Mountain hideouts
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Agape Destinations
Hotel Schgaguler Castelrotto, Italy
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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“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
