BWM Architects

The Vienna-based architecture firm BWM had the overall responsibility for rehabilitating the hotel ensemble consisting of Hotel Straubinger, Badeschloss and Alte Post, located near Bad Gastein’s picturesque waterfall, as well as for designing new interiors and additional structures. The new 4-star superior / 5-star hotels aim to establish Straubingerplatz as a vibrant hub for visitors and locals alike. With this in mind, BWM Designers & Architects, who pride themselves on having successfully realised countless hospitality projects, developed an open hotel concept that extends beyond the 18,000m² in floor area.

A thoughtful approach to heritage-protected architecture.

Built between 1791 and 1888, Hotel Straubinger, Badeschloss and Alte Post (the old post office building) have long served as an emblem of the popular spa town’s historical centre and are now heritage-protected monuments. “Working with the layers of the past” was BWM Designers & Architects’ guiding principle for the redesign of Straubingerplatz. “Our planning ideas are always preceded by a precise historical analysis,” BWM designer and architect Erich Bernard explains, “in line with the maxim – loosely based on Adolf Loos – that you can change anything, as long as you know what you are changing.” The rehabilitation of these heritage-protected buildings called for a thoughtful approach; all measures were coordinated with the Federal Monuments Office and the Bad Gastein municipality. “It is important to us to work with – and not against – the remnants and layers of the past,” Bernard continues. “It’s precisely those layers that give old buildings their charm and special appeal and make them so unique.”

More than just the buildings … 

The open hotel concept developed by BWM Designers & Architects is mindful of each hotel’s unique character and its role as part of the ensemble, as well as taking account of Straubingerplatz as a whole. This centrally located square has all the makings of a lively hub – for visitors and locals alike. BWM not only redesigned the existing buildings (13,000m2 floor area), but also developed ideas that extend beyond them. The goal was to breathe new life into the entire Straubingerplatz and restore it to its former glory.

Born from the details of the past.

A high degree of expertise, care and passion went into renovating these hotels, which have reopened under the Travel Charme Hotels & Resorts brand. In collaboration with moodley brand identity, BWM developed a brand philosophy for the ensemble as a whole. The new Hotel Straubinger, named after a prominent local hotelier family, pays homage to the original grand hotel. It was born from the facets of its past, boasting understated elegance and poignant grandeur. The adjacent Badeschloss celebrates its own history, while taking a playful approach to bathing culture. It is a place where the past meets the present, and its atmosphere is vibrant and sociable. The interior design concept was partly inspired by the production entitled “Mystery Sonatas / for Rosa” by the Belgian choreographer Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker.

Curated art concept.

Together with Schwanenfliess’s Andrea von Goetz, initiator and mastermind behind the renowned art festivals sommer.frische.kunst and art.bad.gastein, BWM Designers & Architects also developed a specially curated art concept for both Hotel Straubinger and Badeschloss: contemporary artists from both Bad Gastein and beyond (for instance, from the US and South Africa) have provided an exclusive selection of works that interact with the town and its tradition and history as well as with the hotels themselves.

Down to the smallest detail …

The art concept is complemented by a greenery and styling concept specially tailored to both hotels and developed by BWM together with Atelier Peter Weisz. The bamboo palms in the grand hall of Hotel Straubinger, for instance, are more than 2m tall and underline its sumptuous French flair. The Badeschloss, on the other hand, features greenery that reinforces the hotel’s retro, bath-inspired look. The décor and styling concept also aligns with the “layers of the past” storytelling. Every single detail – whether a historical found object, a special coffee table book, or a classic or contemporary work of literature – corresponds with the spirit of each individual hotel and has been thoughtfully selected and positioned.