Design expo: South Tyrolean Contrast

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Aug 3

South Tyrolean Contrast - combining traditional with contemporary

I love the Alps and have been fortunate to spend a lot of time in this area. In my youth I lived some time in both the Italian, French and Austrian Alps and that was when my love was cemented. One area that is particularly close to my heart is the South Tyrol. This border region officially belonging to Italy but having one foot firmly planted in Austria.

Something that has struck me when traveling around this region and staying in numerous hotels is the way they incorporate local traditions with contemporary architecture and design. It is amazing to see how these contrasting worlds are so magnificently combined into something I call the South Tyrolean Contrast.

This contrast is sometimes most visible on the outside, where a new contemporary structure has been added alongside the original one, or that a contrasting extension has been added that looks completely different than the original structure. Sometimes the contrast is visible on the inside where the shell is old but the interior is contemporary. Or there are examples where a new exterior have been added over the old building and by that creating a South Tyrolean Contrast.

Regardless of which of the three types of contrasts we are talking about, it is so fascinating to see how these styles merge. It shouldn’t work but yet it does. The old somehow enhances the beauty of the new and vice versa. A real marriage. Or a South Tyrolean Contrast.

Below are 5 hotels in South Tyrol where this architectural and/or design marriage is brought to life.

Bühelwirt

At this hotel a magnificent black wooden monolith building has been added next to an old one and by that creating a beautiful example of South Tyrolean Contrast.

Read more about my stay at Bühelwirt here.

Schgaguler

At Schgaguler a new structure has been built over and around the old, existing one, creating a contemporary capsule the mirrors the surrounding rugged Dolomites.

Read more about my stay Schgaguler here.

Weisses Kreuz

At Weisses Kreuz a new wooden building has been erected next to the old ones and thereby creating a beautiful South Tyrolean contrast.

Read more about my stay at Weisses Kreuz here.

Zum Riesen

Zum Riesen is one of the examples where a wooden extension has been added to the old, original stone building and thereby creating a beautiful contrast.

Read more about my stay at Zum Riesen here.

Icaro

Icaro is an example of when a new shell has been created for an old building, almost like dressing it up in a new suite. The newly added wooden exterior is a great contrast to the interior where the original structures are still clearly visible.