Fink

Monastic purity and future-proofed architecture meet a townhouse with a story – and owners Petra and Florian of nine-suite hotel ‘fink’ in Bressanone are here to tell it.

In a heritage fusion of aesthetic restraint, the aged inn dates back to 1450 and we are privy to its past in all its whispered glory. Once a post office, coffeehouse and coppersmith, the townhouse has experienced chameleon-like change in its storied history.

Its restoration, however, spearheaded by ASAGGIO architects in Brixen has been achieved with a slight, subtle hand, so harmoniously performed that the historic frescoes, rounded arches and old wooden doors sit happily within the modern remit of lime-washed walls, minimalist décor and muffled colour language. Care and quality throughout fink and its nine suites indicate this restoration den is made to last, fitting right into the vernacular of Brixen town life.

Described as ‘arcade architecture’, the authentic vaulted bones of the building are celebrated, with stylistic touchpoints highlighted within fink’s trammelled modernity and puritan vision. It’s no surprise that owners Petra and Florian believe the house served monastic purposes in its former life, indicated by the unusual use of frescoes, now brought back to life in the suites.

Today, fink stands as a sanctum of resolute calm and austere beauty, remodelled for those that appreciate thoughtful design in their chambers of style.

An underground vaulted spa completes the picture, where Roman bathing rituals are performed around the hot and cool pools, sauna and steam. Like the rest of fink, there are no embellishments needed here. And you feel all the better for it.

As is the way with old, lovingly crooked buildings, the nine suites come in all shapes and sizes. What unites them is a clean aesthetic where the old stone walls, bay windows and heritage wooden doors become the perfect template for modern accoutrements.

Simplicity reigns in stylish indicators from the in-house designed lamps and fittings for each suite to the sweep of wooden flooring and the shower, found under a vaulted arch. Colour comes only from the original oriels and frescoes, thought to have been sacred inspiration for monks who lived here. Thankfully fink’s suites are a far cry from monastic discipline and instead feel luxuriously cosy.

Farmers and foodie producers around Brixen are on speed dial to supply fink with the fresh ingredients restaurant ‘Losterkuche’ needs to create dishes simply cooked but big on flavour. Vegetables, legumes, rich soups, root vegetable stews and potato dishes form the mainstay, alongside health-benefiting herbs and seeds, creating largely plant-forward and vegan menus.

A beautifully atmospheric location, the restaurant resides within the vaulted arches of the hotel, which conveniently takes you past a selection of South Tyrolean wines which you can contemplate tasting with your meal.  With the environment always in mind, the restaurant’s menus are made from apple leather, tablecloths from linen, meat sourced locally and of good quality plus a refill system that reduces waste, garnering an Earth Check certification for fink’s Losterkuche.

Although located deep underground, the hotel’s spa zone is the cherry on the cake of fink’s accomplishments. The Thermae is a modern designed wellness space which takes inspiration from the rituals of Roman bathing. Artfully placed skylights create pools of light that hover over warm bodies of water while silence envelopes the interior spaces and vaulted corners where the sauna, steam, oil pool and relaxation library are found. Extending into the inner courtyard, this delicious underground retreat, dotted by indoor greenery is a tranquil place to find the new you.

Located in the heart of characterful 1,000-year-old town Brixen, fink is at home within the clasp of the Dolomiti UNESCO World Heritage Site. The hotel sits within the peaceful, car-free ‘Lauben’ or Blue Alley. Centrally placed means guests can easily explore on foot whether that’s local shops and cafes or Brixen’s beautiful cathedral. Further afield, take the year-round cable car into the Plose Mountains – the location of the St.Andrä ski area.

This northern Italian town, Brixen is found in Trentino Alto Adige, accessed by Bolzano, Innsbruck, or a little further afield, Verona, although pickups from Brixen railway station are also frequent.