Reviving History: Boutique Hotel Belvenu

Gunther Fritz's Award-Winning Restructuration of a Historic Hotel

The inspiration for this project was drawn from the building itself. The centuries-old structures and stonework were to remain the main protagonists even after the restructuration. Fritz aimed to equip the building with state-of-the-art interiors and comfort for guests, while also ensuring that the historic urban environment, with its old houses, alleys, and squares, influenced the final design. The restructured hotel has revalued the entire city square and its surroundings.

What sets this design apart is its location in the heart of Glurns' medieval city square. The challenge was to create a contemporary and honest architecture that would continue to tell the history of the city. The interiors, with their modest decor and reserved decorations, are designed to speak for themselves. Photomotives on the decorative films of some glass walls add individual notes to the design.

The realization of this design involved a harmonious interaction of fewer natural materials, textures, and colors. The building, with a cubage of about 3,500 m3 and a usable surface of nearly 900 m2, was transformed into a "smart house" equipped with the latest in-house technology. This juxtaposition of the latest technology with the century-old building fabric creates a delightful contrast.

The project began in the summer of 2015 and was completed in the spring of 2017. The design process involved examining and respecting the old building and researching similar projects. The challenge was to manifest a contemporary and honest straightforward architecture that would continue to tell the history of the city.

Gunther Fritz's Boutique Hotel Belvenu is a testament to his innovative approach to design and his ability to harmonize the old with the new. The project, which has been recognized with the prestigious Silver A' Architecture, Building and Structure Design Award in 2018, stands as a historic solitaire in the heart of Glurns' medieval city square.