A 4-star superior atmosphere in a family-run hotel set against a stunning mountain backdrop – that’s how one might describe the Hotel Erlebach in the Kleinwalsertal in a few words. But there’s one important thing missing: the warm hospitality with which Sara and Raimund Bischof welcome their guests, many of whom are regulars.
This is reflected in the new dining area, which we had the pleasure of designing for the Hotel Erlebach. “Our aim was to create a living room for our guests where they can settle in, feel at home and relax,” explains managing director Raimund Bischof, “and that’s exactly what we’ve achieved with the new bar and lounge area.” Here, guests can round off the evening in comfort after dinner with a piece of cheese and a cocktail.
The interior design creates a cosy atmosphere without appearing cluttered. A understated yet clear design language reflects the hotel’s values: a connection to nature, a warm, relaxed atmosphere and a love for the region are evident in the bar, the wine cellar, as well as in the restaurant and buffet area.
Over the past few years, the Bischofs have repeatedly invested in the Hotel Erlebach, which is now in its third generation of family management. Most recently, the spa and the entrance area, including the reception, were redesigned. Key design elements include shades of green on the walls, wooden panelling and black metal features. Building on this, our interior designer Theresa Scholz developed the concept for the area where guests can indulge in culinary delights.
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“The Bischof family radiate warmth and hospitality,” explains our interior designer Theresa, “and we wanted to incorporate both of these into the interior design concept.” The design language centres on the path of the sun against the imposing backdrop of the Allgäu Alps, and the colour palette is accordingly named ‘Sunrise’ and ‘Sunset’. The colour green is the central element here, for example in the entrance hall.
– We have completely reorganised the relatively large and winding space, so that guests can find their way around more easily, whilst also significantly improving functionality for staff. At the same time, the colour scheme gives the space a tidy and well-organised feel.
The walls reflect the atmosphere of the different times of day – the brightly decorated breakfast area evokes the sunrise, whilst an elegant dark blue dominates the colour scheme in the bar, where guests can wind down at the end of the evening. The bar, as the central feature, is also decorated in blue.
The coving in the restaurant has been retained and enhances the cosy atmosphere – like hands cradling the guests. In the buffet area, for example, this architectural feature is echoed by a miniature coving.
– Theresa Scholz, Interior designer
It soon became clear that the coving created a lovely sense of space and was not something that had simply been carried over ‘by chance’ during the renovation. Quite the opposite, in fact: a new coving was even installed in the alcove in the former entrance hall. The beautiful old wooden ceiling has also been largely preserved – it reinforces the guests’ sense of being in the right place at the right time.
“Even the best design is of no use if it doesn’t work in practice,” explains our hospitality expert Katja Scharnagel. The hotel industry is a high-traffic environment – which means that all areas are used intensively on a daily basis. Accordingly, when planning the layout, we focused on optimising circulation routes. Functionality and durability also played a key role in the selection of materials and products.
“It’s very important to us to provide our staff with the best possible working conditions here, because we see ourselves as a family,” emphasises Raimund Bischof. A hotel kitchen, perfectly planned and fitted out by our project partner FHE in Dornbirn, completes the refurbishment of the catering area. “Traffic flow has been optimised and very high-quality appliances have been installed,” says Bischof.
