Alpine Refuge
Crown Resort Montafon, Gaschurn
1st prize in an invited competition: We designed a tasteful hotel complex for the “Edelweißareal” that respects the location while offering a unique visitor experience at the heart of the mountainous setting.
Tradition as inspiration
Plans were drawn up to build a four-star resort on the Silvretta high Alpine toll road between Gaschurn and Partenen in Montafon in Vorarlberg. Our prizewinning design addresses the demands of the organizers: the combination of functionality and aesthetic, a sensitive integration into the village, and a sustainable and efficient operation. The modern interior design mixes local tradition with international trends with the aim of offering visitors a special and yet authentic hotel experience.
Materiality and scale
The physical setting of the complex creates a landmark that can be seen from afar while mediating between the typical village structure, the valley, and the toll road. The presence of the hotel and its sensitive approach to the topography shape the structure and organization of the design. The proposed resort is a contemporary reinterpretation of traditional building methods that also takes into account the hotel typology and its functional conditions: The complex consists of two largely timber cubes that sit on bases clad with local stone. The sloping site is optimally used to clearly structure and functionally organize both the internal and the public areas.
Regionality and sustainability
In order to significantly reduce primary energy consumption, our concept focuses on the use of highly-insulated timber facades, local materials, exhaust heat, renewable energies, and heat storage.
The 130 rooms are located in a large, central volume, which is structured by an internal atrium. The timber facade and narrow balconies shape the external appearance. The entrance level includes a lobby, reception, bars, and restaurants, while functional spaces such as the delivery zone and kitchen are integrated into the slope on the site. The wellness area cantilevers forward, creating a protected, sun-filled internal courtyard. The concept also incorporates a street-front sports shop and an underground garage.
“The project is convincing in terms of its physical setting due to the excellent integration of the volume into the slope and the resulting minimal change to the terrain. It derives its internal character from the generous gesture of the six-story atrium, the resulting quality of the lighting in the lobby, and the experience enjoyed by the guest as they reach their room.” Excerpt from the jury evaluation.
