Designer Matteo Thun talks attending the Venice Biennale aged six, his latest hotel project, and new retreats in Bavaria.
Acclaimed Italian architect and designer Matteo Thun has been a force on the global design scene, lending his vision to a host of exciting projects, most recently Prague’s newest luxury boutique hotel.
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Tell us about your most recent project, the Julius in Prague.
The Julius Prague (below) was born to create an experience suitable for medium to long stays in the vibrant Czech capital. For the design of the project, which represented the debut of a new hospitality concept, we started designing a timeless scheme in tune with new expectations back in 2018 that represented a contextually aware, nomadic way of living. With The Julius we wanted the historic palace in the centre of Prague to become a temporary, contemporary home.
You were inspired by Czech artists Mucha and Kupka; how does art inform your work?
Art influences me a lot, on every journey, everywhere. I haven’t missed a Venice Biennale since I was six years old, and that was the best gift my parents could have given me when I was a child. Wherever I find time I consume art – in museums, in churches, in galleries. If you ask me to name the one artist that I always revisit, then it’s Caravaggio.
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The Julius brand is poised to expand internationally. Will you be working on them with future projects?
Yes, the concept is to follow the spirit of each location. This is key for our work in general.
What projects are you working on right now?
Two years ago, we opened an office in Munich, since we’d been working on a lot of projects in German speaking countries. Right now, we’re working on four projects at four different Bavarian lakes. The physical and mental health of guests is the focus of all these healthcare hotel projects. Fasting, simple, healthy nutrition and self-discovery are the focal points: the patient becomes the guest.
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You are headquartered in Milan and Munich. How do these cities inspire your design?
Both cities are very European and steeped in history. They have beautiful historic architecture, palazzi and buildings and are separated only by the Alps. Munich is one of my favourite cities in Germany. In addition, both cities’ inhabitants respect, love and live traditions.
You founded your eponymous design studio in 1984. After so many decades in the design business, how do you stay inspired?
I’m very curious in many ways and like to find new, innovative solutions to design, whether that’s finding more sustainable energy concepts for a hotel or discovering the latest recyclable material to design a product. I’m also inspired by the young partners in the studio that I’m in constant exchange with.
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What have been the biggest changes in the design landscape in the last decade?
The last decade was about the comeback of craftsmanship and going back to natural materials. Now it’s all about bringing this to the next level, with recyclable, renewable materials that also convey beauty.
You were a pupil of artists Oskar Kokoschka and Emilio Vedova at the Salzburg Academy. Tell us about their influence on your work.
I learned to ‘see’ with Oskar Kokoschka, who was celebrated for his expressionistic portraits and landscapes, and this was brilliant training to concentrate on the essentials of art and design. As for Vedova, he was the Joseph Beuys of Italy, and one of the most important artists to emerge from the Italian art scene, Art Informale, which took an experimental approach to painting and sculpture.
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What are the current challenges of the design world?
The challenge is to be innovative and seek out new solutions and materials that are as renewable as possible. This is a major topic everywhere and for all sectors of design: architecture, product design, fashion and so on.
Which architects and designers are you a fan of?
My best teacher was Ettore Sottsass, the Italian architect who also designed furniture and home accessories. He designed the Mayer-Schwartz Gallery on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills, California, which features a doorway constructed of irregular folds and jagged angles, and the interior of Milan’s Malpensa airport.
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What are you currently working on?
Long term projects include The Langham Murano (above), which is scheduled for completion in 2025. The aim of my work is to make life easier, better and healthier for all members of society.
