Dublino by Varrodesign

Before Opening: Iconic Art Nouveau Monument Overlooking Lake Como Renovated by Zoltán Varró

After several years of renovation, one of Italy’s iconic luxury locations—a historic Art Nouveau monument overlooking Lake Como, formerly known as the Grand Hotel Milano—is set to reopen. The historic building will be reborn as Nuvole Garden, realized through the vision of Hungarian designer Zoltán Varró. The 80-room luxury hotel not only combines breathtaking scenery with architectural heritage but also sets a new standard in design, featuring bespoke furniture created through the collaboration of Varró and the Dublino furniture brand. The furniture collection designed for Nuvole Garden was first presented at the Hungarian State Opera House.

Originally named Grand Hotel Milano, the building was designed in 1910–11 by Italian architect Achille Manfredini and opened by legendary Venetian hotelier Luigi Nardi. Between the two World Wars, the hotel and its casino became a destination for Milan’s wealthy elite. During the 1940s and 1950s, it also attracted the film industry, welcoming guests such as Anna Magnani, Gregory Peck, and Vittorio De Sica. Later, after renowned Indian guru Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, associated with The Beatles, visited the property, the hotel became a spiritual retreat. By the turn of the century, however, the building had fallen into neglect until engineer-entrepreneur Emilio Polillo was captivated by its unique location, perched 700 meters above Lake Como at the top of the funicular railway. Polillo enlisted Zoltán Varró to create an entirely new concept and operational model. The interior designer meticulously planned the 80 rooms and suites, a spa, three restaurants—including a rooftop fine-dining venue—and a cocktail bar.

For the hotel interiors, Varró designed unique furniture pieces produced in collaboration with Dublino, a leading distributor of commercial design furniture. This partnership resulted in the Dublino by Varrodesign series, which combines timeless elegance with contemporary sophistication. The collection includes armchairs, dining chairs, bar stools, coffee tables, dining tables, and accessory elements, along with an innovative sofa concept—the Esteban Lounge Sofa. This piece integrates dual functionality: one side is designed for relaxation, the other for social interaction. The Esteban Lounge Sofa is customizable with modular elements and available in various sizes for both commercial and private use.

Textiles for the furniture come from the Attitude collection, created in collaboration with Varrodesign and JAB Anstoetz, evoking the centuries-old splendor of Lake Como, the surrounding hills, peacocks symbolizing prosperity, and the villas and gardens characteristic of the region. Some pieces also draw inspiration from Varró’s travels, including the corals of Zanzibar and the cherry blossoms of Japan.

The “premiere” presentation of the Como furniture and textiles took place at the Hungarian State Opera House. The international audience will see the pieces in their intended context at Nuvole Garden Hotel, where the boundary between indoors and outdoors blurs: inside, the ambiance of gardens will be present, while the hotel garden will reflect the interiors of Como villas.

Zoltán Varró, founder of Varrodesign, is a multiple award-winning, internationally recognized interior designer with projects from London to Koh Samui. He has designed over eighteen hotels in recent years and received the Gold Key Award (New York), World Luxury Hotel Award (Hong Kong), and Boutique Hotel Award (London). One of his milestone projects, the Aria Hotel Budapest, was named the best hotel in the world by the TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Award. He is currently working on Colombia’s first luxury hotel, the Sofitel Legend Santa Clara, located in a monastery founded in 1621.

Founded by entrepreneur Zoltán Majoros, Dublino has become a leading player in commercial furniture manufacturing and distribution over the past two decades. The company now operates showrooms in five European cities and executes projects across most European countries, including pieces from the Dublino by Varrodesign collection. In 2025, Dublino plans to open two new showrooms in Dubai and Munich.

Dublino by Varrodesign

Varrodesign

• Nóra Vásony – nora@zerocomagency.com, +36 30 550 3192
• Gergely Jakab – gergo@zerocomagency.com, +36 30 376 0800
• Jakab Gergely gergo@zerocomagency.com, +36 30 376 0800