OLM Nature Escape, Sand in Taufers (Campo Tures), Italy
A Circular Alpine Retreat Where Radical Sustainability Meets Contemporary Design
Why DNA Hotels Loves It
● A striking ring-shaped hotel by architect Andreas Gruber, inspired by an old millstone and conceived as a contemporary interpretation of the Alpine pasture.
● Natural larch, stone, glass, and mineral surfaces create warm interiors while generous glazing keeps the surrounding mountains constantly in view.
● One of the Alps’ most ambitious eco resorts, combining solar and geothermal energy, water recycling, an artesian well, and near self-sufficient operation.
A Circle in the Landscape
High in South Tyrol’s Ahrntal Valley, OLM Nature Escape appears almost otherworldly. Its circular form, conceived by architect Andreas Gruber, was inspired by an old millstone once found on the site. Rather than following the familiar language of the Alpine lodge, the building wraps around a vast central courtyard, creating a continuous dialogue between architecture, garden, water, and mountain. The form feels futuristic. The idea is deeply rooted in place.
Architecture Without a Back
Because the building has no conventional front or rear, every part of OLM faces the landscape. A 350-metre glass corridor traces the circular plan, framing meadows, peaks, and changing skies from every angle. The structure is deliberately restrained, with untreated larch, local stone, natural plaster, and glass allowing the architecture to settle into its setting despite its unmistakable geometry. Every room looks outward. The landscape remains uninterrupted.
ApartSuites in Larch and Light
The ApartSuites combine the independence of an apartment with the atmosphere of a design hotel. Larch cladding, natural stone, spruce, and soft mineral surfaces create interiors that feel warm, calm, and distinctly Alpine. Each suite includes a kitchenette and private outdoor space, while larger categories add freestanding baths and Finnish saunas. Even the Wi-Fi can be switched off, allowing guests to disconnect completely. Comfort feels intentional. Technology never takes over.
Sustainability as Structure
OLM’s environmental ambitions are embedded in the building itself. Solar panels and geothermal systems provide energy and heating, while an artesian well, grey-water recycling, rainwater harvesting, and water-efficient fittings reduce resource use. Rooms are plastic-free, linen changes are kept to a minimum, and the gardens are maintained in part by grazing animals. Sustainability is not decorative. It determines how the hotel works.
Wellness Around the Courtyard
At the centre of the resort, a wild garden, natural bathing pond, and solar-heated indoor-outdoor pool form a calm internal landscape. The spa is partially sunken into the ground, with Finnish, steam, and bio saunas overlooking the water and gardens. Large glazed surfaces maintain the connection with the outdoors, even in the most secluded spaces. The architecture turns inward. Nature remains present.
Why It Works
OLM Nature Escape succeeds because its bold architecture and ecological ambitions are part of the same idea. The circular form creates identity without severing the hotel from its surroundings, while local materials, renewable energy, and thoughtful resource management give the project real environmental credibility. It is a rare example of contemporary hospitality where innovation, autonomy, and a sense of place exist in complete balance.
