Redevelopment of 5* winter skiing hotel Almhof Schneider in Lech, Austria

This project, now in the final phase of construction, concerns the redevelopment of the Almhof Schneider hotel, near the town of Lech, in the Austrian Alps. The skiers can reach the hotel directly from the ski track, thus the project required the organizing of the flows of skiers, visitors and vehicles in the site.

The terrain is characterized by steep slopes. The concept of the design is inspired by the folds of this terrain, generated by the flows of water, wind, snow and animals into the landscape. The design ranges from the direct reproduction of the dynamic forms that these folds generate, to their conversion and “translation” into strict, geometrical patterns. The challenge is for these forms to create an interesting topography, even when covered in snow.

Planting comes in a second level to propose typologies, while it too gains inspiration from the existing forms, structures and species in the surrounding natural alpine landscape.