How to enhance the historical heritage? The new Straubinger Hotel

The elegance that arises from the layers of the past

The premise of the design of the new Hotel Straubinger is to honor the historicity of the structure, which takes its name from a well-known local family of hoteliers. The project pays homage to the original grand hotel, reconstructed with constant reference to the multiple facets of its history and reinterpreted with essential elegance in a renewed grandeur.

Upon entering the new Grand Hotel Straubinger, guests are immediately captivated by the timeless atmosphere: in the historic reception, room keys are kept in a velvet-lined drawer as if they were jewels, while facing them, the majestic staircase leads to the upper floors, and on the right, the sophisticated Food & Beverage area awaits them.

The double doors of the café, with a total capacity of 40 seats, overlook Straubingerplatz, where the outdoor space can accommodate 12 guests. The adjacent bar and lounge create the perfect setting for the end of the day; the lounge can be isolated with curtains as needed. Following the principle of "working on the layers of the past," all spaces offer a harmonious contrast between old and new, such as the combination of the existing wood paneling and reinterpreted new wall panels.

New life for historic spaces

Depending on the use and time of day, furnishings and color palettes gradually darken, as explained by Marlene Gesierich, project manager at the architecture firm BWM Architekten, responsible for the renovation projects of the various areas involved. The café features the modern "strawberry cream" tone, while the lounge and bar showcase sage green tones discovered beneath layers of previous paint and reintroduced in the new color scheme. The historic "Straubinger cake" is brought back to life with a nostalgic serving trolley.

The ancient entrance of the restaurant, adorned with mural paintings uncovered during the renovation, has been transformed into a private dining room for 10 guests. The new entrance to the grand hall is located in the adjacent building, characterized by a full-height glass facade. During the restoration, golden details and the original structure of the side ceiling resurfaced. Elements that could not be salvaged were reinterpreted with a contemporary language.

The grand hall, capable of accommodating 86 guests, offers fresh and modern colors – green, apricot, amber – and an atmosphere inspired by French elegance, thanks to the vegetation, restored Lobmeyr panels, and the new central chandelier. The oak parquet floor, protected as a historical asset, has been restored to its original appearance. A large round table, placed on a carpet designed to reflect the ceiling rosette, becomes the visual centerpiece of the space.

The spa as a connection between architecture projects and nature

On the west side of the building, next to the entrance, the new spa area is developed, spread over three floors. From the ground floor, you access a courtyard with a checkerboard pavement – a reference to the original tiles of the treatment rooms. This pattern is also repeated in the facilities, corridors, and spa reception.

On the mezzanine level, there are five new treatment rooms and four spa suites, equipped with freestanding tubs, showers made from original basins, and integrated pine saunas. Above the ancient thermal baths area, a new pool area with a panoramic view of the Gastein Valley has been created, where guests can literally "swim in nature," accompanied by the sound of the waterfall.

The spa area, with approximately 700 sqm in total (350 sqm indoors and 330 sqm of terrace with a pool), harmoniously combines the historic building with contemporary expansion. From the fitness area and reception of the existing building, you access the new structure, which houses an indoor pool, an outdoor infinity pool, and panoramic saunas on the top floor. The color palette is inspired by marine tones, with a ceiling covered in blue tiles, thermally treated ash wood, exposed concrete, and details in chrome and wood.

Designing the new while keeping the soul of the building

Adjacent to civic number 1 of Straubingerplatz, the existing building was not salvageable and has been replaced by a cantilevered glass structure, featuring a facade with wooden slats. The large glass window opens the hotel towards the valley, offering an unspoiled frame of the natural landscape. The slats ensure privacy for guests by preventing outside views. During this phase, the original gap between the hotel and the adjacent building, closed in the early 1900s, was also reopened.

The 46 rooms of Hotel Straubinger have been designed with the aim of preserving its historical soul and complementing it with interventions calibrated according to the concept of "new luxury." The patina of the walls, original doors, and vintage artifacts have been preserved as unique elements and enhanced by new additions that meet contemporary standards. The atmosphere is inspired by the chiaroscuro of oil paintings, with a strong expressiveness between light and dark tones: the result is an effect of immersion in the ancient, as if the building had been "immersed in dark oil," under which the material remains intact.

A custom artistic and decorative concept

In collaboration with Andrea von Goetz of Schwanenfliess, creator of the sommer.frische.kunst and art.bad.gastein festivals, BWM has developed a carefully curated artistic concept involving local and international contemporary artists (United States, South Africa), creating site-specific collections in dialogue with the territory, the history of the place, and the identity of the hotels.

The artistic project is complemented by a greenery and styling concept, realized with Atelier Peter Weisz. In the grand hall of the Straubinger, tall bamboo palms reinforce the elegant French character; in the nearby Badeschloss, the vegetation instead accentuates the retro mood inspired by the thermal world. Every detail – vintage objects, selected volumes, classic and contemporary works – is chosen and positioned with care to convey the narrative of the "layers of the past."