The Santnerpass refuge, rebuilt by Senoner Tammerle Architekten, is an unusual retreat in the Dolomites and a testament to modern vernacular architecture.
The Hotel Santnerpass sits at 2,734 meters above sea level atop the Rosengarten massif in South Tyrol, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Michel Perathoner and Romina Huber, a couple with a passion for the mountains, acquired the property in 2018 and entrusted its renovation to Senoner Tammerle Architekten. This Bolzano-based architecture firm has succeeded in turning the hut into a place dedicated to the most experienced mountaineers, who have the tenacity to reach it. It is the starting point for a number of climbing routes offering exceptional views of the Alpine peaks. The ascent includes via ferrata on steel cables, followed by a winding route to the summit.
REINTERPRETATION OF ALPINE STYLES
The A-shaped architecture blends authenticity and minimalism, modernity and tradition. The place traces its origins back to the 1950s, with a first stone shelter designed by a local mountain guide and closed in 2012. Today, its triangular structure plays with vernacular elements and blends into its surroundings, while standing out with its glittering roof.
The architects' approach combines wood, steel and glass to offer security and durability in the face of the spectacular, radical and vertiginous views from the Santner Pass. Galvanized sheet steel, a material particularly resistant to extreme weather conditions, changes color with the sun, coloring the refuge with the yellow and orange hues of sunsets.
BETWEEN COMFORT AND CLEAN LINES
Spaces on four floors can accommodate up to 40 guests. The fluid, open-plan layout favors the connection between indoors and outdoors, with spruce walls and floors and an interior adorned with untreated larch furniture.
On the first floor, the dining room and bar open onto a panoramic terrace that offers the full spectacle of the mountains through a large glass façade. The second floor is given over to some fifteen small rooms with shared bathrooms.
Since 2023, Michel and Romina have been revitalizing the place, giving new energy to high-mountain accommodation and a real boost to adrenaline-seekers and passionate hikers. An exciting way to see the world and experience adventure off the beaten track.
