Architecture of a lyrical abstraction
Falkensteiner Hotel Park Punat
As part of the revitalization of an outdated hotel inventory, we developed a four-star family resort that incorporates geographical and historical references as 'lyrical abstractions' into the architecture. Thus, in the restaurant, olive trees displayed in glass cubes grow, while an organically shaped pergola winds 'lightly' through the green park.
The design journey to a four-star hotel
Following our success in a competition, we were commissioned to refurbish and revitalize the rundown Falkensteiner Hotel Park Punat and its extensive grounds on the Croatian island of Krk. Besides the complete upgrading of the hotel, another of our tasks was to add a modern restaurant. Inspired by the history and the impressive natural setting we regarded the project as a sort of mirror of this gentle Mediterranean atmosphere. Hence, abstracted historical and geographical references flow together in the architecture, communicating a constant interaction between the building and its location. Thanks to BIM, we were able to implement the design in just six intense months on site.
Our aim was to use the architecture to frame and, in doing so, to reinforce the wonderful qualities offered by the nature and the landscape of the hotel setting.
Dario Travaš
Partner and Managing Director in Zagreb
Olive trees “served” in glass cubes
The transparent new restaurant demonstrates our approach with exceptional clarity: The graphic structure of the vertical brise-soleils lends the white volume a particularly striking character. These recall the historic changing cubicles of the region’s bathing establishments and offer maximum solar protection without blocking the view of the Riviera. At the same time, the local nature is brought into the space: Glass cubes, in which olive trees are growing and on display, draw the daylight deep into the restaurant, while also reflecting the blue of the surroundings like a kaleidoscope. On the ceiling, an artistic installation made out of twisted rope intensifies the natural impression.
The surrounding environment, which is structured by stone walls and a barren landscape, is expressed architecturally in the cladding of the entrance stair: a further lyrical abstraction that takes the form of a decorative, graphic aluminum grille.
Dario Travaš
Partner and Managing Director in Zagreb
A pergola as a constructional challenge
In order to meet the demands of the use of the hotel in summer, we paid close attention to the external spaces. Alongside the pool area and the waterslide, the organically shaped pergola is a further highlight: This provides a connection between the main building and its annexes that is protected from the sun and the rain, meandering through the hotel park like an architectural extension of the dreamy setting. With only 14 cm, its reinforced concrete slab is particularly thin. The loadbearing system is fixed into individual footings that are connected by a further slab. This provided a true structural engineering challenge that could be mastered with the help of the BIM model.
