Suspended 14 metres above the South Tyrolean landscape, the Alpin Panorama Hotel Hubertus’ spectacular spa extension combines bold architectural vision with highly complex structural engineering
The Alpin Panorama Hotel Hubertus in Olang, South Tyrol, stands for relaxation and rejuvenation at the highest level. Surrounded by the picturesque mountains of the Puster Valley, the five-star hotel features, among other things, an award-winning, 7,000 sq m spa area with various saunas, pools and relaxation zones.
Since mid-2022, this has also included a literally “outstanding” wellness area that is sure to delight both architecture enthusiasts and structural engineers alike: an annex cantilevering 11m from the main building, “floating” 14m above the ground.
The spectacular design comes from the architectural collective NOA in Bolzano. The challenging structural engineering was developed by IPM Engineering using ALLPLAN and FRILO.
Floating annex turns wellness design upside down
The hotel calls its floating annex Heaven & Hell; a name inspired by its unique architectural concept. The wellness platform essentially houses an upper and a lower world, each resembling small huts with gabled roofs, though the “underworld” is turned upside down.
Despite the higher temperature, it’s unlikely that this “hell” will be particularly torturous. After all, the 65 sq m of usable space features amenities such as two saunas, an outdoor pool (whirlpool), a shower stall and an ice mist bath. The inverted roofs serve as additional space for the sauna seating steps and the pool’s water treatment system.
In this wellness dichotomy, “Heaven” offers further facilities for heavenly relaxation with a significantly larger usable area of 140 sq m. These include two whirlpools, as well as an equal number of panoramic showers and a changing room. Unlike the “Underworld,” the majority of this upper-level wellness area is located outdoors.
Coordinating a complex hybrid structural system
The structural framework of the annex combines various elements made of concrete, steel and wood. Concrete foundations form the main loadbearing structure, which was extended up to the top of the rock. Where this was not possible, steel bored piles were used.
The primary structural framework of the annex is also a steel structure, consisting of two 40m-long I-beams resting on two inclined steel columns made of steel tubes. The latter are additionally clad with larch logs.
The platform itself is bolted to the main girders via I-beams, with the inverted cabins being suspended from these via an additional steel structure. Composite reinforced concrete slabs with loadbearing trapezoidal sheet metal form the platforms of the two levels, while the whirlpools were constructed using additionally decoupled reinforced concrete slabs. The walls were infilled with crosslaminated timber panels.
The construction of the various structural elements made of different materials was not without its challenges. Three specialist trades – masons, metalworkers and carpenters – had to erect the supporting structure on the construction site almost simultaneously. This parallel execution by the specialist contractors required close coordination on site. The three whirlpools with infinity overflow channels also posed a particular structural challenge due to the exceptionally strict requirements for limit deformation.
Structural design with ALLPLAN and FRILO
IPM Engineering used ALLPLAN and FRILO for the complex design of the hybrid structural system. While the former served as the working environment for the detailed design, the structural members made of concrete, steel and wood were designed in the structural analysis software.
Various structural systems were evaluated first. After selecting the preferred option, the calculations were performed element by element so that they could be quickly reviewed and adjusted at any time. IPM Engineering made extensive use of the wide range of features in FRILO, enabling them to solve the design challenges quickly and smoothly.
Ultimately, the precise planning in ALLPLAN and FRILO allowed for accurate deformation analysis while minimizing material usage.
More information: Building & Structural Engineering Software | ALLPLAN
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