Herzog & de Meuron interiors – Villa Roccabruna Bar & Bistro, Blevio, Como, Italy
Credit Herzog & de Meuron
Herzog & de Meuron Architects: Mandarin Oriental Lago di Como, Villa Roccabruna, Blevio, Italy
Located in the picturesque village of Blevio, the Mandarin Oriental Lago di Como consists of a complex of buildings set within lush gardens, with the historic Villa Roccabruna at its center. Herzog & de Meuron’s collaboration began with designing a floating outdoor pool, the nearby Nami Café, and redesigning the spa facilities. Their second project involves a careful, sensitive renovation of Villa Roccabruna’s ground floor that improves guest flow, highlights historical details, restores lost historic fabric, and enhances back-of-house functionality.
Herzog & de Meuron interiors – Villa Roccabruna Bar & Bistro, Blevio, Como, Italy
Credit Herzog & de Meuron
Dating back to the 18th century, the villa has undergone many renovations over the years while keeping much of its rich interiors and elegant character. Positioned prominently on a lakefront promenade, it welcomes guests into spacious, richly decorated reception rooms overlooking Lake Como. The villa features several special suites, includes a bistro and bar, and functions as the reception for the spa and floating outdoor pool.
Herzog & de Meuron interiors – Villa Roccabruna Bar & Bistro, Blevio, Como, Italy
Credit Herzog & de Meuron
For the bar, Herzog & de Meuron designed a new low brass counter and placed it in front of the historic wooden-framed threshold deeper into the room, creating a more intimate atmosphere while enhancing the back-of-house workspace behind it. The large threshold now serves as an integral and key feature of the bar, while the decorative marble framing of the old back of the bar was matched, recycled, and reintegrated into the new design.
Herzog & de Meuron interiors – Villa Roccabruna Bar & Bistro, Blevio, Como, Italy
Credit Herzog & de Meuron
Herzog & de Meuron interiors – Villa Roccabruna Bar & Bistro, Blevio, Como, Italy
Credit Herzog & de Meuron
Herzog & de Meuron interiors – Villa Roccabruna Bar & Bistro, Blevio, Como, Italy
Credit Herzog & de Meuron
The Bistro underwent a major transformation. After reviewing archival materials, Herzog & de Meuron discovered that the original decor included tapestries depicting various landscape scenes. To honor Lake Como and restore this key feature, Herzog & de Meuron replaced the plain, overly decorative wall panels with custom embroidered wall coverings that portray the surrounding landscape.
Herzog & de Meuron interiors – Villa Roccabruna Bar & Bistro, Blevio, Como, Italy
Credit Herzog & de Meuron
Herzog & de Meuron interiors – Villa Roccabruna Bar & Bistro, Blevio, Como, Italy
Credit Herzog & de Meuron
Arriving guests are guided to the Chinese Room, where the original decor has been preserved and complemented with a smaller reception vestibule and thoughtfully chosen materials and furniture. This design subtly honors Mandarin Oriental’s heritage while ensuring a smooth guest arrival process.
Herzog & de Meuron interiors – Villa Roccabruna Bar & Bistro, Blevio, Como, Italy
Credit Herzog & de Meuron
Between the Chinese Room and Bistro sits the Grand Vestibule, previously underutilized as a circulation hall that interrupted the flow of the large lakefront interiors. The historic sequence of grand spaces along the entire lakefront façade has been reinstated through both opening up the large glazed doors between spaces and extending the parquet flooring into the Vestibule. Two bespoke glass vitrines, informed by the existing wooden framed glazed doors and windows, now separate the vestibule from the main staircase and hallway, creating informal yet intimate seating alcoves perfect for morning coffee, afternoon tea or aperitivo.
Herzog & de Meuron interiors – Villa Roccabruna Bar & Bistro, Blevio, Como, Italy
Credit Herzog & de Meuron
Working in collaboration with Venetian textile company Rubelli, Herzog & de Meuron created custom jacquard fabric panels inspired by 18th-century Lake Como landscapes by Josef Rebell. Each wall of the room faces a different cardinal direction: Como to the south, Cernobbio to the west, Torno to the north, and Blevio to the east. The narrow panels in between feature mirrors that enhance the overall effect, making guests feel surrounded by the landscape. All furniture was designed specifically for the bistro—tables, chairs, sofas, and consoles. Slightly lower than usual, referencing typical regional furniture, and made from the same wood as the large window frames, these pieces blend seamlessly into the space rather than overwhelming it.
Herzog & de Meuron interiors – Villa Roccabruna Bar & Bistro, Blevio, Como, Italy
Credit Herzog & de Meuron
All of Herzog & de Meuron’s work for the Mandarin Oriental Lago di Como is meant to strengthen and revive the original spirit of the place. Particularly at Villa Roccabruna, this consists of a collection of subtle interventions that work with the existing rather than against it.
