Projects

Schloss Wellness and Family Hotel - Pontresina (Switzerland) - PONTRESINA, ALTA ENGANDINA (SVIZZERA)

Rooms with a view over the Bernina mountain range

At Pontresina in the Upper Engadine, a wellness space in the heart of an imposing late nineteenth century fortress uses innovative materials to recreate the splendour of ancient Roman baths
Author
Carlo Paganelli
Project
Elena Ogna (Studio Civico46)
Year of completion
2008

With lakes, mountains and forests, as well as an immaculate blanket of permanent snow and a silence that dispels the memory of the noise of the city, the extraordinary beauty of Switzerland’s Engadine region is a paradise for those seeking restoration of body and soul. The hotel complex, located about five kilometres from St. Moritz, stands on a natural terrace at an altitude of 1750 metres above sea level. Overlooking the Roseg valley, it offers a view of the glaciers of the majestic Bernina mountain range. The hotel, housed inside a massive late nineteenth century fortress, recently underwent refurbishment work to create a relaxation area as an additional feature for guests seeking body care as well as the thrill of winter sports. The work took about three months, a relatively short time for the construction of a facility occupying a total area of around nine hundred square metres. The new area is equipped with the latest technologies designed to offer users maximum comfort in any situation. The centre is divided into two sections: three hundred square metres devoted to treatment facilities, the remaining six hundred square metres occupied by the swimming pool area, a space that has been specifically equipped to ensure privacy and a sophisticated atmosphere based on high-quality materials and finishes.
A large elliptically shaped fountain mirroring the shape of the ceiling (complete with a special lighting system that emphasises the importance of light) dominates the space occupied by the relaxation pool, the whirlpool with colour therapy, the Mediterranean bath, the biosauna and the aromatic showers with colour therapy. For a full immersion in the rarefied wellness atmospheres, users can follow an itinerary through the Wasser Paradise, the sensorial space of the light gallery and the ghostly multidirectional water features which enhance the comfort of the caldarium, the Finnish sauna with stream shower and the ice fountain. Naturally this wellness itinerary also features private rooms for customised relaxation, with the added bonus of breathtaking views onto one of the most beautiful mountain landscapes in the Grisons Canton. Ceramic tile was an obvious choice for a space devoted to body care and beauty given the material’s strong association with the popular image of spa architecture of imperial Rome, not to mention the extraordinary technological level of today’s products. For the cladding of the swimming pools, the caldarium and the Mediterranean bath and for the base of the large fountain, the architect opted for the wide range of mosaics from Aquileia’s Smoking collection (Industrie Fincuoghi S.p.A.), chosen in colour Ecru with a Satin finish.

Ceramic surfaces
Aquileia, Smoking collection
porcelain stoneware
Ecru
1.7x7.8 cm

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