Lanserhof Lans

Following the successful opening of the Lanserhof Tegernsee in the spring of 2014—one of the most modern health resorts in Europe—the extension building of the Lanserhof health resort in Lans, Austria, was completed in 2016. The design for the upgrade of the Lanserhof, where the LANS Med Concept originated, was completed by ingenhoven architects within seven months. The modernization included the refurbishment of the existing building and of a modern new oval building to the south of the main tract that was built in the 1970s. ingenhoven architects was in charge of the entire design of the new buildings and the refurbishment, including interior design. The extension building opened its doors in 2017.

The Lanserhof Lans covers an area of about 10,000 square meters. "The seamless integration of the architecture in the Alpine landscape and the carefully engineered relationship with the surrounding nature, taking into account the aspects of building physics, has been a key objective of this project", says Christoph Ingenhoven, founder and owner of ingenhoven architects. The building complex of the resort consists of three sections—the main house and several additions and extensions. One of the existing guest houses was replaced by a new building with 16 rooms and suites designed by ingenhoven architects. In addition, changes were made in the existing building at entrance level, which houses the reception, a restaurant, shop, lounge with fireplace, and library, and in the second basement floor, in the treatment area. On the first floor of the new building, guests benefit from a spa area with saunas, showers, extended medical rooms, as well as an internal and external salt water pool. The two floors above have seven rooms as well as one suite each.

The building facade consists of red cedar wood. Balconies project from the facade and, together with lateral vertical screens, produce a multifaceted building envelope. The playful design of the facade, with varying balcony depths and lateral wooden fins, captures the idea of wind, sun, and views, while granting privacy. The oval shape of the building provides optimal protection from the wind. A completely planted roof garden seems to literally invite the surrounding Alpine meadows to the roof of the new building. In addition, there are seven private terraces that are linked with the suites via steps.

Natural materials without synthetic finishes and harmonious and plain rooms are the building blocks of this health-promoting architecture that is focused on the holistic recovery of guests. Similar to the design for the Lanserhof Tegernsee development, with its building biology credentials, only selected materials are used, such as insulation materials, paints, and varnishes that have been tested under ecological and health criteria. The architecture, with its elegant shapes and subtle colors, is toned down and timeless. Calm and earthy bronze and grey shades and many wooden surfaces support the effect of the medical/therapeutic treatments.

The idea was to create a particularly sustainable and healthy building complex in which guests can recuperate and re-energize in harmony with nature.