Forget hippie hideaways, outdoor toilets and tie-dye clad guests – today eco-hotels tend to be even more modern than their non-“green” peers. Design Hotels™ presents four member hotels offering eco-luxurious experiences at their best. Travellers are invited to head to Nordic Light Hotel, one of Stockholm’s hippest hangouts, hide out in a traffic-free alpine zone at the vigilius mountain resort in South Tyrol or escape to a private villa in the Indian Ocean at Alila Villas Uluwatu in Bali or at Alila Villas Hadahaa in the southern Maldives. No matter which they choose, guests can enjoy their holidays in guiltless bliss knowing that their ecological footprint is kept to a minimum.

Vigilius mountain resort

No roads, no traffic, no noise. Located at 1,500 metres altitude, in pure alpine air, the vigilius mountain resort in South Tyrol is only accessible by cable car and is almost invisible in its surroundings. Like a tree that has fallen in the forest, the resort combines old substance with fresh growth, generating new internal life and a commitment to renewal. Architect Matteo Thun has created an eco-luxury mountain hideaway where awareness co-exists with aesthetics, and everything revolves around nature and landscape. The principle of “organic architecture” is expressed in elements such as a grass-covered roof and the use of natural larch wood throughout. Wood is also key for the biomass heating system, which is not only clean burning but also gives local farmers a second income and ensures that the forests are cultivated. The water that flows throughout the hotel – whether for drinking or swimming – is fed from a natural spring. Clean lines and spacious ambience characterise the resort’s 35 rooms and 6 suites, each boasting spectacular mountain views. For relaxation, guests can head to the mountain spa with an indoor pool, a whirlpool which extends into the open air, a sauna, steam room and the “Paradise Garden.” vigilius mountain resort has received several awards for its green architecture and was Italy’s first hotel to be classified “Climate House, category A”.
www.designhotels.com/vigilius

Nordic Light Hotel

The Nordic Light Hotel in Stockholm proves that it is possible to be an urban design hotel and an eco-labelled one at the same time. It was created with the guiding principle that thoughtful design can minimise the ecological footprint on the environment and even contribute towards improving it. In 2007, the hotel was awarded the official Nordic Ecolabel, otherwise known as “The Swan”. To receive this label, a hotel must meet numerous requirements – such as reducing the hotel’s energy consumption and using renewable energy sources.

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