Japan is especially worth visiting in 2025: with the Expo in Osaka the country places a strong focus on the future – with themes such as sustainability, innovation, and societal transformation. It’s a great opportunity to (re)discover Japan not just as a technological powerhouse, but as a destination rooted in deep aesthetics and mindfulness.

When we talk about eclecticism at Paragon 700, we mean a particularly rich and unique form of it. This is not just a fusion of two styles—it is much more. The boutique hotel in the heart of Ostuni is a gem where Ulrike Bauschke and interior Designer and architect Pascale Lauber have woven together stories from various eras and countless cultures. You can feel this even before stepping inside: The palazzo, with its 15 rooms and idyllic garden, the largest private garden in the White City, glows in red—a striking contrast in a city otherwise bathed almost entirely in white.

Nestled in the untouched nature of the South Tyrolean Ahrntal Valley, OLM is a hotel that impresses not only with its extraordinary architecture but also with its holistic philosophy. This energy self-sufficient aparthotel seamlessly combines sustainable luxury with a deep connection to nature.

An inner courtyard at Hotel SEPP, reminiscent of a piazza with its steps and seating areas, forms the heart of the building. It serves as a symbol of how old and new, nature and design, indoors and outdoors, tradition and modernity, as well as near and far, enrich one another. Harmony here is not created through uniformity but through the interplay of contrasts. A place of tranquility for both guests and staff.

The number five is pronounced “go” in Japanese. And we gladly accept this invitation. Where is the journey taking us? To the financial district of Tokyo, into a hundred-year-old former bank building that now houses the K5 Hotel. The interior design, crafted by Swedish architecture firm Claesson Koivisto Rune, is based on Japanese life philosophies, which often blend seamlessly with Scandinavian design principles. These five design elements reveal the underlying concepts:

It shimmers, shines and glows at the Sportresidenz Zillertal. A glow-up at the Tyrolean Lifestylehotel brings innovations, modernisation and more quality. A rapprochement with the times. A sign of reflection. A spark that ignites:

The magical effect of the full moon is hard to ignore, don’t you think? I mean, it can move the sea, cause wolves to howl, make dreams more vivid, enhance creativity and bring hidden feelings to the surface. It can also transport you to a different world, like it does at the La Valise San Miguel de Allende hotel in Mexico, where a door shaped like a full moon leads to a secret internal courtyard.

With its striking shape and imposing presence, the Matterhorn is not only the symbol of Zermatt, but also an eternal source of inspiration for architecture, design and lifestyle. The Hotel Matterhorn Focus is a perfect example of this harmonious combination of nature and modern luxury.

Seegut Zeppelin is a special place: one with history, one with unspoilt nature, one of the few with access to Lake Constance, one that elegantly combines the past and the modern, one that is treated with respect. The Seegut Zeppelin is a place whose charm reveals itself without loud words, it simply rests within itself. The Fennel family has captured the genius loci of Seegut Zeppelin and, with the help of Plösser Architekten and interior design studio Linie Zweii, has created a breathtaking retreat.

Riccardo’s Locanda al Colle in Tuscany is a Wunderkammer. The host has lovingly placed numerous furnishing treasures in his guest house, a historic farmhouse, and brought them together to create a harmonious whole. The chairs, tables and lamps come from antique markets and earlier times, from contemporary artists and old design icons, from Italy or London.

Hotel Heureka, tucked away in the picturesque Cannaregio neighbourhood of Venice, is not only a luxurious accommodation, but also an artfully designed retreat that captures the soul of the lagoon city. This boutique hotel combines historical charm with contemporary design and offers its guests a unique experience that goes far beyond that of a normal stay.

Laid-back hotel with art and design, slow food cuisine and abundant surrounding nature in the Merano region.

Even as a child, she was welcomed by the guests at her parents’ establishment with a glass of schnapps in their hands. As a born and bred “Puschtrerin” [someone from Pustertal] and with experience in hospitality, Gudrun Huber now runs the Hofergut in her South Tyrolean homeland. With a great deal of passion and enthusiasm, she looks after both her guests and the almost 1,000-year-old property. She’s like the Fairy Godmother of the building. We asked her about where the walls express their historic charm, which collector’s items are hidden here and what she takes out of the smokehouse at night, plus much more.

You can tell a lot about the ElisabethHotel from outside its two buildings: Tyrolean tradition and contemporary design are at one here. The original building with the usual gables, balconies and cut-outs greets guests with warmth, while the minimal, curved structure elegantly suggests that you move with the times. In the interior of the hotel in Mayrhofen, this symbiosis continues in all its splendour. You experience how old and new work together – “guat zsam”, as they might say in Tyrolean dialect.

Graz, Austria's second largest city, is known for its well-preserved historic city centre, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. But in addition to its historical splendour, Graz is also a centre for modern architecture and innovative design that harmoniously combines traditional elements with contemporary accents.