PASSION PURSUITS
How Elia Frapolli is Revitalizing
Switzerland’s Gambarogno Riviera
By Lisa Kadane
The Scene
From the deck of a tiny house suite in Piazzogna, guests enjoy what might be the best view in Ticino, Switzerland. In this sun-drenched, Italian-speaking canton, the blue expanse of Lake Maggiore beckons below, and behind it rises the green-robed slopes of the Southern Alps.
Perched on a wooded hillside, Habitat is a new boutique retreat that connects visitors with the environment through thoughtful design. The brainchild of Elia Frapolli, the self-contained suites are stylish, minimalist and functional, featuring king beds, sitting areas, kitchenettes, outdoor hot tubs and lake-facing walls that dissolve the boundary between indoors and out.
“The idea is for guests to reconnect with nature,” says Frapolli, who grew up in the region. “To go to a place that is beautiful, but not where the masses are.”
The Backstory
During the pandemic, Frapolli noticed more travellers searching for quieter, nature-focused destinations. He saw an opportunity along the Gambarogno Riviera, a stretch of sleepy villages lining Lake Maggiore’s southeastern shore.
Less developed than neighbouring Locarno and Ascona, Gambarogno feels lost in time. Narrow cobbled lanes weave between stone houses and steepled churches that toll the hour.
Frapolli wanted to draw travellers seeking that quiet pace, and looking to immerse in nature on trails that lead to secluded beaches, a botanical garden, and up to Mt. Gambarogno, the region’s namesake. The idea for Habitat was born.
“I built it so people could come here and take a break,” he says.
Hits
Frapolli also designed Habitat with sustainability at its core. Each tiny-house module is elevated above ground, minimizing its footprint, and can be removed should the land ever need to be restored. The property is energy-independent, powered by solar panels that generate enough electricity to meet its needs in summer. The excess returns to the grid during winter.
Water is sourced from the surrounding mountains. The wood on the modules’ exteriors is from forests that are replanted after harvesting. Guests won’t find plastic or packaging, either. Drinking water is placed in a glass carafe, and breakfast—a delightful mix of local cheeses and charcuterie, muesli and fruits—is delivered inside reusable containers that come in a cloth bag hung outside the door each morning.
Frapolli has also fostered agritourism partnerships with nearby makers: an on-site store sells local cheese, pasta and wine, plus pottery made from Gambarogno clay.
The Takeaway
Habitat blends harmoniously with the environment and encourages guests to consume regional food and drink, and explore the surrounding landscape on foot for a grounding, local experience. “I’m convinced that in the future people will be looking for nature, and authenticity,” says Frapolli.
Must Do
Hike Mt. Gambarogno for spectacular 360-degree views and then continue to the ancient village of Indemini near the Italian border.
Travel Planner
Book a stay at Habitat, habitatlagomaggiore.ch/en. Frapolli and his family live on-site and happily offer activity suggestions, or visit Ticino Tourism, ticino.ch/en.
