Hubertus Hotel: A Blend of Innovation and Nature

Elisabeth Mitterer, Lukas Rungger and Andreas Profanter Redefine Hotel Design with the Hubertus Project

The Hubertus Hotel, located in Valdaora, Italy, is a testament to the power of innovative design and architectural brilliance. The project, which started in October 2015 and was completed in May 2016, involved a comprehensive renovation and expansion of the existing establishment. The hotel was enhanced with 16 new suites, a new kitchen with restaurants, an entrance area with a lobby, a wine cellar, and a fitness and relaxation room with panoramic terraces.

The defining feature of the hotel is the 25-meter long cantilevering pool that connects the old and new sections of the hotel. This pool, which floats 12 meters above the ground, gives swimmers the sensation of floating between heaven and earth. This feeling is further enhanced by the glass front and a glazed window at the bottom of the pool, creating a unique swimming experience.

The design team, led by Elisabeth Mitterer, Lukas Rungger and Andreas Profanter, drew inspiration from the natural landscape. The debarked larch trunks used as multifunctional facade elements create a visual link between the existing and new buildings. The fluid shape of the new design follows the topography of the landscape, with its slopes and steep contour lines. The result is a homogeneous appearance that serves as a theatrical base for the design of the new pool.

The use of technology in realizing this design is evident in the use of narrow double wooden pillars of larch tree trunks, which serve as a unifying envelope for the project. The new perforated, powder-coated metal balustrades replace the old wooden ones, fixed in a fluid curvy manner. Their earthy tones and perforation allow access to the view while enhancing the feeling of privacy. This color scheme is used throughout the facade, creating a homogeneous building envelope.

The project faced several challenges, but the conversion and expansion of the Hotel Hubertus is a perfect example of the understanding between the client and the architect. The client's decades of experience in guest accommodation and the architects' search for something special for one of the flagship hotels in the Puster Valley resulted in a design that is both innovative and respectful of the natural landscape.

The Hubertus Hotel design was awarded the Platinum A' Hospitality, Recreation, Travel and Tourism Design Award in 2017. This prestigious award recognizes world-class, exceptional, and highly innovative designs that showcase unmatched professionalism, contribute to societal wellbeing, and advance the boundaries of art, science, design, and technology.