The project is located in the Vorarlberg region in Austrian Alps, close to the Swiss border. The site in the Montafon valley lies between two villages, Schruns and Tschagguns and stretches along the Ill river. The project is meant to replace an existing bathing facility and to promote all-year tourism in the region. Our project relates to the surrounding alpine landscape on many different levels. The building’s structure takes inspiration from geological formations and processes, the interior spaces appearing like having been carved out of a rock. The three distinct bathing levels (“family” bath, ”wellness” bath and sauna) are connected by wide stairs, thus creating a spatial and visual continuum. Along the way through these different areas, a tectonic matrix of spacious, rock-like columns can be perceived as it transforms from a wide-span structure (around the large pool) into a denser structure that creates more intimate, cell-like spaces (for the sauna). Besides from being tailored very closely to the given program, the project succeded not only by creating this interior landscape, but also by establishing an efficient and spatially interesting circulation system for the different groups of visitors. In addition, the panoramic views to the surrounding mountains will be another decisive factor in the spatial experience.
