Matteo Thun on Luxury Hotel Design Trends and New Projects

Architect Matteo Thun, co-founder of the Memphis Group in 1981 and former student of Oskar Kokoschka and Emilio Vedova, discusses his studio's approach to luxury hospitality. Founded in 2001, Matteo Thun & Partners operates from Milan and Munich, focusing on conscious, sustainable design guided by a ten-point manifesto. Recent projects include the Chiemgauhof resort on Lake Chiemsee in Bavaria (opening late 2024), Park Resort Lake Garda (under construction), Casa Brivio in Milan (recently opened), and The Julius Prague, a hybrid hotel-residence in a neo-Renaissance building. Casa Brivio, developed with Cassina Custom Interiors for Filippo and Alberico Brivio Sforza, pays homage to mid-century Milanese modernism. The Julius Prague offers 168 serviced apartments for flexible stays, with colors inspired by Czech artists Alphonse Mucha and František Kupka. Thun emphasizes the shift from traditional hotels to long-stay residences, as seen in Julius Prague and Casa Brivio. His studio also works on The Langham Venice on Murano, a 5-star resort set in a former glassworks and 16th-century Casinò Mocenigo, expected to complete in 2026. Thun advocates for the 'three zeros' sustainability credo: zero CO2, zero kilometers (local materials), and zero waste.