Hospitality Design - June/July 2021 - 100

the curators
couple a love of craſt that continues to shape
their worldview and the philosophy behind
Vik Retreats, the private retreat company
they founded in 2004 with South American
hospitality veteran Maximiliano Broquen.
It was in the early aughts that Alex and
A half-moon window in the Galleria
Vik Milano looks out onto the
historic Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
Carrie fell in love with Uruguay (Alex's
mother was Uruguayan, but he had never
been and he wanted to introduce his fi rst
child to his own grandmother, who still lived
there). They owned a beach house there when
they went looking for a ranch to embody the
idyllic sett ing they had come to admire. They
found 4,000 acres on a lagoon off the ocean
that is now Estancia Vik in José Ignacio on
Uruguay's southern coast. " We had so many
ideas about art, architecture, design, and
nature, " Alex explains. " We decided to make it
much bigger and share it with the world. " Built
in a Spanish colonial style from Uruguayan
architect Marcelo Daglio, the design pays
homage to the local vernacular with tin rustcolored
roofs and white walls and features
work exclusively by Uruguayan artists.
Soon aſt er, Bahia Vik (another Daglio
The entrance to the Shape of
Women bungalow, one of the
themed lodgings at Puro Vik
A fireplace is the centerpiece of
the Casa Mar suite at Playa Vik
Curated by Italian artist Mario Schifano,
room 208 in the Galleria Vik Milano is
swathed in a cool blue palette
partnership) and Playa Vik (a collaboration
with renowned Uruguayan architect Carlos
Ott , it features a central sculptural building
that cantilevers at various degrees) joined the
roster. Now with six hotels, their ambitions
have evolved. Consider Vik Chile, helmed
by Daglio and architect Smiljan Radić, who
handled the winery. Set on 11,000 acres
of land, the hotel boasts an undulating
titanium roof that references the surrounding
mountains, while its glass-clad exterior off ers
360-degree views of the landscape. Inside, the
Viks collaborated with 40 artists to bring their
vision to life. " It was extremely inspirational
to work with all these artists, " says Carrie.
" These projects feed our passion. "
Taking that idea one step further, the 89key
Galleria Vik Milano Italy, the fi rst Vik
property outside of South America, features
works from more than 100 artists, including
a piece on the fi ſt h fl oor from various artists
done in nail polish and hairspray, which can
only be seen under a black light that turns on
as guests approach the area.
Beyond art, the common thread that unites
each property is their holistic approach. " We're
pushing the envelope, " Carrie points out.
" When you stay in a Vik Retreat, it's about the
human experience, but it's also the physical
experience of being there and exploring. "
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Hospitality Design - June/July 2021

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