Natural Spa

Building on its proud tradition and identity, Hotel Sonnenhof in the Austrian Tyrol has stepped into the world of contemporary hospitality with a new wellness area for its guests. The 4-star hotel is located at an altitude of 940 metres in the upper part of the village of Pertisau, on the western shore of Achensee Lake and at the entrance to the Karwendel valleys. With its characteristic pitched roof and wood-panelled façades, parapets and beams, the hotel offers 23 rooms and 10 apartments furnished with Alpine charm. Its visual appeal, enhanced by the region’s unique charm and the use of local materials, has been skilfully exploited in the design of the Wellness Spa. The new wellness area features stone caves, woodland corners and waterfalls in an attempt to reproduce a fragment of nature. The refreshing power of Tyrolean water, the scent of Swiss stone pine and a sauna infusion with alpine herbs create a sensorial experience ideal for restoring the body and reviving the spirit.
Wood is the dominant material both inside and out. In the wellness centre it has been used for the window frames, the doors, a number of inserts and a wide range of furnishing elements custom designed by the hotel owners, the Huber family. Most of the surfaces are clad with natural stone-effect porcelain tiles from the Stone Plan collection by Italgraniti. Combining exceptional aesthetic appeal with the technical characteristics of water impermeability and slip resistance, these tiles are ideal for use in wet areas.
This sophisticated vein-effect ceramic floor covering starts out in the reception area and extends through the entire facility, where it is installed on the vertical walls of the booths, changing rooms, bathrooms and showers. The grey Luserna version chosen in various sizes reproduces Northern Italian stone with a highly varied shade and texture. The 60×60 cm square module is used for the walls, while the 20×120 cm rectangular size, cut to requirements, has been installed in a staggered layout on the walls to create visually striking surfaces. The material proved highly versatile for use on both floor and walls. On the floor the surface appears smoother, while on the walls it takes on a rougher and more material look, a sensation enhanced by the use of suffused light to create an almost sculpted textural effect. The pale yellow colour chosen for the untiled walls is reminiscent of the colour of wood and makes for a peaceful sensation. The stone-effect porcelain coordinates perfectly with the grain and knots of the wood, creating an Alpine ambience that blends into the Tyrolean landscape in which the hotel is situated.
The furnishings and finishes chosen for the reception and waiting areas create a comfortable homely feel and powerful sense of well-being. A trail of recessed spotlights in the false ceiling leads visitors through the various rooms and emphasises the floor texture. At several points, wall-mounted light fittings create soft lighting that enhances the material qualities of the walls. In the most visually striking spaces, the LEDs are suitably recessed to create beams of light that emphasise mouldings, gradients and steps for a unique emotional experience.