“Being a guest at vigilius is more than just spending a few beautiful days: It encompasses gaining new experiences and discovering new values.” Ulrich Ladurner
The ecological Design Hotel vigilius mountain resort is located at car free 1,500 metres altitude; this contemporary hideaway can only be reached by foot or by cable car, the second eldest in Europe. Nature sets the tone at the vigilius, determines the tact of daily life and facilitates easy reflection and a rediscovery of oneself. There is neither traffic nor noise, one hears merely the occasional whisper of the winds that break the silence of the mountains. Relaxing in style and feeling completely at ease while doing so – at the vigilius mountain resort it happens naturally.
For architect Matteo Thun the vigilius mountain resort resembles a huge fallen tree lying in the woods. This effect is intensified by the pronounced horizontal structure of the wooden lattice facade, which represents the bark of the fallen tree. This creates an artful balance between nature and architecture, tradition and modernity, between comfortable lifestyle and fascinating design. The architecture does not call attention to itself, nor does it rival its surroundings.
Those who go to the vigilius are looking for more than tranquillity and clear mountain air. The pure ambiance supports every attempt to clarify one’s needs. A natural lifestyle is one of the special features at the vigilius mountain resort. The minute guests enter the hotel they step into a new dimension. They are immersed in natural materials such as wood, clay, glass, stone and warm colours all around, as far as the eye can see. Spacious rooms with panorama windows provide splendid views of the woods, South Tyrolean mountains and Dolomites. There are no obstructions, everything is open. This caresses body and soul. The fragrance of wood and freshness is everywhere - nature is outside as well as inside.
Green Star Rating Results:
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Overall Rating: ★★★★★ (5)
Energy Rating: ★★★★★ (5)
Staff Comment - We have motion sensor lighting in the public areas, all guest bedrooms have key-card activated electrical systems. All lighting in the hotel is energy saving types; appliances and equipment are purchased with energy saving in mind.
For all the glass facades in the entire resort, exclusively three-pane thermal insulated glazing were installed. The flat roof is also extremely well insulated with high-quality thermal material and is additionally equipped with a humus substrate layer for the roof planting.
The high-quality thermal insulation of the building envelope and construction ensures very low heat requirements despite the exposed siting, significant glazing and the partially higher room temperature requirements in pool and spa area. Overheating in summer is avoided by means of adequate exterior sun shading (wooden lattice structure), energy storage-mass and direct ventilation possibilities. The hermetically tight building envelope eliminates drafts.
It was clear right from the start: oil and gas should not provide the necessary thermal energy but rather biomass. An ecologically sensible decision, which guaranteed local farmers a second income. They deliver the necessary wood to vigilius. At the same time, the forests would be cultivated and local timber could be energetically exploited and burnt without carbondioxide emission. For the wood chip supply a storage tank of approximately 600 cubic meters was built right above the boiler room. Both the transport of the wood chips and the operation of the heating system with an output of 700 kw proceed automatically. A special combustion optimization and regulation in combination with an effective flue gas filter provide for minimum pollutant emmissions. The approximated annual consumption of wood chips is about 1,200 to 1,400 cubic meters bulk storage, which corresponds to an amount of 120,000 to 140,000 liters of fuel oil, depending on chip quality.
To ensure comfort for the guests during the duration of their stay, a radiant heating system has been chosen. The heat is brought into the rooms by means of a free standing stamped clay wall and into the bathrooms by subfloor heating. Excellent air quality is provided by controlled room ventilation. A ventilation system with integrated heat recovery, pre-filters, pocket-filters and reheating accumulators draws air via two separate filter devices and the terrestrial heat exchanger and aerates the rooms and suites through ducts and slit outlets without creating draughts. The expired air is drawn off through the bathroom and shower, conducted to the heat recovery via the disc recuperators and finally exhausted into the surroundings through ground ducts. The resort’s internal circulation routes and corridors are heated by wall heating.
The central building control system allows regulation of all functions and operational modes by a so-called bus-system. With this system, alarm signals, operating disturbances or violations of limiting values can be monitored and regulated from a centrally operated computer at all times.
All our staff is aware of our energy saving endeavours; guests are informed in the room. We are working on a written constitution.
Water Rating: ★★★★★ (5)
Staff Comment - Since we have spring water (in our swimming pool, as well as from the tap), which is very valuable to us, all staff are made aware to save water; we are also working on a written saving constitution.
Our housekeeping staff uses environmentally friendly cleaning products. All toilets are dual-flush. Water is saved by regulating the pressure of the water, coming out of the tap. We have information in the rooms explaining that towels will only be changed upon request; in our spa we ask guests to avoid the use of too many towels. We use plants native to the area. The waste water is recycled through the municipality in Lana.
Disposal Rating: ★★★★ (4)
Staff Comment - We have recycling bins throughout the hotel for staff. Paper, cardboard, glass, plastic and tins are all recycled. All staff are made aware of our recycling initiatives. We try to avoid packaging whenever possible. Long Lasting serving pieces etc. are reused for our staff. We try to avoid waste already in advance.
Eco-Active Rating: ★★★★★ (5)
Staff Comment - All staff and guests are made aware of our ecological actions. Sheets and towels are reused for cleaning.
We already got a few ecological awards:
wallpaper* magazine, the opinion leader concerning design and lifestyle, most prestigious and best known worldwide, has elected vigilius mountain resort as “Best New Eco Retreat” in 2004.
In July 2005 Ulrich Ladurner, owner of vigilius mountain resort, was awarded the “Panda d’Oro” (Golden Panda) of WWF Italy by the environmental minister in Rome. The jury awarded the special prize “Amici del clima” (friends of the climate) to the hotel with the argument, that the building was very energy-efficient and made a significant contribution to the establishment of sustainable tourism in the Alps.
Only a few months later, in October of the same year, the honor was followed by a second environmental award. vigilius became Italy’s first hotel to be classified as “Climate House, category A”, comparable to the german passive energy house standard. Thanks to the high energetic level with an unbelievably low consumption of less than 30 kwh/a/qm (annual kilowatt hour per square meter) and thanks to the innovative, sophisticated mechanical engineering, the “Klima Haus A”-standard could be achieved.
In December 2006 „Legambiente“,Italy’s most important environmental association, in collaboration with the region Lombardia, Politecnico (TU) Milano and the famous University Luigi Bocconi, awarded the vigilius the sought-after „Premio all’Innovazione dell’Ambiente“ (Innovation environment award).
The elite panel of experts stated that their reason for selecting the repeatedly awarded vigilius mountain resort, the first and only KlimaHaus A Hotel in Italy to date, was because they consider it a unique and especially exemplary model for innovative and eco-sensitive dealing in the tourism business.
Last but not least we always try to improve our environmental performance planning to implement the ISO14001 certification.
Protection Rating: ★★★★★ (5)
Staff Comment -We are located on car free 1500 m of altitude, reachable exclusively by cable car. We try everything to protect this area – the Vigiljoch mountain – and maintain it for the future. Guests have the opportunity to explore and enjoy the area by feet or mountain bike, in wintertime with snowshoes.
We collaborate with local suppliers/producers and hire local staff if possible. We promote local attractions and amenities to our guests and also give the possibility to buy local products through us. We are working on a written constitution.
Contact Details
Name:
vigilius mountain resort
Address:
Vigiljoch Mountain
I-39011 Lana
South Tyrol/Italy
Telephone:
0039 0473 556600
Website:
www.vigilius.it
E-mail:
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