Studio noa* redesigned the historic family hotel in the Pustertal valley. They built a new wave deck that sticks out of the landscape, making it a place for sports and entertainment. You can ski, skate, or walk in the middle of the Alpine nature here!
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From the architect: A hotel needs to be renovated, but it doesn't have to lose its identity. It can be redesigned to make it look nicer, more sustainable, and with better services. This is what the studio noa* did with the Falkensteiner Family Resort Lido in Casteldarne.
The Falkensteiner family opened the first hotel in their family back in 1957. In recent years, they've opened more than 30 other hotels across six different countries. The Falkensteiner family resort is meant for families with children, and they've made a lot of changes to make it more kid-friendly. One of the big changes was adding new spaces and functions that would make the resort more like a playground for the little guests. They also got help from the beautiful surroundings of the Alps to make it look like a part of the environment.
Noa* came up with a new idea for the hotel complex. They replaced the traditional gable roof with a large wave structure that covers new and existing buildings. The wave structure slopes down on both sides until it disappears into the ground. This creates a hill that blends in with the landscape and can be used for a lot of different things, like a ski slope, skating rink, playground, adventure park, and leisure and recreation area.
“We wanted to merge the old and new so that they would all work together as a whole.,” explains architect Andreas Profanter. “The new roof allowed us to connect the various buildings in the complex and link them with the surrounding nature. This has allowed us to create new spaces, such as the ski slope, which provide more opportunities for families to enjoy themselves.”
PLAYING ON THE ROOF
Noa's roof is really long and covers a lot of space. It's made out of concrete and steel beams, and it has shiny metal shingles on it. It looks really cool and makes the building look like it's floating.
The rooftop park has a loop trail where guests can enjoy a walk. One of the slopes is for skiing, and is especially good for children. There's also a skating rink on the other side of the deck. There's a fitness area, a car track, and an adventure park under the slide. There's a field for football, basketball, and other activities on the other side of the pool.
The recreational spaces are surrounded by green areas that connect to the forests in the valley. “We took nature up to the roof to show it off.” Andreas Profanter remarks. “The idea was to make sure the building and the landscape were related more closely, without taking away any more land. This would create added value and a new way of thinking about sustainability.”.
A NEW AESTHETIC
“We wanted to change the look of the old building too.,” adds architect Wolfgang Heinz. “We made sure that all of the different parts of the resort were combined into one place by building walls around them. We also worked on the outside of the buildings to make them look like they belong together.”
To add interest and variety to your walls, you can choose one or more colors for the walls, or you can use geometric patterns in natural wood to give the room a more organic feel.
The resort's relationship to the small lake it overlooks has been redesigned. There is now an artificial hill along one bank, under which the adults' spa is located. A large new terrace opens out onto the lakefront and the partially covered swimming pool which overflows onto the water mirror, giving guests the sensation of being immersed in nature.
NATURE AND PLAY FOR THE INTERIOR
The noa* team has designed the interior of the resort, both new and existing parts. Some of the new features include a new style and expansion of some of the existing parts.
“The design of the resort's interior was based on two goals: creating a fun and friendly environment for kids, and paying homage to the natural environment around it.” clarifies interior designer Barbara Runggatscher.
The restaurant has been divided into three levels so that everyone can enjoy a great view of the lake. There's a terrace and a play area for children on the first level, and a second level with more tables and chairs offers a great view of the lake and the surrounding area. “The décor changes on each level, with different designs featured in the innermost area, middle area, and near the terrace. Some of the design features include forest-inspired motifs, lily pads, and reeds.,” explains the designer.
In the new buffet area, there is a lively market atmosphere, with different shaped stations in the form of small houses or wooden trolleys on wheels. These stations have different heights, so children can easily access them, and there's a lot of visibility of the kitchen areas and the food being prepared.
The entrance and reception area of the hotel have been redesigned. The new design features round shapes, bright colors, and decorations that reference the flora and fauna of the forest. There is also a space for parents with swings and a merry-go-round.
A NEST IN THE ROOM
The noa* project added 36 new rooms to the existing 82. These rooms have features that make them special for families, like spaces that are separated by a sliding partition, and bathrooms with washbasins at different heights.
“The children's area features three beds, one of which is a nest-bed that is inspired by a falcon. Even when it's not in use, the bed is always a place for the little ones to play and have fun.,” concludes interior designer Caterina Betti.
Architect: noa*
Client: Falkensteiner Hotels & Residences
Location: Ehrenburg/Casteldarne, Pustertal Valley, South Tyrol
Year: 2021
Gross project area: 6,000 sqm
Photography: Alex Filz
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