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Just over one hundred years ago, South Tyrol was still under the rule of the Austrian Empire. In its search for a suitable location for a sanatorium to cure the common respiratory and skeletal diseases of the time, the monarchy came across the small village of Palmschoss on the Plose mountain. The excellent natural surroundings of this place led it to be preferred over far better known and more established Alpine health resorts: its many days of sunshine, mild climate, spring water from the Plose and pure mountain air all seemed to combine to produce the best conditions for a speedy recovery. Today, the historic main building of the FORESTIS benefits from the power provided by this natural location.
In the immediate vicinity of the sanatorium, a separate residence, protected from view by age-old trees, was built to serve as a private retreat for the attending doctors. Shortly after, however, the turmoil of war prevented the use of the spacious sanatorium with its medical centre.
With the opening of the FORESTIS in recent years came a desire to revitalise the doctors’ villa (which had lain sadly derelict for many decades), secure in the knowledge that this house amid the forest was an architectural rarity for its time. The stone foundations, wooden façades and pitched roof all follow the traditions of the Alpine holiday homes and huts built in the high mountains. Conversely, the spacious rooms and loggias, not to mention the carved ornamentation on the entrance door, point to the architectural heritage of the later 19th century and of European Art Nouveau.
With the aim of recreating the look and atmosphere of the historic villa in its original state, Teresa and Stefan turned to the old Vienna city archive and obtained the original hand-drawn construction plans for the building. The extensive renovation works thus began, in close cooperation with the Office for Monuments Conservation and assisted by restorers who were familiar with the craftsmanship and possibilities of that time.
From these origins, the building reflects the simplicity of life in the mountains to reveal an era that demanded a certain ingenuity on the part of its builders. Different types of wood and stone were used according to the locally available materials. One hundred years later, the building’s basic structure and elements, such as the hand-hewn beams, floorboards and panelling, were mostly in a very poor state and had to be dismantled and rebuilt step by step, with the consistent use of the craftsmanship and types of stone and wood as before. Specialist restorers refurbished the paint, floors, walls, windows and furniture of the old villa and added details, such as the cast iron handles typical of Alpine holiday homes or new pieces of furniture produced in the same straight-lined design.
While the appearance of the villa brings the history of Alpine architecture back into the present, the technology and comfort of this revitalised building meet modern standards of sustainability and future viability.
Whereas each room used to be individually heated using wood, the building now has an energy-efficient heating and operating system, with the insulation designed in line with forecasts for the climate developments of coming decades. The lighting was specially designed to meet the quality requirements of the art and museum sector so as to emphasise the qualities of the historic rooms by means of indirect light.
The redesigned bathrooms and spa complement the historic interior, with their linear design, high-quality materials and warm colours blending into the architectural concept of the villa. A lift for barrier-free access was installed where the fireplaces were no longer required.
The FORESTIS Villa is now available as a private retreat for up to ten guests and can only be booked exclusively.
