Mountain hideouts

Hotel Schgaguler Castelrotto, Italy

Agape Destinations

“Our design proposal is based on an elegant

and timeless design. This is translated into

the choice of washbasins designed by Angelo

Mangiarotti. We found his design to be an ideal

sculptural object”.

Peter Pichler

EN

The architect Peter Pichler has gained a reputation

for his avant-garde alpine architecture built in some of

Europe’s most picturesque locations. Based in Northern

Italy, his work expresses a keen understanding of the

environment and deep respect for regional building

traditions. Hotel Schgaguler, a boutique lodging in the heart

of the Dolomite mountains in Alto Adige, Italy, a coveted

ski destination in the winter and a hiker’s paradise in the

summer months, is certainly no exception.

“The project consists of three monolithic volumes”,

Pichler explains of the building, which was completed

in 2018 and features 42 rooms, a restaurant, a bar,

and a below-ground spa. Composed of a glass facade

and pure white gridded structure, the hotel resembles

an abstracted reinterpretation of the snow-capped mountain

peaks that surround the village. “Respecting the local

context and its surroundings, the strong architectural

identity of the hotel follows a contemporary reinterpretation

of the Alpine style and plays with vernacular elements such

as the typical sloping roof”, he adds.

Pichler kept the interiors similarly concise. “The

interiors are simple and functional with open-plan layouts

and local materials such as chestnut wood, stone, and

textiles”, he describes the concept. The light and bright color

palette and use of pale timber throughout the guest rooms

imbue the spaces with a minimal yet warm Nordic feel, which

is further expressed by the choice of furniture, which includes

several iconic mid-century Scandinavian designs. With those

references in mind, he also included many subtle mid-century

touches in the bathroom. “Our design proposal is based on

an elegant and timeless design with the aim of conveying

a feeling of general well-being”, he explains of the spa-like

space. “This is translated into the choice of washbasins

designed by Angelo Mangiarotti. We found in his design to be

an ideal sculptural object”.

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