interwoven larch wood slabs wrap around hostel in austrian alps

Youth Hostel Gerlos by Lechner&Lechner stands on Alpine hills

Nestled high in the Austrian Alps, the ‘Youth Hostel Gerlos’ by Salzburg-based design firm Lechner & Lechner Architects seamlessly blends with its surrounding landscape. Designed as an eco-friendly solution for schools organizing ski trips, the facility hosts various spaces dedicated to sports and leisure activities and forms a large public U-shaped square in the picturesque village of Hochkrimml. Following a mindful design approach, the creative team attends to functionality, cost-effectiveness, and aesthetics through the use of renewable materials throughout the structure.

The architecture integrates the substantial building mass within the site without overwhelming the natural surroundings. The main structure is positioned on the northern portion of the plot with a slight tilt towards the main street. The volume enfolds under a single-pitched roof that mirrors the terrain resulting in a lower profile on the valley side, while recessed side wings settle sunken under planted coverings and serve as dining areas and ski storage. The facade applies interwoven larch wood slabs expected to merge with the forest over time through a natural weathering process.

the hostel’s square is sunk far into the landscape | all images by Julian Hoeck

dynamic interplay between materials

The Youth Hostel Gerlos, developed by Lechner & Lechner Architects, prioritizes the integration of sustainability, regionalism, and functionality in modern architectural design. The intentional use of sustainable and renewable materials and elements is engaged throughout the construction with the main use of cross-laminated timber as the primary building component.

The interior arrangement features raw and untreated cross-laminated timber surfaces, while the ramp details set up metal cladding creating a visual contrast with the light-hued wood texture. The dynamic interplay of the materials elevates the design that balances between sustainability and aesthetics.

The building is heated by biomass district heating and powered by renewable energy generated from photovoltaic sources. The hostel prioritizes collective transportation to reduce its carbon footprint, utilizing coach services over individual modes of transportation. The residual wood from the transport of cross-laminated timber walls is repurposed into stylish furnishings, promoting sustainable and environmentally conscious design.

the facade applies interwoven larch wood slabs merging with the forest

the ‘Youth Hostel Gerlos’ is nestled high in the Austrian Alpine hills

the vertical promenade leading to the rooms, sports facilities, and bars begins at the entrance

view from the vertical promenade to the sports facilities

pump track in the indoor sport area

eight-bedroom student area

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the window openings are equipped with wooden seating areas for the students

view from the three-dimensional ramp to the sports hall suitable for competitions

a visual connection to the square through glazed openings

larch wood slabs wrap around the youth hostel

project info:

name: Youth Hostel Gerlos

designer: Lechner&Lechner | @lechner.lechner.architects

design team: Christine Lechner, Horst Lechner, Paul Lechner, Lukas Ployer

location: Salzburg Alps, Austria

photography: Julian Hoeck | @julianhoeck

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edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom