Seehotel Ambach

Design: OTHMAR BARTH Photo: KLAUSS PETERLIN Some projects are capable of appearing modern many years after their construction: this can be said for the Seehotel Ambach in Caldaro in the province of Bolzano, an accommodating structure par excellence erected in the 1970s and perfectly integrated into the surrounding environment. In fact, architectural solutions that would not be excessively devastating for the environment were already being considered in order to protect the land: the hotel project was entrusted to celebrated architect Othmar Bath, born in the Trentino province and a young and promising international architect at the time. The works were carried out under the watchful eye of project owner Anna Ambach-Weis, who worked closely with Barth to bring a unique structure of its kind back to life, meticulously crafted down to the last detail with well-defined yet soft and streamlined shapes that hold their own against contemporary architectural projects, even if they do date back to the 1970s. Anna Ambach-Weis always tried to protect and maintain the hotel just as it had originally been designed and conceived; now that the structure has been inherited by her grandson Klaus Maran and his family, their intention is to continue to respect the originality of this one-of-a-kind architectural work. In order to preserve the structure and fully maintain its functionality, Anna Ambach-Weis’ successors carried out a number of important restructuring works in 2015. The restoration works also included the bathrooms, which would feature Ceramica Vogue tiles. More specifically, bathroom tiles from the Trasparenze collection with glossy surfaces were chosen. Different tiles were chosen for the floors and walls, to play with contrasts and maintain the original idea of a modern and functional design. Solid coloured TR Ghiaccio tiles measuring 5x20 cm were chosen for the walls: the decision to use tiles of this size, positioning them vertically, also turned out to be the best possible solution to tile the curved walls. A variant from the Trasparenze collection in glazed stoneware in shade TR Ferro, an intense dark grey, measuring 20x20 cm with contrasting white grout was instead used for the flooring. A noteworthy and brave stylistic choice, in contrast with all the other elements in the bathroom, but which certainly made an impact from an aesthetic and functional point of view.