Immaculately designed following the design language of Il Sereno defined by esteemed designer Patricia Urquiola and hotelier Luis Contreras, the luxury, hotel-adjacent penthouse suite will feature design elements inspired by post-war Italian glamour. Additionally, drawing from Como’s historical identity as first place in the Western world where silks were woven and the city’s continued identity as the world’s center for high-end silk production, Urquiola also incorporated local silks into the design, inspired by 1950s scarf fashion and landscape motifs of Lake Como. Further adding to the appeal is the fact that all of the bespoke Urquiola furniture is available for purchase, so you can enjoy her incomparable designs every day.

“When we built Il Sereno, we created a well-defined designed language, the challenge now was to do something completely new, using the language of the hotel,” says Contreras. “Urquiola’s inspiration for the penthouse was the Italian ‘Dolce Vita’ of the 1950s and ’60s, Como’s silk traditions, the works of Architect Carlo Scarpa, and the fabulous objects of post-war Italian designers like Gio Ponti, Franco Albini, and Vico Magistretti. We hope that, just like the rest of the hotel, even though the design was inspired by the ’50s and built in 2021, the design itself is classic, timeless.” The materials used for the penthouse play an important role in achieving this sense of timelessness. From the Venetian Terrazzo floor of ceppo di gre (local stone used in the building’s facade) arranged in a geometric pattern, to Canaletto walnut wood paneling on the walls and ceiling, to large installations of Verde Alpi Italian marble for the walls, every element was specifically chosen especially for its overall esthetic as well as its local availability.

Accessed by a separate elevator, the penthouse will offer nearly 150 square metres (1600 square feet) of living space, including a large furnished terrace and a surrounding private garden. Additionally, a vertical garden designed by leading French botanist Patrick Blanc will grace the exterior wall below the suite—his fourth creation for Il Sereno (in addition to the existing Le Canyon, Les Racines Echasses, and Le Mirroir du Lac), also visible from the lake and made to interact with the façade of the building and the neighboring Mirroir du Lac.

Complementing the penthouse’s spacious living area, dining room, two bathrooms, main bedroom, wet bar, and impeccable interior design are floor-to-ceiling windows to the east, north, and south, offering unparalleled views of Lake Como. The overall effect: luxury meets nature in the most contemporary-chic, classic way possible.