Hotel Sparkassengasse Krems

Project Competition 2020
2nd Prize,
“By way of analogy to the place.”

“The project is guided by the urban planning logic of Krems’ historic centre and completes a fragmented building block to form a perimeter block enclosing a large green inner courtyard.”“Due to the conservation requirements, the design develops an independent analogue language and thus its own identity. This emerging identity weaves itself into the existing high-quality urban fabric.”Elegantly-staggered tectonics of lime plaster surface form a grid into which windows are fitted from its base to the attic. Street-level apertures fulfil existing dimensions and respond to their respective position and use as display window or entrance. This creates a flexible façade system, one that embeds itself into the terrace of the upper Landstrasse and enhances it with confidence.“The proposed interlocking and stacking of different functions generate generous and high-quality units with exceptional flexibility.”“The transition from Sparkassengasse to Spitalgasse is interpreted as an inverse corner referencing the historic origin. The hotel acknowledges this special position in the urban plan and uses this neuralgic point as an entrance situation.”Entered via Spitalgasse, intensive landscaping of the inner courtyard is an oasis as well as a microcosm in Krems’ historic centre, available to all occupants as a local recreation space. Landscape architectural elements offer the necessary visual privacy between different occupant groups. The residential loggias profit from the natural light flooding in from the inner courtyard, which opens up towards the East.“All in all, a harmonious composition of proportion is achieved. The new ensemble integrates itself into Obere Landstrasse with the help of architectural mediums.”PROJEKTDETAILS