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NOA - Italy

Lukas Rungger and Stefan Rier met while working as project architects with the renowned architect and designer Matteo Thun in Milan, being responsible for a series of challenging projects in the field of tourism, modern living and contemporary workplaces.

Before joining forces to found noa* back home in Bozen/Bolzano in 2010, both Lukas and Stefan improved their skills and finetuned their work-ethos during a decade of work experiences both locally and abroad.

They gained particularly diverse cultural and social influences from living and working in New York, London, Berlin, Milan, Ferrara and Graz...which until present remains the crucial influence and input on their recent designs.

Lukas Rungger (born 1977) graduated in architecture from Technical University Graz (Austria) and worked first as architect and project leader with Prof. Hans Gangoly in Graz and then moved to London to work with Softroom and finally in Milan with Matteo Thun. After having gained his diploma in Brooklyn (NYC) and his professional qualification as architect from IUAV Venezia (Italy), Lukas has been extensively involved in a variety of projects mainly in the field of urban planning, housing, hotels and interior architecture of bars, shops and restaurants. He was a member of the Royal Institute of British Architecture and is now a member of the Architectural Chamber of Bozen/Bolzano.

Stefan Rier (born 1979) graduated in interior design from Centro Studi „Andrea Palladio“ Verona (Italy) and in architecture from Technical University Ferrara (Italy). He worked first as architect and project leader with Arch. Demetz, and then moved to Bergamo to work with Prof. Massimiliano Mandarini and finally in Milan with Matteo Thun. He received his professional qualification as interior designer and architect from Universita di Genova. Stefan has been focusing on a series of projects from sustainable housing to hotels, extending to interiors, landscaping and bespoke furniture design. He is now a member of the Architectural Chamber of Bozen/Bolzano.

Project Description

It is all about the apple in the ‘Apfelhotel Torgglerhof’ in Saltusio in the Passiria Valley in Northern Italy. The Apfelsauna and the wellness area are part of the farm ensemble - surrounded by numerous apple trees and nature. The hotel is extended with 9 new rooms and a new wellness while the public spaces as the reception, restaurant and bar are redone within the existing building.

For noa* network of architecture the starting point and key element of the design was the circle of the apple throughout the year: bloom, harvest, refinement and repose period.

The entire sauna area is dedicated to the repose period and is diving into the nature in the truest sense of its word. The building gets part of the landscape and forms an extension to the garden. The outer structure of the wellness building is totally green and is seen as a hill, which evolves into a mystical and intimate space at the interior.

The interior is kept pure and dedicated to the elegance of the materials. The earth-coloured concrete walls pursue the lines of the wooden slats of the sauna benches and highlight the sloped form. Concrete lamps form the lighting of the interior. The big window opening allows the guests to enjoy the great view towards the surrounding nature.

The spa area consists of a sauna with changing rooms and a shower on one floor as well as a relaxing space on the lower floor – always viewing the greenery of the apple trees.