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vigilius mountain resortI - Lana-S.Vigilio. inauguration 2003 |
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client: Ulrich Ladurnerarchitect: studio Matteo ThunSan Vigilio is the traditional recreation area for the district around the city of Merano located at 1500m sea level. The mountain forest in this altidudinal zone mainly consists of abies and larch. Ever since men and nature interacted in this climate, the so-called larch-meadows are the result of this long-lasting coaction. These meadows with single larchs and its typical understorey plants (pulsatilla var., arnica montana, crocus …) form the characteristic landscape in this area. In this surroundings the architect Matteo Thun placed a complex of buildings composed almost exclusively of wood, glass, stone and clay. The hotel lies in the landscape as if it was a huge overthrown trunk, while the surrounding terrain slopes steeply at three sides forming a smooth setting around the building. According to this, the design of the garden is kept very discrete for achieving a harmonic integration of the building into nature. The central theme in the concept of the open space is the larch with its flora. Thus the garden of the Vigilius mountain resort stands for a concentrated scenery of the landscape of San Vigilio. |
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A precious part of the larch-forest on the western side, rich in pulsatilla, was completely taken out from the construction works and protected against interferences during the entire implementation period. This forest crosses the building like a band and gets its highest peak in the paradisegarden, where the walls respectfully make way to a group of old larches for creating a very contemplative and relaxing atmosphere around the spa. By the use of a carefully selected compound of seeds, containing exclusively endemic grasses, the larch-meadow from the surroundings, within a couple of years, will cover all over the mountain sides and roofages just like veils – with spots of focussed plantings of typical species of flowers and bushes in between. A carpet of wild crocus will bloom in front of the hotel rooms in early spring, stripes with rhododendron ferrugineum, arnica montana and gentiana are seasonal surprises in the remaining uniform area. |
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| Three wooden pieces of furniture, called “larch-rest” are folded up following the sloped area and allow according to the terrain inclination three different sitting possibilities – “lie-sit-hang” – for watching the sky and the flora or listening to the birds. A simple pathway connects these sitting furnitures and a restored bowling alley, which as the only designed interventions mark very special resting places amidst the harmonic forest and meadow landscape. |
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