The historic Badeschloss Hotel recently reopened its doors in the Wes Anderson-like spa town of Bad Gastein in the Austrian province of Salzburg. The restoration project was led by Vienna-based architectural firm BWM Designers & Architects, who sought to revitalize the splendor of the property on Straubingerplatz next to the picturesque Gastein waterfall. In addition, a 13-storey extension has been added.
Built in the late 18th century as a public spa and with a rich history, the bathing castle was originally known as the bathing castle. After a period as a hotel in the 1920s, the building had recently fallen into disrepair.
The renovation focused on the principle of “working with the layers of the past”. The interior design was inspired by the work of Belgian choreographer Anne Teresa De Keersmaeker entitled “Mystery Sonatas / for Rosa” and gave the old building a contemporary touch.
The 102 guest rooms are spread over the original building and the new building. Some rooms have a freestanding bathtub (or even a double bath) and a private sauna. The concept is “A bath to spend the night in,” with guests able to turn their space into a private spa with additional wellness options.
The hotel’s Alpine Swim Club Spa offers guests three floors of vitality, including a rooftop pool with crystal-clear staircases. The sauna area on the 12th floor offers panoramic views, a seraglio bath, a Finnish sauna and a herbal-pine sauna, and emphasizes the hotel’s bathing culture.
The architects collaborated with Andrea von Goetz, creator of the art festivals Summer Fresh Art and Art Bad Gastein, to curate the hotel’s art concept. A group of contemporary artists from Bad Gastein and beyond contributed their exclusive works to create a unique offering in the space.
