located in the midst of the UNESCO natural heritage area of the sesto dolomites in italy, ‘bistro bergsteiger’ by plasma studio is integrated smoothly into its natural and built context. the restaurant’s wooden volume is embedded on the edge of an embarkment, settled along a well-known hiking trail and blending in with the local scenery. the project’s placement preserves the view from the entrance to the valley onto the mountain landscape that closes the area to the south. at the same time, it also respects the existing, protected building and does not visually interfere with it.
all images courtesy of florian jaenicke
plasma studio has reduced the dimensions of the building as much as possible and adapted its geometries to the existing presences. on one side, the structure faces the mountain called ‘cima 12’ towards the south, while on the other side it communicates with the surrounding buildings. in the plan, the new installation aligns with the listed construction, and at the same time, the reduced heights connect its southern elevation with the overall profile of the formed elements. 
the surface of the double-pitched roof is treated with intensive green and it rises towards the main view. full-height windows allow the eye to wander over the mountain landscape, while the interior is designed in order to offer an undisturbed view to as many visitors as possible. furthermore, the main room is composed of different areas, including the counter, the circulation space, and the two dining areas, defined in order to enhance the sense of intimacy. at the same time, they allow a wide view thanks to the difference of height between the floors. meanwhile, the glass façade that separates the interior space from the exterior terrace opens if needed and the outdoor space can be extended inwards.
in terms of materiality, the building draws influence from the nearby listed structure. spray plaster covers the inside and outside, and larch wood cladding designed as a contemporary reinterpretation of the old decorative motif. exposed screed and plaster prepared with local stone and sand, the use of dolomite stone and local larch wood for the furnishings, enhance the merging of the new building with its context.
the owners of the bistro are the descendants of mountaineering pioneers michl and sepp innerkofler and the documentation of their first ascent is part of the interior design. dialogue with the context and moderation in the intervention determine a project that is fully defined in its ‘appropriateness’.
project info:
name: appropriate_bistro bergsteiger
architects: plasma studio
design team: eva castro, niccolò dal farra, ulla hell, holger kehne, giulia mariotti, irene mutschlechner, peter pichler, chuan wang
collaborators: team 4, klaus seeber
location: dolomites of sesto, italy
designboom has received this project from our ‘DIY submissions‘ feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.
edited by: christina petridou | designboom
