We were entrusted with this beautiful but challenging opportunity to replace an existing mountain hotel located in the beautiful Krkonoše National Park, adjacent to Sněžka, the highest peak in the Czech Republic, that no longer meets current standards.

The village of Benecko, where this proposal is located, lies at an altitude of over 1000m, guaranteeing a long winter season with natural snow and serving as a familiar and cosy alternative to some of the more modern resorts.

The main challenge of the project was to deliver a design that would enrich the landscape, blending in with the hills, whilst allowing users to experience excellent, west-facing views of the ridge of the surrounding mountain ranges (as there is a ski slope below, there is a guarantee that the view will not be obstructed by any future development). These requirements are met through an emphasis on the main design principles – natural materials, sustainable technologies, views and maximum integration into the landscape and use of the sloping terrain. The timber techniques also refer to local traditions of wood craft. Due to its location in a national park and the fact that it is one of the largest buildings in the municipality, we also provided assistance in the procurement process, which consisted of several discussions with the mayor and also the preparation of a memorandum of cooperation between the municipality and the contractor.