As Part of the Press Release. It is a privilege to have the space to realize one’s own vision, nestled between one’s own meadows and woods, with an expanse that affords views from the Sciliar to the Rittner Horn, all the way to the MeranoAlps and the Dolomites. The historic Lobishof, a perfect ensemble of an old inn, residential house, and traditional barn, is now writing the next chapter of its history with the next generation–one in which noa* has created the new, architectural framework.

About the Project

From the very beginning, the 550-year-old farm turned out to be a valuable source of inspiration for the development process of the project, whose horizons allow one to look far and wide. In order to create a certain spatial analogy from the site’s history, a gentle bond was made to its past, through the layout of the building units and details–the entire volume of the new buildings is consciously modeled on the existing structure.

It would have been easy to simply go wild on the famous “green meadow.” But noa* chose a different path: the design consists of freestanding bodies that allow the landscape to flow through and become part of it. The result is two buildings, one hosting the public area with a reception, bistro, bar, and wellness area, the other the private area with a total of 15 guest suites.

“The gentle topography we found and the arrangement of open and at the same time protected outdoor spaces conditioned the layout of the individual building volumes,” says Christian Rottensteiner in explaining the architectural concept.

An "In-Between" World

The two buildings also establish a strong bond with the existing structures in their design language. You can find traditional gable roofs, as well as a very dynamic façade design with reinforcing slanted elements, that replicate the design of the struts and brackets of the historically listed barn while translating them into a modern statement. This allows the facades to be perceived differently–depending on how one approaches the edifice. This way, the east and west façades break strongly towards the outside, while the north and south sides appear as a homogeneous envelope. The trapezoid windows catch the eye in a striking way. The upper, slatted structure that stretches over the entire length of the building almost disguises the stories and creates a homogeneous appearance.

The entire project takes life from its many sophisticated details and stories, which always revolve around the family and the place where the project unfolds. For example, wood from the farm’s own woods was used. The renewable raw material makes the architecture accessible and underscores its vitality through the projections and recesses that create exciting shadows. Guests enter the building through an entrance portal made of black steel, which bears the family’s old coat of arms from 1464 on the outside.

Through this concept noa* aims to show the strength of the “in-between”; after all, the building site lies in a place where one stands firmly on the ground and at the same time has the feeling of being able to touch the clouds. In the public building, the sharp-edged transition between beige and blue takes place at eye level, at a height of 1.60 meters, to make this “in-between zone” tangible. But the concept is not centered only on the floors, walls, and ceilings: All the furnishings–from the curtains, through the furniture to the light fixtures–are part of a holistic approach.

"Engaging With the Complex"

As a kind of tightrope walk between “being rooted” and “wanting to fly,” an interior concept that seems completely detached from place and time unfolds before the eyes. On the ground floor, a multi-functional room opens up to the visitor. While the reception, which features a discreet desk, welcomes the guests, the bar, with its unique details, catches the eye and invites to explore the surroundings: a large wine display in the middle of comfortable bistro tables, the panoramic parlor that can be flexibly played with, the lounge area with open fireplace and mirrored ceiling, as well as the reading corner with hanging sofas, somewhat out of the way, define the space. Large window surfaces allow the surrounding nature to become an integral part of the room.

In terms of color division, no compromises are made in the suites either: about one-third of their surface is blue, two-thirds beige, where a certain blending of the areas takes place through the dynamics applied. The light, partly floating, linear furniture takes inspiration from the architecture and is divided ruthlessly into two. The walls are covered in fabric, almost dematerializing them with a surface that is not perceived as a wall.

“We have carefully chosen the fabrics, woods, and colors that play both with and against each other at the same time,” points out Patrick Gürtler.

Thus, the haptics that comes into play here and a certain indefiniteness arouse curiosity and call to start a journey of discovery: With a cleverly staged changeability, which is created by the consistent linear clash of two deliberately selected colors, noa* gives guests the opportunity to have a unique spatial experience, which possibly goes far beyond the previously known.

The second building, which unlike its counterpart has three floors, hosts the 15 suites of the new hotel. The two buildings are connected to each other via an underground corridor, and here too the division of the color worlds takes a 90-degree turn: What was horizontal now vertical. There is a deliberate psychological effect in play here, because from here on you can immerse your whole body in the respective area, which has an overall relaxing effect.

The larger suites, each measuring 55-square-meters (592 sq ft), have an additional living room with a hanging double bed and open onto the magnificent mountain panoramas on both sides. Another highlight in the truest sense of the word is the Gallery Suite, where an internal staircase leads up to a living platform on the roof, where you can watch the sky through the opening in the roof.

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