Aurora Hotel in Merano Ditches Alpine Clichés for Metropolitan Design
The Aurora hotel, located on Merano's Passer Promenade in South Tyrol, Italy, has undergone a significant transformation, moving away from the region's traditional style. For more than six decades, the Aukenthaler family has owned the establishment, which is currently managed by siblings Melanie and Philipp Aukenthaler. They enlisted Milan-based architect Hannes Peer, who utilized local Laas marble and included a sculpture by Herbert Kinkelin. The hotel features vibrant additions such as 2,000 handcrafted tiles from Officine Saffi, a curved wooden reception desk, and a chandelier from his 'Paysage' project. Additionally, the Artè restaurant has become Merano's first listening bar. Architecturally, Feld72 has connected the hotel's two structures and revamped 18 of the 59 rooms, with future plans for a rooftop pool and jazz bar.
Key facts
- Aurora hotel in Merano, South Tyrol, underwent a radical refurbishment.
- Owned by the Aukenthaler family for over 60 years, now run by siblings Melanie and Philipp Aukenthaler.
- Milan-based architect and designer Hannes Peer led the interior redesign.
- Peer is from South Tyrol and previously designed The Manner Hotel in Manhattan and Signor Lievito bakery in Milan.
- The design includes 2,000 handmade colored tiles from Officine Saffi in Milan.
- A chandelier from Peer's 'Paysage' collaboration with 6:AM Glassworks is featured.
- Austria's Feld72 architecture firm unified the hotel's two buildings, adding rooms.
- Only 18 of 59 rooms have been redesigned so far, with future plans including a rooftop pool and jazz bar.
- The Artè restaurant is now Merano's first listening bar.
- Melanie Aukenthaler stated: 'This was never an Alpine hotel. Merano isn't an Alpine village. This is a Mitteleuropäisch city.'
Entities
Artists
- Hannes Peer
- Herbert Kinkelin
- Ursula Huber
- Armando Ronca
Institutions
- Aurora hotel
- The Manner Hotel
- Signor Lievito
- Officine Saffi
- Teatro Manzoni
- 6:AM Glassworks
- Feld72
- feld72 Architekten ZT GmbH
- Holzner & Bertagnoll
- KTB-Group
- Hannes Peer Architecture
Locations
- Merano
- Italy
- South Tyrol
- Passer Promenade
- Milan
- Manhattan
- Austria
- Köln
- Passer river
- Piazza Teatro
- Passer River