Architecture and Design: Hotel Well / MVA

Architects: MVA

Location: Tuheljske Toplice, Croatia

Architect In Charge: Marin Mikelić, TomislavVreš

Collaborators: DubravkaPerica, IvanaKrneta, IvanaDrviš, SilvijaPranjić, Sara Pavlov, StjepanBirač (Architecture)

Client: TermeTuheljd.o.o.

Area: 12,250 sqm

Year: 2012

The addition to an existing congress/wellness hotel is located in the thermal complex “TermeTuhelj”, Croatia, next to theprotected historical park and baroque Curia “Mihanović”. The starting point of the project was the idea of connecting all the existing and new facilities and integrating theminto anewand meaningful ensemble.

With respect to the existing pavilion-likeorganisation, the architects developed a concept of a “detached” hotel, providingthe users a connection with naturefrom all the inside spaces. The program of the new part of a hotel is clearly vertically separated (public + accommodation). 126 rooms are divided into three smaller pavilions (along to the three old ones) and the “public” facilities are organized into elongated ground base. This base assimilates some of the existing “public” spaces and connects all old and new accommodation pavilions.

This organisationprovided natural light even in congress halls with beautiful views to the Zagorje landscape.Dividingtheaccomodation facilities into three pavilions provided all of the rooms with nice views to the scenery.

Terrain configuration is used to form an amphitheater in the center that provides a visual and spatial communication of the congress center and hotel lobby with the baroque Curia in the background. This space,besides the added value for the hotel and convention center, can adopt a whole range of different activities and could contribute to the social life of local community.

The selection of materials for the facade envelope marks the theme of duality (light / heavy). Side facades are “wrapped” with the envelope of lightweight aluminum composite panels colored in gold whose perforations allow views from the rooms.The rest of the facades and roof surfaces are covered with precast concrete panels, partly opening as perforated ‘eyelids’in front of the windows. This intervention enters the dialogue with the existing context by using contemporary architectural language.Through that dialogue, without“blending-in”, it aims to establish new and more complex spatial relations.