Concept should be the successor to the most unlikely of all 20th-century supercars
-
King of cashmere Brunello Cucinelli on his new biographical docu-drama: ‘This is my testimony’Directed by Cinema Paradiso’s Giuseppe Tornatore, ‘Brunello: the Gracious Visionary’ premiered in cinematic fashion at Rome’s Cinecittà studios last night, charting the meteoric rise of the deep-thinking Italian designer
-
Experience the cradle of the Renaissance in a new light at Florence’s W hotelFlorence’s palazzi, basilicas and baptistries groan with history. But the city’s new W hotel poses an alternative perspective – one that is distinctly modern
-
Fall in love with the Dolomites at this serene retreatIn South Tyrol, the refreshed Forestis hotel raises the bar for high-altitude calm
-
Langosteria Montenapoleone is the new multi-level dining destination to know in MilanCrowning the top three floors of the recently opened Palazzo Fendi, the Langosteria group unveils its most ambitious venture yet
-
Check in at Aman Rosa Alpina, a modern Alpine cocoonSan Cassiano’s historic hotel has been reborn as a pared-back Aman refuge in the heart of the Dolomites
-
Mediterranean dreams come true at this radiant Puglian hotelA former convent has been converted into Vista Ostuni, a plush bolthole inspired by the landscape and heritage of the Puglia region
-
Stay in a pastel-hued Puglian palazzo as it starts a new chapterA haven for the design-minded, Palazzo Daniele reopens following a thoughtful restoration by Milan-based Studio Palomba Serafini and GS Collection
-
This Italian palazzo-turned-café adds a dash of drama to your morning espressoDesigned by studio AMAA, Caffè Nazionale brings new energy to a 19th-century former town hall in the northern Italian town of Arzignano
-
Pierre-Yves Rochon celebrates ‘the great tradition of Italian design’ in Four Seasons Hotel Milano refreshThe sophisticated hotel’s 118 rooms and suites have been redesigned by the acclaimed designer and long-time collaborator of the brand
