The new resort, designed in its architectural profile by Snøhetta, is enriched by the interior design of the Milan-based architecture studio Vudafieri-Saverino Partners, which has devised a concept that echoes the traditions, colours and atmospheres of the Austrian mountains.
Architecture confronts the mountains, declining into an avant-garde hospitality project that fits into the quietness of the Alpine landscape, respecting tradition and genius loci. The Falkensteiner Hotel Montafon 5*, a new resort dedicated to families for a holiday in harmony with nature, has opened to the public. It is located in a protected area of the Montafon, a valley in the Austrian state of Vorarlberg, gently nestled between forests and mountains. The hotel bears the signature of Snøhetta Studio Innsbruck for the exterior and landscape design, while the interior architecture and interior decoration are by the Milan-based studio Vudafieri-Saverino Partners .
The new Falkensteiner Hotels & Residences resort – owned by the Austrian brand Falkensteiner Michaeler Tourism Group (FMTG) – is built on four levels, exploiting the slope of the mountain, and is divided into two buildings connected, as if they were wings, by a central core in which the common areas are located. The street level leads to the reception area characterised by fir wood panelling, the wellness area with the 1,400 m2 SPA and the ski room, while the upper floors house the 123 rooms and suites, all with balcony and panoramic view. Descending the large central staircase, one reaches the lobby with bar area, as well as the restaurant area and swimming pool. From here you can also reach the outdoor terrace, open to the woods and mountains. To emphasise the family hotel soul, there is no lack of scenic areas dedicated to children and young people.
In their interpretation of the interior design, Claudio Saverino and Tiziano Vudafieri studied the rural Alpine landscape and elements of local tradition, developing them in a contemporary key. Amidst the unspoilt nature of the Montafon, where the largest mountain ranges meet to form the ‘Heart of the Alps’, forests, pastures, alpine pastures and barns tell of centuries of history made up of the seasonal movements of shepherds and their livestock. The architects, respectful of the soul and genius loci, have used references from the area: the fences of woven branches and wooden strips typical of the area’s barns are used as decorative and dividing elements in the restaurant area, while local handcrafted carpets are reproduced on custom-made wallpapers used as headboards for the beds in all the rooms. Vernacular materials, such as stone, fir and larch wood and white plaster, are re-proposed as a homage to the local building tradition and, in particular, to the Montafoner Häus, a construction made of fir logs and stone that represents the architectural archetype of the area and has formed the living and cultural landscape of the valley for centuries. The same wooden shingles that characterise these dwellings have been taken up as a decorative motif in the wellness and spa area.
The colour scheme of the Vudafieri-Saverino Partners studio focused on the selection of a colour palette inspired by the peculiarities of the Alpine landscape and, in particular, by three-phase farming, an agricultural technique that has shaped the life of the rural population of this area for centuries. “Based on the typicality of this ancestral technique that alternated cultivation with sowing winter, autumn and spring, we are focused on the various nuances of natural colours, making it the central point of our interior design,” the architects tell us. If in the common areas – such as the reception, lobby, wellness and spa area, restaurants and swimming pool – the nuances are spring and summery by alternating the lively green lawn with the delicate blue tones of the water and that of the larch and fir wood, in the rooms the colours become autumnal and wintery by using warm reds, oranges and yellows, always combined with the larch wood. “To reflect the beauty of the Montafon, in thehotel’s rooms , we selected a palette of colours reminiscent of a unique phenomenon: the Montafoner Indian Summer, which usually only occurs in the northeast of the United States. It is abrief autumn period when the weather becomes warm, like in summer, and the trees take on fiery hues of yellow, red and orange: a truly fascinating landscape,’ the architects explain.
The 39-kilometre-long Montafon Valley stretches from Bielerhöhe to Bludenz and is crossed by the Ill River. Situated at the mid-station of the Golm mountain and in the vicinity of the Latschau lake, the resort offers beautiful scenery and views. Guests staying at the 5* Falkensteiner Hotel Montafon will be able to take advantage of all the opportunities offered by the area in all seasons, thanks to a hospitality concept that has captured the specificities of the location to create unique and surprising spaces. In harmony with nature, Falkensteiner Michaeler Tourism Group attaches great importance to sustainability. The energy for the hotel comes from the nearby Lünerseewerk, a hydroelectric power station owned by Illwerke VKW, a best practice for sustainable energy supply.
Vudafieri-Saverino Partners
Faithful to the Milanese tradition of the creative atelier, the work of the firm led by Tiziano Vudafieri and Claudio Saverino ranges from architecture, interior design, fashion retail, hotellerie and food design, tackling both the major themes of the city, landscape and society, and the architecture of residential, commercial and industrial locations. Vudafieri-Saverino Partners is based in Milan and Shanghai and has over time developed projects in almost every country and continent. vudafierisaverino.it
The falkensteiner group
FMTG – Falkensteiner Michaeler Tourism Group is a leading private tourism company, present in 6 European countries. The group comprises Falkensteiner Hotels & Residences, with the current 27 4- and 5-star hotels, three flat properties and a Premium Camping, FMTG Development, FMTG Invest and Michaeler & Partner, tourism project development consultants. The story goes back to 1957 when Maria and Josef Falkensteiner opened a guesthouse in Val Pusteria (South Tyrol). In little more than 60 years, a successful group with around 2,500 employees in 31 establishments, with a total of more than 4,500 rooms, has grown from a small family-run hotel. The hotels are located in Italy, Austria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Serbia and Montenegro. falkensteiner.com
