stieg’nhaus Design Boutique Hotel by Hkollektive . studio für architektur & design

stieg’nhaus is a design boutique hotel located in the alpine village of Mühlbach am Hochkönig in Austria’s Salzburg province, set within the dramatic landscape of the Hochkönig massif. The project transforms a historic village building into an intimate retreat for contemporary Alpine living, combining strong contextual awareness with a calm, reduced architectural language.

At the heart of the architecture lies the original staircase – the “Stiege” – which serves as both spatial and conceptual nucleus of the building. Conceived not merely as a circulation element, it embodies the idea of continuous movement and flow. Its rounded geometry forms the basis of a consistent, circular formal language that extends throughout the entire hotel.

This principle is translated into key architectural and interior elements, such as freestanding bathtubs, showers, saunas, fire bowls, fittings, and whirlpools. The rounded forms are complemented by a restrained palette of natural materials: solid wood, natural stone, coarse plaster surfaces, and handcrafted ceramic elements. These materials emphasize tactile quality, material honesty, and a strong connection to regional craftsmanship. The sense of endless movement initiated within the stair core continues into the rooms, creating a coherent spatial experience defined by calm, dynamism, warmth and timeless architectural clarity.