Wood is not only one of the most sustainable building materials, but also has some other very pleasant properties. Wood smells great, feels good and creates a cosy atmosphere. It is a warm building material that does not absorb heat from the human body and also possesses properties that help to naturally regulate the indoor climate. Next to clay and stone, wood is one of the few building materials that come directly from nature. A wooden house therefore easily blends harmoniously into nature. Wooden buildings have a long tradition. Today, old timber construction techniques are being revived and combined with modern construction methods and sustainable technology. The result is fascinating buildings that tell stories and leave nothing to be desired in terms of comfort and design.
DOLOMIT BOUTIQUE HOTEL, SOUTH TYROL
Against the impressive backdrop of the Dolomites, architect and hotelier Carl Heinz Castlunger has made his dream come true. He has brought together the traditional Ladin timber construction of his homeland with the highest sustainability standards. He brought his idea to life with a chalet, in which he elegantly combines sustainable materials and sustainable construction with the highest comfort and sophisticated design. He thus offers his guests a unique experience. The “Mi Chalet” was built with two local timber species: larch and spruce. The extensive windows along the front of the chalet allow for breathtaking views into the Dolomites. The hotel complex offers every comfort combined with maximum climate protection and blends harmoniously into the surrounding mountain landscape
LOCANDA MISTRAL, ITALY
The Locanda Mistral is nestled in an equally picturesque region in the heart of the pristine landscape of the Piedmont mountains. The family-run traditional hotel is situated in the Maira Valley, at 1,400m above sea level. An antique farmhouse in Occitan style from the 19th century has been lovingly restored and refurbished. Some elements, such as the traditional wooden timber floor and the vaulted ceilings, have been preserved and are beautifully showcased in the traditionally designed rooms. In the modern rooms a contemporary and stylish ambience has been created using natural materials such as larch timber from the surrounding area. A special highlight of the hotel are the tours into the high mountains with the hotel owner and experienced mountain guide Renato Botte, who passionately and enthusiastically shares the remotest corners of his homeland with his guest
GILI LANKANFUSHI, MALDIVES
The sustainable luxury resort Gili Lankanfushi features several rustic wooden villas, which blend harmoniously into the paradisiacal island environment in the middle of the Indian Ocean. The owner of the hotel of the same name is very committed to the preservation of the environment and therefore purchases the material for the villas and furniture from local sources wherever possible and has it expertly crafted in his own joinery. There are no limits to his imagination and he likes to use driftwood to create unusual designer furniture for his hotel. His greatest ambition is to offer his guests an extraordinary experience that has as little impact on the environment as possible.
BIOHOTEL STURM, GERMANY
After a delicious organic breakfast, take a dip in the natural swimming pond, enjoy a book in the hotel garden and then nibble on some raspberries in the herb and fruit garden – that’s what a holiday truly feels like. The family-run Biohotel Sturm, located in one of the most naturally beautiful regions in Europe, the Rhön, has been completely renovated and redesigned. Where there used to be a red clinker brick façade, clay and wood have instead been used to create an overall concept based on the principles of sustainability that blends seamlessly in with the surrounding natural environment. Ecological awareness is a top priority for the hotelier couple and they founded the hotel as the first organic hotel in the biosphere reserv
CREATIVHOTEL LUISE, GERMANY
Ben Förtsch took over the hotel from his father at a young age and proudly showcases how ecological design work – it not only looks extremely attractive, but also feels incredibly comfortable. For him, living sustainably does not mean doing without, but rather, adding value. He impressively demonstrates how this can be achieved in his newly developed “Renewable Rooms®”, which consist of 100 percent biodegradable or 100 percent recyclable materials. This hotel also demonstrates how wooden elements can be harmoniously integrated into the landscape. The hotel is situated in the middle of the city and is surrounded by a spacious green area. The hotelier also exhibits his eye for aesthetics by upcycling old objects into attractive design elements. He has a wealth of knowledge which he uses to breathe new life to an old garage door, a few wine barrels, a pharmacist’s cabinet from the 1930s, or a few old roof beams, and thus has given the hotel a beautifully rustic charm.
Let yourself be enchanted by the magic of these special wooden buildings which look wonderful everywhere - in the middle of the sea, in the high mountains or in a green oasis in the middle of the city.
Further readings: The world needs new woods – planting trees on German Reunification Day
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