In winter, we’re happy with a fireplace to gather ’round and thick duvets to crawl under at night. For inspiration this week, we’re looking to alpine cultures, where the cold season is not just lived through but embraced.
Peterhof was first opened in Zwischenwasser, Austria in 1954 as an alpine inn on the grounds of an old farm.
“Whilst planning and during the building of the project, we were always careful to treat the natural surroundings with the respect it deserves,” according to architecture firm Baumschlager Eberle.
The interiors of each chalet are done in silver fir.
The centerpiece of each dwelling is a wood-burning fireplace, which adds heat and also acts as a clever room divider.
An efficient kitchenette runs along one wall, with shou sugi ban-esque cabinets and matte black counters.
A dining nook is tucked on the far side of the fireplace.
The view to the second level.
Each chalet is equipped with a Finnish sauna or a bio-sauna, a modern, more humid alternative to traditional saunas, and an “open-air wooden bathtub” on the deck.
“The careful handling of the floor, the relationships between the houses, formal beauty, and homely comfort were the essential premises,” according to Baumschlager Eberly.
An alpine motif marks each entryway.
An aerial view shows the clusters of chalets surrounding the restaurant, all connected by paths.
The village in the mountains.