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The existing building had always served as a secondary service structure within the complex, even though it occupied an important urban position by defining the protected lawn area in contrast to the parking lot. The client, driven by the need to create guest accommodations for employees, remained—as they always had—committed to the preservation of architectural heritage. Therefore, the idea of continuing the construction rather than replacing it through demolition and reconstruction was from the outset a cornerstone of the project. The basic concept is to "continue" the construction, following its logic and tectonics, while carefully introducing new elements that create a dialogical ambiguity in continuity with the existing structure.
The project preserves the existing urban framework and uses materials and varied façade treatments to minimize the visual impact of the new volume. Located between the parking area and the pool's sunbathing lawn, the guestroom extension integrates carefully with the natural surroundings. Recessed planes and articulated façades ensure privacy and blend the new structure into the landscape. On the parking lot side, an inclined metal brise-soleil acts as a semi-transparent diaphragm, shielding the corridor and controlling light reflections. This minimizes glare and reduces the visual impact of the new height, offering a sensitive, site-specific response.
Metal—alongside the wood used in the roof structure—was one of the primary materials employed in the original building. While it was previously used in a purely pragmatic way, limited to the load-bearing framework, it remains a material that aligns naturally with the project’s logic of architectural continuation. Its versatility allows for reinterpretation across a range of applications, including unconventional ones. We viewed it not only as an answer to our compositional instincts as designers but as the authentic material expression of the project’s conceptual foundation.
The materials used throughout the building, from the structural elements to the furniture, are circular materials such as steel and wood. The insulation materials used are of natural origin, and the entire roof is equipped with photovoltaic panels, making the building energy-efficient. The load-bearing framework of the existing building was extended—doubling its rhythm—becoming the structure that supports the wooden walls and floors which define the heated volumes. The predominantly summer use of the building led to a particular focus on overhangs and shading systems to minimize the energy demand for cooling.
The project was guided in its composition by the attempt to appropriately integrate into the Gretl am See tourist complex, designed by the master architect Othmar Barth. Although it is not legally protected, the design team approached the project with the respect and attention typical of a restoration intervention. The existing structure was reinforced to accommodate the loads, and the finishes, degraded over time and due to settlement over the years—such as the polished washed gravel floor—were reproduced, reinterpreting them with custom-made elements. The new volume strongly engages with the urban insertion of the building, and through various façade treatments, it responds to the needs dictated by orientation and intended use. The protective diaphragm of perforated and corrugated sheets shields the circulation corridor, while on the lakeside, the façade opens to the stunning view, protected by a slight setback that creates a balcony and offers privacy from direct sightlines.
Founded in 2015 by Francesco Flaim and Quirin Prünster, the studio is based in Bolzano and works on both public and private projects, across a range of scales, with a particular focus on renovation, restoration, and adaptive reuse.
A thoughtful approach to materials, the pursuit of spatial quality, and ongoing experimentation are the core principles of our practice.
A continuous design dialogue with colleagues in Italy and abroad—mainly through participation in architectural competitions—allows us to maintain a broad perspective on the architectural landscape.
Over the years, we have undertaken projects of all kinds: new constructions, restorations of listed buildings, small-scale interventions, exhibition designs, residential, hospitality, and industrial buildings, as well as maintenance, refurbishment, and redevelopment of existing structures.
