Gerlosplatte youth guesthouse

Krimml, Salzburg state

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DESIGN Architectural office Lechner & Lechner

HOLZBAU Ehrenreich BaugmbH

STRUCTURAL PLANNING Forsthuber ZT GmbH

PHOTOGRAPHY Julian Höck

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(Original text translated from German)

A youth guest house with 450 beds sits at 1,700 meters above sea level between the Zillertal and the Pinzgau. Tailored for the adventurous youth. The architecture of this youth guest house reveals itself in simple originality, focusing on the essentials: the creation of versatile spatial opportunities for social interaction. The seven-story youth guest house presents itself as a solid wooden construction made of cross-laminated timber elements for ceilings and walls. The imposing wooden bar extends over a width of around 17 meters. a length of approximately 74 meters and reaches an impressive height of up to 21.7 meters. A total of 1,840 m3 of regional wood were processed. The architecture places the spatial program of the youth hostel like an architectural 3D puzzle with particular attention to the sports facilities. A competition gym. Climbing and bouldering walls. Trampoline. Pump track. Indoor soccer field. as well as table tennis and billiards merge into a compact whole of 7500 m2 of usable space - like the pieces of a 3D puzzle or a Tetris game. These sports facilities are of crucial importance for the German youth travel operator. The architecture is subject to strict target costing. to keep travel costs affordable.

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An outstanding feature of the youth guest house is the promenade with transparency - an inner ramp. which not only handles arrival days. but also an open one. Creates airy space and enables visual connections throughout the building. This “wooden dome” unfolds at an interior height of approx. 17m. The indoor walking path connects the sports areas in the basement with the rooms on three floors above up to the attic and forms differentiated, semi-open room zones with hammocks. Seating niches or root tables. These can even become spectator stands for the cellar wall or a podium for victories. This centerpiece illustrates the handling of materials and construction throughout the entire building: raw and simple. In addition to sheet steel, cross-laminated timber is the structural material of choice - the youth guest house is a solid wooden construction except for the parts in contact with the ground. The conscious decision for simple and rough surfaces gives the house a lively feel and is affectionately referred to by users as an “oversized pine room”. Remains of lime plywood panels are used in furniture construction, while pallets from the construction process serve as ski racks. Crudity is also celebrated in other areas: cables are laid in plain sight. constructive details remain visible. The structure, clad in larch wood, is embedded in the gentle slope and appears less massive from the street. Mid-height entry allows up and down movement. The group tours are already welcomed in the spacious village square. which is also used for evening barbecue events. The two single-story side wings. Part of the landscape through greenery. Distribute groups into individual receptions and base camps throughout the eight dining halls.