Quiet Luxury With Lake View
This hideaway La Darbia Hotel on Lake Orta has become Piedmont's best kept secret for the connoisseurs of good taste and distinctively designed hospitality. Architect brothers Gian Carlo and Matteo Primatesta have ventured into unknown territory by transforming an abandoned rural settlement on Piedmont’s Lake Orta into a sophisticated holiday hideaway that reflects quiet luxury and Italian Dolce vita at its finest.
While the tourist crowds in Northern Italy flock to Lake Maggiore, and spotlights shine on glamorous Lake Como, Lake Orta remains a relatively unknown treasure to most of the world. On its eastern shore – just above the historical centre of Orta San Giulio – the elegant hamlet La Darbia is quietly tucked away, surrounded by a lush, Mediterranean park designed by landscape architect Anna Regge, as well as lovingly cultivated Nebbiolo-vineyards. With a breathtaking view of the shimmering lake and peaks of Monte Rosa, the holiday hideaway redefines the connotation of luxury with soulful aesthetics and a truly empathetic hospitality.
Becoming hoteliers was a whole new experience for the founders of Studioprimatesta, but it turned out that this was exactly what makes “La Darbia” the place to be for connoisseurs in search of beauty in design and depth in detail.
La Darbia’s restaurant, “La Cucina”, and the idyllic terrace and cocktail bar amidst the organic vegetable garden have become a jealously kept secret for discerned epicureans - from Milan to Hamburg, from New York to Helsinki. Chef Matteo Monfrinotti shares the property's connection to the region and emphasizes the culinary identity of Piedmont. Regional ingredients, genuine dishes, gourmet level - that's what "La Cucina" is all about.
The 20 suite-apartments, as well as the restaurant, emanate an understated elegance that does not need the loud notes to impress. “Sobrio”, as the Italians would say. Simple, and therefore intriguing. The architecture of La Darbia reflects the simple, formal language of Piemont’s rural buildings and integrates local materials, Mediterranean vegetation, and unadorned handicrafts. The essence of this stretch of land, its cultural history and rural typologies became the project’s architectural and conceptual leitmotif.
The chromatic concept of the interiors picks up on the nuanced color palette of nature. Introverted towards the forest and overgrown with ivy, all the 20 apartments open onto the garden, with vineyards and a heated saltwater pool. On the sundeck, you can enjoy a yoga session while your gaze wanders all the way to the lake and surrounding mountains.
About Studioprimatesta
Since the foundation of Studioprimatesta on the shores of Lake Orta in 1995, brothers Gian Carlo and Matteo Primatesta, together with a well-matched interdisciplinary team of collaborators, have consolidated broad project expertise working with Italian and international clients. The studio’s portfolio comprises historic wine cellars and wineries, accommodation facilities, private homes, offices, and industrial spaces. The wide range of projects is, however, based on one clear concept: an architectural approach that is not intellectual, but rather emotional. The context, history, and spirit of the place determine the planning process, while the architecture remains modest and allows a building’s function and atmosphere to prevail. This gives rise to timeless buildings and spaces that elude architectural fashions. The mutual interaction between architecture and nature has become a constant feature of the studio’s projects, often in collaboration with landscape architect Anna Regge. The versatile repertoire is the fruit of a team distinguished by a broad spectrum of skills.