Second Draft and Construction
Shortly before the scheduled review by the construction board, Mazagg’s first draft was revised as instructed by the owner, and the number of floors in the main structure reduced to four. The length of the building was shortened by reducing the size of the back (eastern) wall and the planned curvature was lessened. The kitchen wing—which had been shown as protruding from the north and east faces—was re-aligned with those façades. The architect conceptualized the northern section as a free-standing cubic block with a flat roof rather than integrating it with the single-slope-roofed main tract. The second and third floors were fitted out with 10 guestrooms each.
In spite of all these changes, which reduced the total volume of the building, the fundamental design of the first draft was maintained. In fact, these alterations significantly influenced the formal styling of the edifice. Most notably, the new conception for the northern end offered a surprise: the tower’s cubic appearance seemed more appropriate in a contemporary urban architecture than in an alpine hotel.
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Mazagg exploited the potential of the façade design, achieving a congenial unity between the “urbanity“ of the cube and the adjacent alpine single-slope-roof. This unity shows in the east façade as well as in the western-facing front, which runs in a lightly curving convex and ends in the prodruding tower-like northern corner structure. The weatherboarded top floors and the balcony running above the entrance way reinforce the horizontal movement and accentuate the contrast with the vertical northern terminus with its asymmetrical features. The tower dominates the scene, while the horizontal aspect takes on a supporting visual role with its multi-faceted functions.
These juxtaposed architectural elements are united by means of a terrace situated seven steps above street-level.
The terrace serves as spatial complement, as a unifying pedestal, so to speak, a locus for the entire complex which establishes the entrance area on the one hand, and whose form, on the other hand, is taken up again--in a lighthearted way--by the second-floor balcony. Toward the southern end, the terrace--in effect a walled platform--widens to encompass a covered area bounded on two sides, visually delineated by the supporting column.
The protruding northern tower encloses the terrace and protects it from the northern winds. The charming juxtaposition of vertical and horizontal building elements is emphasized through the bold application of construction materials which serve to optically strengthen the structures, layers and plasticity of the complex.
It should be noted that the exterior appearance and the treatment of the materials used, were determined by the local building authorities: “The exterior stucco wall surfaces are to be tinted, visible wooden components are to be stained dark, exterior windows, doors, etc. are to be painted...“ (Protokoll der Bezirkshauptmannschaft Innsbruck, Pt 5).
Accordingly, the stucco surfaces were tinted white, the window frames painted blue, the weatherboard and the exterior doors—designed by the architect himself—stained dark.
The 7 steps leading to the main entrance are cut into the terrace fronting the main façade and lead directly into the hotel. A relatively unobtrusive frame around the entrance way, together with the prominent jutty located right above it, emphasizes the situation and defines the space.
