MOHRLIFE // NOA* NETWORK OF ARCHITECTURE

LERMOOS, AUSTRIA 2018

Morlife resort’s architects refer to it as a theatrical spa. Noa* network of architecture, describe their innovative approach to a traditional spa concept as “a wellness area devised as a theatre with numerous different interpretations of the available space.” The site at the heart of the Tirol mountains in Austria is pure and powerful. The mountainous landscape was a great source of inspiration and at the same time a challenge – the architecture was to harmonise with the environment, in a common dialogue. The spa, built as a development of the historic hotel, is made of an elegant combination of cement and glass. The purely geometric volume of the resort sits on a gentle slope below the main hotel building. “The structure extends horizontally to create an artificial rib, mirrored by the dry stone walls running along its side,” note the architects.

The height differences in the sloping terrain were used to create an outdoor poor, also contoured by sharp lines and concrete elements. To benefit from striking views of the valley, old farmhouses, and mountain tops, the two-storey building is defined by a regular grid of cubic elements where large glazed walls are outlined by solid yet delicate frames. This harmonious integration of both materials gives the architecture a contemporary touch. “The two materials are perfectly combined even chromatically, without ever melding into one another, thanks to the use of different textures,” suggest the architects. While the purity of straight lines and sharp edges starkly contrasts with the lush nature surrounding the spa, the proportions of the building as well as the execution make them both co-exist harmoniously. Transparency is the light motif of the spa, as the spacious and well-lit interiors become a scenic extension of the mountainous landscape.

A structural grid also defines the interiors, introducing a clear spatial arrangement. It functions as a frame but without obstructing the views.

OPPOSITE: Large windows with a mirror effect are yet another way to make the building disappear. The mountain range reflected on the façade, as well as on the surface of the pool, reduces the impact of the geometrical structure.