architecture as Part of the landscape

noa* network of architecture, a practice based in Bolzano, was responsible for the architectural and interior design of two structures at the foot of the Sciliar, in Italy’s South Tyrol region: small houses on pilotis with new suites for a hotel in Siusi, and a hotel embedded into the ground, accessed via a traditional old barn at Fiè. In both cases, the starting point was a pre-existing structure expanded by the practice through the addition of new spaces that are deeply-integrated into the natural Dolomite setting.

Parc Hotel Florian in Siusi allo Sciliar, a hamlet of Castelrotto, nestles against a backdrop of lush greenery and centuries-old trees, with a pond and an outdoor pool. The idea behind the design was to raise a building with 10 new rooms up and off the ground to avoid breaking up the meadow, while at the same time occupying the smallest possible area. The result is Floris Green Suites, perched on pilotis 3 m above ground, redolent of a cluster of tree houses with ample windows looking out over the hotel’s gardens. Connected via a linking corridor, the bedroom modules spread over two floors, with five units on each level. Because they are offset and overlapping, the wooden façades create a natural and spontaneous composition. Inside, spatial fusion was preferred over a classic division between living and sleeping areas. This is at its most visible in the freestanding washbasin cabinet with mirror, which can be converted into a small desk. The central living area culminates in a balcony that offers views out over the mountain landscape; a private Finnish sauna is located to the rear. Access to the outdoor patio tub is available from all areas of the suite.

Hotel Gfell and its “Schönblick” restaurant at Fiè allo Sciliar benefit from a position at the top of a slope with unspoiled views out over meadows and forests. To mitigate the new building’s impact, it was decided to embed the new structure into the hillside, providing access via an old barn right next to the restaurant. After meticulous restoration, the building’s exterior retains its original appearance; the interior, on the other hand, was completely transformed to accommodate the hotel’s reception, a lounge, and breakfast room, all within a single open space. In a long, unbroken line under a large wooden truss recovered from local building traditions, light flows into the bedrooms through wide, valley-facing windows. Additional elements recreate a South Tyrolean farmhouse atmosphere, notably the column fireplace that serves as a visual focus for the functional spaces arranged around it, and that extend outside onto a panoramic terrace. The hotel spans two basement levels that hug the terrain’s natural slope. In addition to its 17 new bedrooms, the hotel offers a wellness area with a sauna and relaxation zone. The bedroom floors are in rustic oak parquet; wood in light, natural colors predominates throughout the
made-to-measure furniture. Overlooking pastureland and mountains, each room’s fully-glazed elevation is complemented by a terrace.

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Contract 003

The third issue of our special dedicated to contract furnishing and design features projects with lots of green spaces and a focus on the wellbeing of users. Projects, in other words, that respond to a new awareness that emerged during the pandemic. ... Read More

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