HOTEL LUX ALPINAE

This four star hotel in the Tyrol has its claim to fame as a self-contained structure built on an extreme slope (38°) in the middle of an alpine skiing landscape. At the same time, it has a more restrained appearance than massive hotel complexes of "traditional" construction with a gabled or hipped roof. The hotel is divided into two separate volumes which are "stuck" to the slope at a slight offset relative to one another, but which are connected by a common roof structure. The roof structure is a hyperbolic paraboloid that acknowledges the surrounding gabled roofs without compromising on its own clear, modern position. That the building is constructed of a reinforced concrete framework skeleton is easy to see from the facade: The squares of the 28 hotel rooms emerge like an irregular three-dimensional chessboard. The rooms come with balconies facing toward the south, with fixed panes of glass alternating with wings that can be opened. Another special feature is the design of the slope reinforcement, which takes the form of a climbing wall integrated into the complex. The hotel has a spa and sauna area, bar, restaurant with patio, underground car park and panoramic lift.

The entire building employs underfloor heating, while air heating with heat recovery is used in the spa area, restaurant, bar and kitchen. A smoke detector system made by Busch ensures the hotel guests' safety. The lighting in the common areas is controlled automatically by means of sensors – an EIB bus system from Berker is used here. The lighting in the guest rooms and baths is controlled individually: bathrooms and bedrooms are separated by "Screenline" insulating glass which can be made either transparent or opaque (i.e. the guest can enjoy the view or watch television even from the bathtub); at the same time, a lighted strip of covered fluorescent tubes in the pendentive between wall and ceiling creates a visual connection, thus making the areas appear more spacious. Serie S.1 switches from Berker were installed for the lighting. All rooms are equipped with TV and telecommunication via mobile phones.