Like a gigantic cube of wood that has fallen from the sky, Hotel Kežmarské Hut lies in the High Tatra Mountains of Slovakia, the highest area of the Carpathian Mountains. It is designed to blend into its surroundings, an environment of almost unreachable peaks where snow covers the landscape for most of the year.
Providing the necessary warmth in an area of extreme cold, we see the omnipresent wood in all interiors of this marvellous piece of architecture which, defying gravity, seems to perch on just one edge. The impression of a lopsided prism is appreciated in the interior, the wooden ceilings of which are set out as an uneven pyramid. The walls also lack straightness, bringing dynamism to the interior architecture.
While wood fully covers the floors, walls and furniture of Hotel Kežmarské Hut, glass and aluminium are the materials which dominate the exterior of this Slovakian shelter. Glass is present in the dozens of windows of the structure, giving the hotel beautiful views of the pristine mountain.
The facade, by contrast, is made of aluminium, like an enormous metal prism. This material reflects the surroundings, creating a play of light and shadows which varies depending on the impact of the sun.
The use of solar panels is also notable. The sun gives beauty to the design, but is above all key to achieving energy efficiency, which is very important at an altitude over 2,500 metres. The shape and orientation of the building allow rays of sunlight to be received throughout the whole day, both on its north and south sides.
The Atelier 8000 architecture studio designed this amazing architecture project. Only the most daring mountaineers are lucky enough to visit it.
