HOSPITALITY EXPERIENCE & DESIGN
BIRCH – CHESHUNT • LIRAN WIZMAN • LA RÉSERVE EDEN AU LAC – ZURICH
THE LOBBY
© Alex Filz
Italian Pastoral
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As part of an ongoing expansion of South
The entrance to the spa is through a portal
Tyrol’s Apfelhotel Torgglerhof, noa* (Network
made from reclaimed timber, set within a curved,
of Architecture) has been working to bring the
semi-exposed concrete shell that tucks into the
rural spa hotel in line with the vision of its new
contours of the land. Inside, a central drinking
generation of owners.
fountain made from natural stone sits alongside
Having won a competition to design a multi-
a spacious lounge with open fireplace, as well as
stage expansion to the existing structure in
beauty and massage therapy rooms. An indoor-
2014, noa* has since overseen alterations to
outdoor infinity pool also passes through the
the project’s main building, as well as the
green façade, the connecting transition framed
establishment of a restaurant within an exterior
with Lucerne metamorphic gneiss rock.
shed and a series of 18 new guestrooms. Now
An adults-only area on the upper floor,
the studio has revealed its latest creation – a
meanwhile, features a Finnish sauna and
dedicated wellness facility designed to harmonise
cave-like steam bath, as well as a terrace with
with the surrounding landscape.
an outdoor shower. Characterised by curved
Billed as the new centrepiece to the resort,
wooden slats with large windows looking over
the building housing the spa has no north face;
the apple fields from which the hotel takes its
instead it seamlessly blends into a natural green
name, the upper floor also offers direct access
slope so that it is barely visible. To the southside,
to the Apfelsauna – an apple-shaped chamber
a glass and steel façade sits beneath a canopy
with a curving open staircase leading down to
draped in greenery and fragrant jasmine.
the hotel’s lushly landscaped gardens.