Habitat Cool: Filario Lezzeno, Italy, a homage to Italian custom, style and native craftsmanship, Filario flirts with time-past decadence and chilled luxury – an elegant pairing of design and heritage
Filario Hotel & Residences –a member of THE AFICIONADOS– is a sleek modernist mansion sitting front row on the Lezzeno shoreline of Lake Como, backed by a mountainous canopy forest. An homage to Italian custom, style and native craftsmanship, Filario flirts with time-past decadence and chilled luxury – an elegant pairing of design and heritage overlooking Bellagio, Villa Balbianello, and Comacina Island.
In stark contrast, this modernist, white geometric structure stands as a beacon of the new, while cosying up against matriarchal mansions of Como. An architectural basecamp of Italian style, Filario is the brainchild of local entrepreneur and hotelier, Alessandro Sironi, who orchestrated the interior creation alongside famed designer Alessandro Agrati. With his intrinsic knowledge and respect for his own culture, Sironi was able to bring together local elements of architecture, craftsmanship and heritage to present a truly connected project to the community, wrapped up in modern design.
‘History relates to tourism and travel’, Sironi says. ‘It’s more than just looking at something beautiful. It’s knowing the past, what to discover, the architecture and the movements’.
Many years in the making, Filario was created for nomads who love casual-luxe, design aesthetics and those familiar trademarks of sweet locale. Sironi created a breath-of-fresh-air aesthetic of urbanity, serenity and clean design while continuing to tie the hotel onto the region’s strong historical identity. Even its name, Filario, plays on the theme of heritage fusion - a beautiful coalesce of filo, meaning thread which honours the legacy of silk production of the area, and lario, which was the Roman name for the lake.
Indigenous stone from Lombardy is sculpted into neat, sharp lines which frame the coveted lake views, and dotting the interior landscape is handcrafted contemporary furniture made by local artisans in the nearby design hub Cantù. The interiors are decked in natural waterside hues of soft greys marls, creamy sage and muted teal set against accented polished steel, glass, carpentry and images of silk threads.
Filario Hotel & Residences is deliberately stand out sharp in a neighbourhood of old-school glamour, it is however deeply rooted with its environment – and with its own marina, private pebble beach, lounging cabanas, infinity pool, beach bar and impressive restaurant, Filario shows there’s a new way to do Como without the pretence.
Filario Hotel & Residences has 13 luxury appointed lake-view rooms and luxury design suites as well as 20 elegant apartment residencies. Accommodation spans from the Superior to the Grand Suite, one-bedroom apartments to lavish townhouses and a three-bedroom Penthouse apartment. All are sizeable and airy, and each benefit from the wow-factor vistas of the lake, with private terraces framed by the Lombardy stone that encases the hotel, with views directly onto Villa Balbianello.
With a neutral colour palette, the design rooms and luxury accommodation have an urban feel with soft greys marls, creamy sage and muted teal on quilts, velvet cushions, armchairs and rugs. Raw fabrics and locally sourced timber veneer walls give a natural cocoon-like effect. King size beds are encased in cuboid wooden frames, and Italian linen company Frette allow bed sheets, towels and slippers a luxurious edge.
Both the Grand Suite and Junior Suites come ‘on the water’ – these suites are the ones to book for lakeside lovers, with expansive terraces right by the water’s edge and private plunge pools, although you may struggle to leave your luxe enclave. Interiors are impeccably furnished including industrial-chic bi-folding crittall-style doors to blur the boundary of inside and out.
About The Aficionados
Founded by Iain Ainsworth, THE AFICIONADOS is a travel resource for those seeking fabulous recommendations and accommodation that effortlessly fuses luxury, design and authenticity. It comprises over 90 hotels, designer homes for private hire and guesthouses, from all across Europe and a fabulous outpost in New York, the United States, together with a selection of over 100 creatives who round out the offer of this culture and lifestyle emporium for travel and good living. The Aficionados also publishes five printed magazines: Blueprint Beauts, Farmhouse Fabulous, Casa Gorgeous, Neu Heritage, and Alchemists of Italy.
