Seeblick: Hygge reloaded

Even a smaller redesign can create a strong project response, provided it’s well thought out. This was the case with the Appartement Hotel Seeblick, where the revamp of the seven flats in the characteristic A- frame houses adds design uniformity and fosters a more harmonious relationship with the surrounding nature.

Only a few kilometres from the Dutch border, in a privileged setting within a nature reserve, Appartement Hotel Seeblick offers nature-centric holiday experience with abundant opportunities for sports and outdoor activities. These include yoga sessions on the shores of the Dreiländersee, cycling through the nearby forests, and visits to the charming castles in Münsterland. The hotel’s architecture features a main building and, in the adjoining spacious park, four side-by-side houses with a distinctive sloping roof volume, the A-Frame.

The interiors of these houses were the subject of intervention by NOA, an architecture and interior design studio based in Berlin, Bolzano and Milan, which was tasked with giving the seven flats a common aesthetic and rethinking the spaces more effectively. Florian Marsoner, interior designer and project leader, provides insights:
“The biggest challenge was to enhance such a characteristic, enveloping, and comfortable volume without sacrificing surface area and space. Much of the furniture is custom-made, arranged to make use of the sloping walls while simultaneously preserving airiness in the rooms”.

The seven flats are distributed as follows: three 75 m2 ground-floor units, three 60 m2 maisonettes spanning the first floor and attic and a 120 m2 flat spanning all three floors of the northernmost house. Special attention was given to the colour scheme: The new palette seamlessly blends soft taupe and grey tones, creating a relaxed and restrained atmosphere that harmonises perfectly with the surrounding nature. These shades are echoed in the bathroom tiles, curtain fabrics, and Sofacompany sofas.

A touch of colour is introduced by the mustard-yellow Barrow lounge chairs by Ethnicraft, a sustainability- oriented company. Contrasting with these are the kitchen islands' new worktops in the ground floor flats, reminiscent of dark marble with light veins. The new lamps provide a touch of modern sophistication in all the flats, including the Align table lamp, the Dicte floor lamp and the Alton hanging lamps, all from Nordlux.

Custom-made furniture played a crucial role in utilizing the sloped spaces, including cabinets, a TV stand that is also a multifunctional shelf, as well as bathroom furniture. In the ground-floor apartments, an oak panelling highlights the niche where the sofa is located and conceals a new space designated for the kitchen’s service areas.
The attic of the four volumes, with its floor plan in the form of a narrow rectangle measuring 1.8 x 9.7 m and a triangular cross-section, presented one of the project's most significant challenges. Instead of relegating this space to the background, NOA transformed it into two alcoves beneath the existing windows, offering a high level of comfort. This decision was warmly welcomed by the owners, as they expressed:

“The unique architecture with its sloping roofs has always exuded a certain coziness. We aimed to enhance this distinct character within the houses, and NOA has truly created a brand-new, inviting space here. Whether for reading or as a place to sleep with a direct view over the lake, these niches are incredibly versatile”. - Lorena Kleideiter
The project succeeded in giving the apartments a new look: the first step in a hotel transformation process that the owners are undertaking with NOA. In addition to planning, the consultancy on this project extended to styling, involving the interior designer joining the clients in the Netherlands to select vases, mirrors, cushions and other decorative items. It's an approach where every detail is considered, one that NOA has always applied in its projects, and it leads to a compelling, high-quality end product.