Seehotel Ambach beams its guests back to the seventies. At the beginning of the decade, architect Othmar Barth, considered a pioneer of modernity in South Tyrol, created a complete work of art – merging architecture, design and nature – on the northern shore of Lake Caldaro. The architecture directly references the area’s genius loci; gently curved yet with clear geometric forms, the hotel takes up the contours of the landscape. This nigh-futuristic building resembles a ship moored on the lake shore. The staircase is designed as an open hall and has a light, airy ambience. The public rooms, including the restaurant and lounge as well as the hotel’s guest rooms all open out to the lake, the surrounding parklands and the mountains – with floor-to-ceiling windows, terraces and loggias.
The spirit of the 1970s pervades throughout the house, which is meticulously detailed. Othmar Barth designed parts of the interior exclusively for the hotel and combined them with Italian designer lamps and chairs. The original interior design has also been complemented with a selection of modern pieces that reflect the design style of the house, and go perfectly with Barth’s colour palette of oxide red, mustard yellow and olive green. The bathrooms have been redesigned and adapted to modern requirements – South Tyrolean architect Walter Angonese designed them in a simple and timelessly elegant style.
Angonese also designed the bathhouse located towards the back of the park, which is connected to the hotel via a long pool. Built on stilts, the bathhouse will remind you of a garden pavilion, blending in harmoniously with the hotel ensemble while retaining its own unique character.
Also read our HomeStory.
What to do
Hiking, mountain biking and racing, windsurfing, swimming, SUP & pedal boating, SPA (bio sauna 65° with IR heaters, sauna 90°, whirlpool), yoga (during the summer months).
Why we like this house
Holidays in an architectural icon. This 70s-era hotel radiates a timeless modernity. Inside, the hotel impresses with its beautifully preserved original furnishings.
This house is great for
For single travellers and couples.
Owner
Seehotel Ambach has always been a family-run business. Klaus and Manuela Maran have been the owners since 2014. The two of them were many-time windsurfing world champions and got to know each other in the Italian national team. Together they also run the bathing and restaurant business "Gretl am See" on the western shore of Lake Kaltern and the historic wine farm "Seehofkeller" (restaurant) above the lake. From the very beginning, they wanted to do justice to the spirit of the 1970s while offering the comfort of the 21st century at the Seehotel, without any stylistic inconsistencies.
Details
Region | IT – Italy, South Tyrol, Caldaro |
Name | Seehotel Ambach |
Scenery | unique position directly by the lake, surrounded by vineyards |
Number of guests | 28 rooms and 1 suite for 2 guests, 3 suites for 4 guests |
Completed | 1973 |
Design | Architecture: Othmar Barth, Brixen;Bathhouse: Walter Angonese, Caldaro; Landscape Design: João Nunes, Lisbon |
Published | Baumeister 7/2022, Monocle / Süddeutsche Zeitung / AD Architectural Digest España / The Guardian / Südtirols schönste Hotels / "150 hotels you need to visit before you die" von Debbie Pappyn / AW Architektur & Wohnen 2019 / db Deutsche Bauzeitung 2019 / ARTE "Re: Fernweh nach Italien" 2021 |
Awards | GAULT&MILLAU South Tyrol, “Hotel of the year 2021/2022”, GAULT&MILLAU Austria “Ambiente Award 2021” |
Architecture | Modern, Old & new |
Accomodation | Hotel |
Criteria | Rooms for 1-4 (hotel), Family, Garden, Hiking, Lake/river, Mountains, Pool, Restaurant, Spa, Wine |
Same Architect | Villa Baronessa & Villa Baronessina |
CIN: IT021015A1GKLKIR2R |
Availability calendar
The calendar shows the current availability of the accommodation. On days with a white background, the accommodation is still fully available. If an accommodation has more than one rentable unit, days with free capacities are shown with a light grey background. On days with a dark grey background, the accommodation is not available.
3 Comments
Wir haben im Oktober 2021 eine traumhafte Woche im Ambach verbracht. Hervorragendes Essen, exzellenter, aber nicht aufdringlicher Service, sehr freundliches Personal und das architektonisch großartige Hotel in einmaliger Lage. Der Garten strahlt eine Ruhe und Gelassenheit aus, die von dem Rundumblick und der Ruhe des Sees (jedenfalls im Herbst) noch übertroffen wird. Der Saunabereich fügt sich perfekt in den Garten ein, ist klein, aber fein, was bei der Größe des Hotels vollkommen ausreicht. Aufgrund der Größe und Ruhe des Hotels erholt man sich von der ersten Minute an. Aus fast allen Zimmern und dem Restaurant (sowie der Terasse) hat man den herrlichen Ausblick auf den Kalterer See und die umliegenden Berge. Auch unsere drei Kinder haben es sehr genossen. Nicht zu viel Trubel mit Halligalli und Animation, aber doch genug auch für Kinder zu erleben (Stand Up-Paddling, Kajaks und die Tretboote, der Pool und der See). Wir kommen wieder!
Schließe mich Frau Moormann an,da möchte ich auch hin!!
Da möchte ich hin!