JUNG

In an exposed, raised location on the edge of the historical town of Stolberg im Harz with its half-timbered houses, an architectural highlight arose in 2024: the tradiotional Hotel & Spa Suites FreiWerk was extended by the architect practice Klima from Nordhausen by seven exclusive private spa suites. The new building integrates discretely alongside the listed collection of half-timbered villa and coach-house – and provides a consciously contemporary accent as a place of retreat among nature.

The suites sit on a reinforced concrete structure above an existing car park – a solution that saves resource and avoids additional surface sealing. Above this a two-storey wood-framed structure rises with cross-laminated timber ceilings. Covered with pre-greyed local larch, the projections and set-offs divide the building structure sculpturally, and provide the guests with a large measure of privacy. In the sloping location, the architecture seems to literally grow out of the ground – self-evident, calm and almost floating.

Each suite is around 100 m² and extends across two levels. A generous living area with recessed balcony, kitchenette and guest bathroom can be found on the ground floor, the sleeping area, a second terrace and a private spa-bathroom are on the upper level. Sauna, infra-red sauna, steam shower, free-standing bath and a whirlpool recessed balcony create an exclusive private wellness area – always with a view of the mountain forests of the southern Harz region.

The interior design is characterised by restrained elegance. Light beige and grey tones, natural materials such as wood and natural stone, as well as individually curated furniture create a high-quality atmosphere. Standard solutions were consciously avoided. For the equipment of the suites, the choice fell to switches and sockets from JUNG in aluminium dark. The surface consists of anodized aluminium which has been finished in an intricate process. As a result, the material is given not only its striking, extremely dark impression, but also high wear resistance in daily use. With their clear design language and the luxurious haptics, the switches set discrete but effective accents in the interior.

The extension is characterised not only by architectural quality, but also by conceptional depth. In close cooperation with the porcelain manufacturer MEISSEN, artistic sculptures were integrated into the design concept and give each suite an unmistakeable identity. The topic of sustainability was likewise consistently followed: regional craft businesses and short delivery routes secured the implementation of high-quality materials, while the wooden construction and modern environmental technologies such as heat-pumps underline the ecological aspirations. An ensemble arose that combines art and culture with ecological responsibility and regional connectedness into a harmonious whole.