ABOUT THIS HOTEL

• DESCRIPTION
• FACILITIES
• ARCHITECTURE / DESIGN

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ARCHITECTURE / DESIGN

Architektur Consult Graz
BEHF-Architekten, Vienna

At the gateway to the South Styrian Wine Road, in an area known as the ‘Tuscany of Austria’, a boldly designed building bisects the verdant vineyards. Crystal-clear windows, edged by coarsely cut local materials, reflect the surrounding jade and olive hues, while carefully selected natural colors help the structure stretch smoothly across the landscape. Right from the first glimpse, it’s clear LOISIUM Wine & Spa Resort Südsteiermark is no ordinary Austrian hotel.

Then, with Peter Zinganel and Hermann Eisenköck of award-winning architectural practice ArchitekturConsult at the helm, a typical ‘resort hotel’ was never really an option. Instead of relying heavily on visible steel columns, which so often form the outline of contemporary hotels, the pair made use of unrefined Austrian materials – providing a fresh new slant on the region’s traditional building styles. Visitors only have to look across the vineyards to Schloss Ehrenhausen, a centuries-old castle with stark white facades, to see how things have changed.

Inside Loisium, interior designers from Austrian firm BEHF have worked painstakingly to capture the warmth of Styria’s sunny, almost Mediterranean climate. The walls of the lobby and spa are covered with green tiles mirroring the rolling vineyards, while simple wooden chairs hint at the beautiful simplicity of rural Austrian life. The hotel’s designated ‘tasting desks’ are made of hammered brass, and have been specially designed to sparkle and shine like a glass of local Sauvignon Blanc being held up to the light.

The best place to sample local vintages and experience the art of winemaking is the hotel’s own "Vinothek". Here, glittering gold-colored polyurethane floors set the scene, as a clued-up team of expert sommeliers offer wisdom on everything from food matching to wine storage. Similarly attentive service is the norm at Loisium’s Weinclub and at Weinkuchl, its buffet and menu style dining option focused on fresh, local specialties. There’s even a wine gallery, warmed by a roaring fire, and a panoramic terrace offering views across the hotel’s vineyard and beyond. Hiking and biking routes along the river Mur are within a short walk of the Loisium’s entranceway, and it’s just 1.5 km to Polz Brother’s Vinofaktur & Genussregal – a landmark building by BWM Architekten that combines vinotheque, wine logistics center and culinary shop. Here, visitors can taste typical products from the region, such as pumpkin seed oil, vinegars, sausages and wines.

At the heart of Loisium’s relaxation concept is its spa, with eight separate treatment rooms filled with the soothing aroma of high-end Aveda and Vinoble products. Relax with a wine by the fire in the Spa living room or let off steam in the Finnish sauna. It’s the 105 rooms and suites, however, which offer total tranquility with wooden floors, brushed metal detailing and handy in-suite technology like iPod docks and espresso machines, guests quickly get used to the Loisium way of life.