Take an old square, steeped in history and tradition, and turn it into a hotel — or even two. This was the goal for the creatives at BWM Designers & Architects, bringing the Hotel Straubinger + Badeschloss back to life as the new face of Bad Gastein, a famous ski and spa town located in Austria's Tauern Mountains. Here, the new hotel is welcomed at the heart of the town, the Straubingerplatz town square where its iconic waterfall gushes.
Starting with the buildings in the square — the old Grand Hotel, the spa and the post office — the creative team was called to dive deeper, connecting the past with the present and creating an open and fertile space true to its own identity that could still be permeated by other languages. Here, the structure would stand as a reference point not only for guests, but also for the valley's inhabitants. In short, it was about "working with the layers of history," as the architects put it, blending its glorious past with contemporary and even surprising elements.
Built between 1791 and 1888, the Hotel Straubinger, the Badeschloss and the Alte Post are now listed historical monuments, meaning every modification, innovation and detail has been endorsed by the relevant authorities — a complicated challenge when you consider the spaces covered by the project exceed 18,000 m2.
In order to discover the new look of the square-hotel, we start with Hotel Straubinger, heir to the original Grand Hotel, which preserves its understated, enveloping elegance, winking at French rather than Alpine tastes. History can be felt here even before check-in, with room keys poking out of a velvet-lined drawer like jewels. Opposite the reception desk, a grand staircase leads to the upper floors, while the F&B area stands to the right, unfurling onto the square. In keeping with the motto "working with the layers of the past," all areas feature a contrasting mix of old and new, including the combination of pre-existing wood paneling with modern or repurposed wall panels, or the carefully remodeled oak parquet flooring, above which hangs a spectacular chandelier created on the model of the lost original piece. All this is bathed in a fresh and vibrant color palette, ranging from green to apricot to amber, welcoming the occasional golden flicker.
To the left of the main entrance, guests can head to the spa, which spans three floors. Here, a passageway connects the old structure to a new wood, glass and concrete building dominated by an unexpectedly maritime atmosphere. As for Hotel Straubinger's 46 rooms, the idea was to make each one a sort of painting. Their balance of color and light is inspired by the chiaroscuro of oil paintings, with the dense, deep intimacy of the space receding only before the dazzling beauty of the panorama, framed by large windows.
From there we move to the Hotel Badeschloss next door, which celebrates its history by taking a playful approach to spa culture. The 102 rooms available are spread between the original building and its new extension — a 13-story block with a neo-Brutalist feel. The stained-glass windows that interrupt its square, almost rock-like texture serve as decorative elements and "showcases" for the baths. In doing so, the hotel makes its raison d'être explicit from the outset, offering itself up to the eyes of passersby. On the roof, adorned with crystal steps, stands the ever-present infinity pool, a tribute to the glass domes that tower above the Bad Gastein convention center.
The spa spirit also dictates things inside: the yellow table in the lobby resembles a trampoline, white and blue tiles peek out from walls and furnishings, and there’s even a row of lockers — the kind you find in the changing rooms of pools — that serve as a wardrobe. And the suites? Here, guests will find "a bathroom where you can spend the night," meaning the bathtub is always center stage, even better when accompanied by a breathtaking view of the surrounding mountains.
