HOTEL HUBERTUS
LOCATION: Olang, South Tyrol, Italy
ARCHITECTURE: NOA – Network of Architecture
YEAR: 2016 (hotel extension) / 2020 (Hub of Huts)
STYLE: Experimental Alpine Architecture / Contemporary Landscape Integration
Set within the dramatic landscape of the Dolomites, Hotel Hubertus is a striking example of contemporary Alpine architecture. Designed by NOA – Network of Architecture, the project transforms the traditional mountain hotel into an architectural composition that explores the relationship between built form, topography and the surrounding landscape.
The hotel’s most recognisable feature is its spectacular cantilevered swimming pool, extending approximately 25 metres beyond the edge of the building. Suspended above the mountain slope, the pool creates an extraordinary visual experience in which water, architecture and the surrounding peaks appear to merge.
The architectural concept draws inspiration from the traditional forms of Alpine buildings while introducing a distinctly contemporary language. Natural materials, carefully articulated volumes and a restrained palette establish a connection with the regional architectural context.
The extension is organised around a sequence of spaces that respond to the steep terrain. Rather than creating a single monumental structure, the architects use changes in level and carefully positioned openings to establish a continuous relationship between interior spaces and the mountain landscape.
The project also includes the Hub of Huts wellness complex, a collection of distinctive architectural volumes inspired by traditional Alpine huts. Their unusual inverted forms create a sculptural composition that contrasts with the surrounding forest and mountains.
Inside, natural timber, stone and tactile surfaces establish a warm atmosphere. Large windows frame panoramic views of the Dolomites, allowing the landscape to become an essential part of the architectural experience.
Hotel Hubertus demonstrates how contemporary hospitality architecture can reinterpret regional traditions through bold structural interventions and a sensitive response to the natural environment.
ARCHITECTURAL SIGNIFICANCE
Hotel Hubertus represents an innovative approach to contemporary Alpine architecture, combining a dramatic cantilevered swimming pool, sculptural wellness structures and a landscape-responsive architectural language to create a distinctive dialogue between modern design and the Dolomites.
