artbau hotel

How can we elevate the potential of an existing industrial and commercial area by creating a small boutique hotel and bar that connects the local community with new visitors?  By reimagining the area’s potential, the boutique hotel and bar can grow organically from what already exists. The architectural office, with its welcoming entrance and generous lobby, provides a natural shared space and point of arrival. Around it, the presence of local craftsmen and workshops offers a unique cultural and creative energy that can be woven into the hotel’s character. The riverside setting and mountain views add to the attraction, giving guests both a sense of place and moments of retreat. The café and bar on the ground floor serve as the central connector—serving locals breakfast and lunch while welcoming guests into a shared community rhythm.

What spatial potential lies in a narrow plot surrounded by commercial buildings, with only one facade facing the riverside?  The hotel is efficiently integrated into the plot’s existing boundaries. It strikes a balance between openness and comfort within the interlocked floor plans of the rooms on each storey. It is a place where visitors are invited into the everyday life of the town, yet still find protective ease and quiet when they need it. The limited width of the building and the need to connect to the existing neighbouring structure challenged the design process in the right way—leading to contemporary hotel rooms with just the right degree of spatial tension to engage and excite guests.

How does the project integrate local materials and craftsmanship to create both ecological responsibility and social connection?  The project emphasises material and colour composition rooted in the local context, embracing the raw honesty of simple construction and natural materials. Oiled elm wood from the region, polished terrazzo, stone mosaic tiles, and exposed concrete combine to create a calm, clear atmosphere with enduring quality. In continuation, custom wall and pendant lights were designed and crafted from oiled raw steel in the neighbouring metal workshop. This not only minimised the project’s transport and production impacts but also strengthened its social dimension by embedding local craftsmanship into its identity — honouring the area’s industrial and commercial heritage.