Grand suites in a park on lake Lugano, where nature and design converse
On the Italian shore of Lake Lugano, set within a natural park overlooking the water, ARIA Retreat & SPA is a five-star superior resort made up exclusively of 15 suites. It is a place designed for slowing down, where quiet, nature, and well-being shape an intimate, meticulously curated idea of hospitality.
In this setting, interior design becomes an integral part of the experience: every space is conceived to accompany guests through a stay that is free from excess yet attentive to every detail. The client, a passionate art lover, followed the entire design journey closely, taking an active role in the architectural and furnishing choices.
A constant dialogue that brought together the design work of Studio R4M and the interior design curated by Alan Crosta of Selva Arredamenti SRL, with a bespoke approach that also extended to the kitchens.
Within a hospitality project of this level, the in-suite kitchen has a precise role: it is not a simple addition, but a space for everyday welcome. It must be intuitive, reliable, ready to be used day after day. Guests come in, set down their keys, make a coffee, and move naturally through the space. A simple gesture that helps make the stay more personal and authentic, without giving up elegance.
Inside the suites, different interpretations of the kitchen space coexist. Among the collections, Forma Mentis and Artematica were selected to build distinct identities while remaining faithful to a coherent language. The island or peninsula becomes the operational and convivial focal point, while the bank of tower units organizes functions with order and immediacy.
Forma Mentis works with materiality in a perfectly balanced way, allowing atmospheres to be shaped through refined finishes and pairings, without ever losing visual continuity. Artematica, instead, introduces a more decisive, recognizable line, bringing character to the space with ease, and fitting precisely into a contemporary, rigorous architecture.
Materials were selected and combined with a clear goal: to convey elegance, luxury, and warmth, without compromising the practicality required by a hospitality setting. Tactile walnut dialogues with Angel Skin surfaces and glass, creating sophisticated yet welcoming environments that evoke an almost domestic dimension. Matte and glossy finishes alternate to reflect the light of the lake and the surrounding landscape; high-performance laminates ensure resistance, ease of maintenance, and long-lasting durability; natural stone further enriches the space.
Within this balance, the kitchen becomes a project designed to be lived every day—part of a daily rhythm that flows naturally, like watching the lake from the terrace or taking a quiet pause in one's suite.
In a hospitality project of this level, the real challenge is making elegance coexist with everyday use. With Valcucine, we designed kitchens with character—yet solid, intuitive, and reliable: an idea of luxury that expresses itself over time, through the guest experience.
Alan Crosta, interior designer, Selva Arredamenti SRL
Architecture: Studio R4M
Interior design: Selva Arredamenti SRL
Ph credits: Eleonora Crippa
