WITH CONTEMPORARY ART MUSEUM IN COURMAYEUR
In 2018, the architect Lorena Alessio co-signed the design of REBA PALACE – a hotel in Courmayeur – with the Japanese architect Kengo Kuma.
An ongoing work project which saw its first development phase and is now in the executive phase for an aparthotel consisting of luxury apartments, a large spa and a contemporary art museum in the Plan Gorret resort of Courmayeur, Italy's oldest ski resort in an area that lies in front of the Mont Blanc. The property is set in a remarkably beautiful natural landscape and benefits from unforgettable views over the mountain and valley.
The overall design by Lorena Alessio, was commissioned by the Sandretto Re Rebaudengo family. Local and eco-sustainable materials were used with the aim of paying special attention to energy efficiency and the relationship with nature. The building is envisioned as a "casket" surrounded by greenery, clad in wood to blend in with the surrounding forests.
The construction of 22 high-end apartments involved a total investment of several million euros. In each room, it is possible to enjoy a private spa in addition to the common wellness center with a spa arranged on 3 floors. Another particularity of the hotel is the museum exhibition center provided by the facility as well as all the other services.
What will distinguish REBA PALACE will be precisely the creation of this museum exhibition center of the Fondazione Sandretto Re Rebaudengo, which runs a contemporary art foundation with branches in both Turin and Madrid. Courmayeur's Reba Palace will thus become the museum's permanent mountain headquarters, where contemporary art exhibitions will be displayed.
The hotel tourism residence will feature 21 apartments. The ground floor entrance leads to the reception, office, reading space, and provides access to the superior floors. There are 5 apartments distributed on each floor from the third to the fifth, and 3 others on the garden floor.
On the superior floors, the five apartments consist of one studio apartment with a bathroom, three apartments with a kitchen, living room, bedroom and bathroom, and one apartment with a kitchen, living room, two bedrooms and two bathrooms.
On the ground floor, the 3 apartments consist of a studio apartment with a bathroom, an apartment with a kitchen, living room, bedroom, and bathroom, and an apartment with a kitchen, living room, two bedrooms, and two bathrooms.
The expansive spa is spread over three floors: on the ground floor, there is the spa with a relaxation area with artwork from the Fondazione Sandretto Re Rebaudengo, a herbal tea room, staircase to floor 1, and an area designated for indoor and outdoor swimming pools with a solar deck; on the 1st floor, the reception area with locker rooms and a relaxation room with sauna; on the 2nd floor, massage cabins, a yoga area that opens onto a large terrace, fitness room, and cabins for specific treatments.
All services are provided for the guests of the facility, which can also be used by outside residents and tourists. An underground garage, a ski room and large outdoor spaces complete the services offered.
The building features alternating wooden walls and large windows. The cladding of the structure, as originally suggested by Kengo Kuma in the initial 2018 design, is larch left natural with an irregular edge that recalls the irregularity inherent in wood. The natural planks are four meters high and are planned to undergo a steam treatment to ensure their durability and protection from the weather.
A large underground parking lot in the birch-covered hill will be able to accommodate about eighty cars, while a ground-floor restaurant of about 150 square meters will open on the north side of the building, with a planned capacity of up to 100 people.
Construction is scheduled to begin in March 2023 with an opening in 2026. When the Reba Palace in Courmayeur opens its doors, Guests will have the opportunity to live a unique experience: it will be like being inside a wooden casket surrounded by greenery, with breathtaking views of Mount Chetif and the Mont Blanc.
