In the heart of eternal Italy you will find the Forestale Furlo Ecolodge, conceived by Eric Merlin as a true paradise of peace and tranquility. Adorned with Kebony wood, this unusual site melts beautifully into its natural environment.

In the heart of Furlo Pass (Riserva Naturale Statale Gola del Furlo) in Acqualagna, capital of the white truffle, you will find a new Ecolodge: The Forestale Furlo. Built on a the foundation of a former forest service station, the Ecolodge was designed as a model of ecological renovation. This exceptional site includes five different rooms with luxurious amenities: ultra-modern refined design, high-quality and sustainable materials, a large living area, bay windows with splendid views, marble and even a private terrace. Eric Merlin, the founder of the site, also made choices with regard to lifestyle. “Here, there are no televisions in the rooms, no air conditioning, it’s like Pierre Rabhi’s book, La Sobriété Heureuse[The Power of Restraint], which guided the project”, he explains.

“We come to enjoy immersion in an uncontaminated, wild natural environment, where biodiversity is exceptional. Above all, La Forestale is not a hotel: Don Merlino welcomes guests to his home, in a B&B-style concept based on fundamental human and personal connection”, he continues. The promise of La Forestale is based on a design/gastronomy/ecology tryptych. All around the Ecolodge you will find various activities connected to nature and the natural reserve: trekking, mountain biking, canyoneering, birdwatching, etc. The pristine, cool rivers of the neighbouring foothills invite you to take a dip. Acqualagna is the capital of the truffle, which can be found all year round just like mushrooms. “The Furlo is a village of gastronomy: it is home to no fewer than 6 restaurants for 50 inhabitants, two of which specialize in the truffle”, adds Eric Merlin. Finally, the surroundings offer broad and enriching cultural experiences, with numerous historical centres and all the charms of Italy. “We are less than half an hour from the Adriatic Sea and its delightful seaside resorts.”

Eric Merlin chose Kebony wood to adorn this heavenly site: “I chose it for its incomparable qualities that defy all competition (to my knowledge) in terms of resistance, toughness and longevity; all confirmed by a 30-year guarantee, the only one of its kind on the market, and by the fact that it requires no maintenance. I have a great deal of respect for ‘involved’ businesses like Kebony. We share the same values concerning CSR and sustainable development. “, he explains.

Developed in Norway, the revolutionary Kebony technology is an environmentally friendly process that modifies softwood from sustainable sources by heating the wood with furfuryl alcohol, which is derived from agricultural crop waste. Through polymerisation the wood cell wall, the softwood permanently acquires the characteristics of tropical hardwood, including high durability, hardness and dimensional stability. This process not only significantly improves the physical properties of the wood, but also contributes to its unique appearance, which comes from the silver-grey patina that develops over time.

3D simulations of this silver patina have been produced in order to visualise its evolution from brown to grey. This guarantees an aesthetic continuity, especially with regard to the colour of the aluminium used for the windows. The wood itself allows the Ecolodge to melt serenely into the beauty of the surrounding landscape.