Alpine lodge in South Tyrol | EM2 Architekten

At an elevation of 1,400 m in South Tyrol, Italy, this mountain lodge offers enviable views of alpine meadows, forests, and the jagged fangs of the Dolomites. The lodge is composed of two buildings, a main cabin and an adjacent studio sleeping cabin. Both were based on the gabled form of traditional structures in the region, but were executed with a strong contemporary flair by EM2 Architekten.

The accommodations include two bedrooms and a bathroom in the main cabin, plus another bedroom or hang-out space and a second bathroom in the sleeping cabin. Together they have a floor area of 130 m² (1,399 ft²). The interiors, like the exteriors, are finished almost completely in larch but they are far from rustic. Instead, the all-wood interiors are characterized by clean lines and a minimalist atmosphere, partly attributable to the built-in furniture.

Floor-to-ceiling windows on the ground floor offer spectacular views of the alpine landscape. There is a nice balance between the warmth of the wood interior and the outside panoramas. The large windows can be secured by sliding and swinging shutters when the home is unoccupied. Upstairs, the windows are limited to narrow slits, giving the two bedrooms a more enclosed, cozier feeling.

The upstairs hallway features a small study nook with a built-in desk. Closets serve as partitions between the hallway and the bedrooms. To keep the bedroom walls free for furniture placement, the closet doors were put on the hallway side instead. There is additional storage in the form of drawers built into the bed bases. In an unusual design decision, the bedroom walls stop at about eight feet high rather than rising all the way to the vaulted ceiling. That gives the rooms a more open feeling but does result in some loss of privacy.

Services are discretely integrated into the lodge. Both buildings have in-floor heat (supplemented by a wood stove in the main cabin), and the ventilation system uses hidden vents. A home-automation system controls the heat, air exchange, lighting and even the wood stove. It is managed by either a wall-mounted screen or via a smartphone.

If you’re looking for some alpine adventure, the lodge is available for vacation rentals through Tamersc Mountain Lodge. Have a wonderful Christmas!

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Winter photographs by Studio Mads Mogensen, courtesy of EM2 Architekten. Summer photographs courtesy of Tamersc Mountain Lodge. Via Humble Homes.

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