Bühelwirt

Cast in a dramatic silhouette in blackened larch wood, eco-conscious and fully organic, design Hotel Bühelwirt in Italy’s stunning Valle Aurina (Ahrntal), with the mighty Großvenediger as a landmark, is a timbered design bastion by local architects Alexander and Armin Pedevilla. With an innate sensitivity to the environment and sustainability, a recurring theme in their work, the Pedevilla brothers used topography to narrate their design, beautifully moulding a new structure with an existing 1910 boutique chalet. The use of charcoal timber references the typical chalet style of the region and radiates a comforting sense of shelter.

Bold angular outcrops and purposefully positioned window pews provide the guest with a constant visual drama of lush Alpine forests and snow-capped mountains, the tarred exterior frames intensifying the theatrics of nature. Merging the original alpine chalet, handed down the generations lovingly as “Old Gal”, with its latest charcoal-hued designs of angular proportions and soft wooden interiors, Bio Hotel Bühelwirt merges seamlessly into the landscape, a design den deeply connected to ancient traditions and its Ladin legacy.

A striking South Tyrolean design outpost of modern meets heritage cool, Hotel Bühelwirt boasts the added twist of inherently fun alpine treehouse vibes, as local larch wood dominates and myriad loggias open onto that great, panoramic view. A cocoon of easy living and natural charm, Bühelwirt is surrounded by the rivers, fells, mountains and waterfalls of a family holiday’s Insta-dreams, and come snowfall, becomes a winter wonderland of wildest imaginings. The contemporary interiors create a retreat to timber-clad rooms of pure design simplicity, offset with putty greys, copper lighting and the soft warmth of ancient Ladin cloth in earthy greens. Balconied angular windows peek out from all directions at mouth-gaping panoramic views, while inside, a nuanced, pared-back Alpine style quietly reigns; simple never looked so good.

A hillside spot in the picturesque village of San Giacomo where homey vibes meet design crew, nature always takes centre stage—from the local South Tyrolean beauty products and fresh spring water that grace each room to the organic veggie fare at breakfast and supper and, of course, the view, touching every moment.

In contrast to the hotel’s dramatic exterior, you’ll find Bühelwirt’s rooms to be set to chill, with blond woods wrapping around the putty-grey natural walls, and hued loden textiles adding familiarity and warmth, with light sources coming from the gleaming copper lamps sourced from the local mines, custom-designed by Harry Thaler.

Furnishings are crafted and give a nostalgic nod to the traditional Alpine decor whilst adopting a contemporary feel.  We particularly like the focus on windows, which frame verdant slices of nature, and many come with padded timber window seats or artfully placed bathtubs to immerse yourself in the view.

Italy’s Hotel Bühelwirt Ahrntal sits 1,175m up in South Tyrol’s beautiful Ahrntal Valley, also known as Valle Aurina. A famed walking haven located just by the Rieserferner Ahrn Nature Park and the Hohe Tauern National Park, nearby are also two popular ski resorts, Klausberg and Speikboden, as well as Kronplatz, an hour and a half’s drive away. 

A cultural haven, too, you can visit the Prettau Demonstration Mine, the medieval Taufers Castle, the Reinbach Waterfalls and Zaha Hadid’s Messner Mountain Museum.