Reviving the old to create something new: the building on Lunz's church square stood empty for many years before Joachim Mayr and Heinz Glatzl from the Viennese architecture firm M&G transformed it into a high-quality boutique hotel – the Refugium Lunz. The exquisite combination of architecture, interior design, and craftsmanship is complemented by fittings from Dornbracht.

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Award-winning revival
In 2019, Mayr and Glatzl discovered the former inn, whose history dates back five centuries to 1661. They quickly came up with the idea of turning it into a hostel: a place of encounter and hospitality that would give the aged walls a new lease of life. Together with their partners from the Viennese architecture collective Formdepot, they began a comprehensive restoration. Carefully and step by step, the building structure, including centuries-old vaulted arches, rough stone walls, and old wooden beams, was renewed. After three years of construction, the Refugium Lunz finally opened its doors in 2023. Mayr and Glatzl's Studio M&G 2024 was awarded the German Design Award for this exclusive design hotel, in which past and present elegantly merge.

Interplay of old and new
The harmonious interplay of old and new continues throughout the interior: oak panelling meets exposed concrete, and custom-made furniture meets lovingly curated design accessories. Aesthetic refinements include Croatian limestone floors, sturdy larch doors, and tiles from Viennese Gründerzeit buildings. In addition to the old parlour with its historic beamed ceiling, the salon kitchen with its small garden offers a relaxed place to linger, as does the restaurant with its handcrafted wood panelling and large windows. The Vaia fittings in Brushed Dark Platinum from Dornbracht contrast stylishly with the opulent vintage look of the adjoining sanitary rooms. In the newly built garden house, the MEM series complements the bathrooms and relaxation rooms of the sauna area: the cool finish in Brushed Platinum harmonises subtly with the Breccia Romana tiles and their warm pattern.

A feel for atmosphere and light
A sense of atmosphere, proportions, and light also characterises the rooms. They are complemented by fine materials and fabrics that remain discreetly in the background yet lend the rooms structure and character. The bathrooms prove to be an integral part of the overall aesthetic: in the garden rooms of the new building, they are even integrated directly into the space. The Dornbracht design icon Meta in Matte Black is found on a minimalist washbasin made of wood and natural stone, skilfully complementing the dark wooden ceiling. Similar ensembles are also part of the enclosed bathrooms, with Meta setting clear accents, not least in the showers.

Dornbracht
Julia Quenzer
Tel.: +49 2371 433-2117
Email: press@dornbracht.com

Anya Wood Public Relations Limited
Anya Wood
Tel.: +44 7585 228987 
Email: anya@anyawoodpr.co.uk