DATA SHEET
Owner: R Collection Hotels
Hotel operator: Grand Hotel Victoria Concept & SPA
Architecture and Interior design: Studio Pè Architettura & Design
Furnishings: Flos, Linea Light Group, Medea, Starpool, Talenti, Theatro
Photo credits: Marcello Mariana, Courtesy Theatro, RCollectionHotels
A celebration in grand style of the regenerating power of water, and a tribute to Lake Como. The refurbishing and expansion of the 5-star Grand Hotel Victoria Concept & SPA in Menaggio, now part of the R Collection Hotels, called for the addition of a new 6-story volume, with two levels below ground for wellness, offering the best of the main traditions of personal care, from the Middle East to the Nordic cultures, all the way to ancient Rome.
The biggest wellness facility in the zone, with an area of 1200 square meters, respectfully juxtaposed with the original structure dating back to the 1800s, thanks to the work of the architect Franco Pè and his studio. The atmosphere of a historic patrician villa remains intact, dense with memories of the Belle Époque and the aristocratic families that lived here. Today history and tradition meet modern design, in a project that enhances elements of the past with grafts of elegant contemporary design.
The key factor is of course the spa, which follows the longitudinal extension of the large 20-meter swimming pool. Along this axis there are wet and dry zones, all installed with products by Starpool. The first contains the SweetSteamPro steam bath and the GlamourMediterraneanPro model, revolutionary in their design and functioning. With perfectly hygienic continuous wall surfaces, these sociable spaces have ceilings punctuated by spotlights with dimmers.
The second area is particularly striking, including a Finnish sauna, namely the GlamourSaunaPro in the black version made with natural spruce from Val di Fiemme, treated with black wax, and the GlamourSoftSaunaPro, in natural wood, for a less intense experience, in an ideal climate for psycho-physical relaxation.
The regenerating experience continues with the sinuous forms of the Breez cots designed by Karim Rashid for Talenti. Starpool has also inserted two cold reaction zones – indispensable to restore the correct body temperature – including ShowerOne, a single shower head that combines different temperatures and types of spray, with games of lights and fragrances, and the innovative SweetIcePro, a veritable ice room.
Other attractions include the salt room and areas for resting, where the studio has selected furnishings from the iconic Casilda collection designed by Ramón Esteve, again for Talenti – Casilda Sunbed and Casilda Daybed – a sum of rational geometry and pleasant fabrics in neutral tones.
In the outdoor areas, in keeping with its vocation, Talenti is truly at its best. The large outdoor pool has been surrounded with Casilda Daybeds, garden furnishings with compact seats, a sofa and a living chair from the Cottage collection by Esteve. The terraces of the suites are enhanced by chairs from the Moon Teak collection, featuring natural wood and delicate woven cords. These items are in perfect tune with the seats of the two collections chosen for the bar area, Moon Teak and Moon Alu by Cristian Visentin, as well as the coffee tables and daybed solution of Cleo Alu, designed by Marco Acerbis, or the Milo Alu and Cleo Teak tables.
In such a prestigious context, lighting becomes a tool to amplify the beauty of the spaces and furnishings. Flos has ‘designed’ the spaces for the reception, and the luxurious guestrooms, with the collections Noctambule Floor by Konstantin Grcic, Captain Flint and Arrangements by Michael Anastassiades, and Wirering by Formafantasma.
The theatrical staircase at ground level takes on impact thanks to the composition of chandeliers by Linea Light Group. With their extra-slim section, they provide abundant uniform light, while at the same time seeming to float on air, due to the light aluminium body, enveloping guests in soft, appealing light and an intimate, welcoming atmosphere.
