A breathtaking mountain backdrop, lush green meadows, a small lake and plenty of fresh air make the Puradies nature resort in Leogang in Salzburg a haven of vitality. Completed this summer, architecture firm NOA has expanded the facilities with a new spa themed around the elements of fire, water, earth and air.
The striking landscape was NOA’s focus from the very beginning of the design process. Prior to the recent extension, the hotel had a natural bathing pond with boardwalks, but no pools. Strong demand was ultimately the trigger for a completely new spa concept, which includes wellness and sports areas as well as the new in-house restaurant Ess-Enz.
SUBLIMITY WITHOUT ELEVATION
The new building, which now houses fitness and yoga rooms, lounging areas and relaxation rooms, its own children’s pool, an adult pool and the restaurant, is harmoniously embedded in the landscape despite its size and expanse. The floor plans are laid out in concentric rows, blending in with the natural topography. One center faces the bathing lake and the other faces the hill on the south side. This creates two façades that, despite their different orientations, are in balance with each other and are inviting no matter which direction they are approached from. Green roofs blend seamlessly with the meadows, while below separate spaces have great views north and south and open up to maximize the enjoyment of the surroundings. The new wellness wing with its different spaces rises out of the ground like a gentle wave and disappears again into the meadow with its expressive peaked canopies. For the onlooker, the pastoral landscape with its endless expanse and tall grasses, which is so characteristic of this area, is preserved.
“Our idea was to integrate the new building as homogeneously as possible into the landscape and not to build a towering building,” shares architect Gottfried Gruber.
INSIGHTS, OUTLOOKS, VIEWS
After passing through, the guest is first welcomed by the fireplace lounge – a split-level room that connects the wellness area and the restaurant across levels. As the name suggests, the central element is an open, bowl-shaped hanging fireplace framed by a floor-to-ceiling wall artwork by a young local artist, Michael Lang. Seating cushions and plants give character to the room, which is lined with sisal rugs. Here, guests can relax with a drink and enjoy the view in the fiery, earthy ambiance. The fireplace lounge leads to the new yoga room, which can also be used as another relaxation room with fold-out couches. A staircase leads up the gallery to the new restaurant.
Continuing on the lower level, the passageway leads to the area with the children’s pool. Here the elements of earth and water meet. The eye is drawn first to the pool with its organic free form and a water slide, surrounded by intimate alcoves that invite relaxation and play. These are equipped with a wooden floor, deep seat cushions, loungers and armchairs, covered with outdoor fabrics, as well as sisal carpets and fabric lamps with a shade made of yarn. A homely, cozy character and a fascinating play of light and shadow give the room character. Directly above the pool are metal suspensions for hanging plants. Outside is an area with tables, sheltered from the wind and sun, with a lawn extending out towards the swimming pond.
BETWEEN MOUNTAIN AND VALLEY VIEWS
On the upper floor, the new à la carte restaurant Ess-Enz is a true fusion of all elements. On the south side, the building is only apparent as architecture at this level, albeit discreetly and still true to the terrain. The transparency provided by the large glass fronts and the recessed skylights create an airy lightness and allow impressive views of the pond, pool and sky. In the interior, organically shaped ceiling elements made of wood with hanging plants recreate the height profile of a mountain. The lights laser-cut from wood, which seem to vibrate with the air circulation, further enhance the sense of weightlessness, while the compact seating islands, with fabric covers that are partly plain and partly patterned, keep the design grounded.
Adjacent to the restaurant, a sun terrace oriented in different directions offers a view of the mountain panorama and the meadows. The space is characterized by the tilted section of the projecting roofs, whose architectural silhouette changes constantly depending on the viewing angle. A very exciting open space is created between two closed structures, which strongly influences the perception of the landscape. Separated from the restaurant by the sun terrace are two other relaxation rooms, one with natural stone dedicated to the earth and the other with sisal surfaces open to the air. From here you can get return to the basement and the main pool. This completes the cycle of the wellness area at the point where the building merges back into the landscape.
Photography by Alex Filz.
For more from NOA be sure to check out this apartment renovation in Paris.
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