Completed in November 2020, the new Goldener Hirsch Residences include 68 luxury hotel and condominium units designed to complement the Austrian alpine style of the inn with a contemporary residential ambience. 

Connected to the inn via two sky bridges, build-out of the residences also included a pool, spa, conference center, support spaces and a two-level, below-grade parking structure. The project also included a complete renovation of the hotel. 

Photo by Scot Zimmerman

The design is intended to create a “modern mountain” atmosphere, with structural and architectural steel showcased throughout. Each floor of the new six-story steel and concrete structure contains a working mat of post-tension cables that allow for floor-to-ceiling glass. Window and door penetrations through the slab were placed weeks prior to the cables being tightened, requiring precise coordination among trade partners. 

Large-scale glazed panels provide daylight to the interior that—along with board-form concrete and wood elements—complement the darker-colored steel to give the building a sleek, contemporary appearance. 

The design also includes high-performance components such as low-VOC paint, low-E glass, energy-efficient mechanical and electrical systems and smart building control technologies in the rooms. The exterior spaces are intended to create a sense of exploration and maintain a hint of the area’s mining history. 

Built on a constrained site in the foot of a popular ski resort on a schedule that included three months of winter construction, the team took care to minimize disruption and maintain visitor access to the resort while planning for unpredictable and sometimes harsh weather conditions.