Hotel Hubertus Expands Spa With New Wellness Spaces in Italy
For the past decade, Hotel Hubertus has made headlines for its bold, architecturally adventurous amenities. Now, the 75-key resort has turned its attention to the rest of its wellness spaces, applying the same design language to a reimagined lobby, bar, and panoramic sauna. Earlier additions include the dramatic 82-foot-long cantilevered Sky Pool, introduced in 2016, and the equally “diabolical” Heaven & Hell sauna and cold plunge facility from 2022. Both suspended structures embrace a pared-back aesthetic while subtly referencing the alpine architecture of the Dolomites.
A panoramic sauna at Hotel Hubertus. Photography by Markus Ranalter.
Jutting out over the valley, the heated infinity pool is supported by timber beams sourced from the region. Also constructed from locally sourced timber, the sauna features a gabled roof shape mirrored upside down on its lower level.
The pristine, sparsely populated region of northeastern Italy is known for its tall, jagged limestone peaks and clear blue lakes. Above all, these wellness spaces are designed to take full advantage of the striking vista that Hotel Hubertus frames from its eastern-facing mountainside perch. Overlooking the resort is Kronplatz, one of the region’s premier ski destinations, whose slopes become an extensive network of hiking and mountain biking trails during the warmer months.
The Sky Pool was revealed at Hotel Hubertus in 2016. Photography by Nicho di Biasi.
When it came time to reimagine the rest of Hotel Hubertus’s spa and social spaces, it made sense to do so with the same distilled site-responsivity, without skimping on the effect of grandeur. A reimagined lobby includes a bar and a brand-new panoramic sauna, tucked beneath a green roof that extends from a sprawling grass terrace.
The reimagined Hotel Huberto lobby. Photography by Markus Ranalter.
Replacing a set of small cabins, the new sauna is wrapped in a striking herringbone-patterned wood paneling. It plays host to guided infusion rituals at 180 degrees, bio-based treatments at a much more restorative 131 degrees, and steam baths at 112 degrees. Regardless of what guests choose, they’ll always have sweeping vistas in front of them.
This is a far cry from most resorts, even those nearby, that tend to bury their wellness facilities in basements or away from the most captivating views. Here, every space—including all categories of accommodation—looks out over the valley and soaring mountains in the distance. The minimalist design language keeps the surrounding landscape front and center. The underlying intent is for Hotel Hubertus to integrate more fully into its natural setting.
Photography by Manuel Kottersteger
“It looks like one piece of architecture now,” says Markus Gasser, the resort’s second-generation co-proprietor. “We made sure these enhancements stayed true to the surroundings but have a contemporary look and feel.”
Rather than relying on traditional chalet motifs, the redesign lets the landscape remain the focal point.
Hotel Hubertus’s Heaven & Hell sauna and cold plunge experience. Photography by Davide Anzimani & Rebecca Paviola.
“Hotel Hubertus began as a place for my grandfather to gather with friends after a day of hunting,” Gasser explains. “Over the past five decades, we’ve slowly but surely expanded it into what it is now. The focus has always been on providing our guests with the best amenities possible, doing everything to help them enjoy the area, not necessarily maximizing our profit margins.”
Photography by Manuel Kottersteger
Many of the significant changes he and his family have introduced could only have been made because the operation remains so small. Unlike a larger hotel chain, Gasser doesn’t have to run these projects by a supervisory board or a group of outside investors.
“While we’ve expanded over the years, we’ve kept the room number below 75,” he explains. “The idea is to have our most loyal customers come back time and time again and have something new for them to discover each time.”
Photography by Manuel Kottersteger
