WOOD - The Center of the Forsthofalm

The decision to choose wood as the foundation of the Forsthofalm was made consciously by our owners. Since childhood, they have shared a deep appreciation for nature, aesthetic beauty and personal well-being. These values form an essential part of the concept behind the Forsthofalm today.

Wood is one of the oldest and most versatile building materials used by humankind and fits naturally into the architectural concept of our hotel, which places the surrounding landscape at its heart. As a renewable raw material, wood absorbs CO₂ from the atmosphere while it grows and stores the carbon it contains throughout its period of use. Its overall climate impact depends on factors including the origin, processing, transportation and useful life of the wood, as well as how it is reused or disposed of at the end of its life cycle.

When selecting wood, we consider its origin and the associated transport distances. Wherever wood from the region is used, this also supports regional businesses and local forestry. Alongside these considerations, the technical versatility of the material played an important role. The insulating and heat-retaining properties of the solid-timber structure support a balanced indoor climate and contribute to the building’s energy efficiency.

Beyond its practical qualities, wood shapes the atmosphere of the Forsthofalm. Its warm colours, individual grain and characteristic scent create spaces that many guests experience as cosy and calming. The architecture is designed to provide an environment in which guests can slow down, feel at ease and recharge.

For the Forsthofalm, choosing wood is therefore more than a construction decision. It combines distinctive design with the functional properties of the material and a conscious approach to energy and resource use. Our aim is to offer our guests an exceptional holiday experience while continuing to meet the environmental requirements of our recognised certifications.

The building consists of a solid moon-phase timber structure constructed without glue or metal. The solid-timber elements are joined using wooden dowels.

Our accommodation holds the Austrian Ecolabel under certificate no. 769 and the EU Ecolabel under licence no. AT/051/071. These labels confirm that the accommodation meets the environmental criteria defined by the respective certification schemes.

The architecture of the Forsthofalm

Our wooden hotel was designed by architect Alfred Waltl, who planned the Forsthofalm together with our owner, Markus Widauer, and developed the design around his vision. Their aim was to create clear, minimalist architecture that opens up uninterrupted views of the surrounding landscape.

The guiding principle was to design a hotel that does not distract from the beauty of the Alps but brings it to the foreground. Expansive views and carefully designed spaces give our guests room to breathe and the freedom to experience their surroundings. The architecture of the Forsthofalm deliberately takes a restrained position in relation to the surrounding mountains.

The term Moonwood, as the name suggests, originates from the connection of when the wood is cut with the different moon phases. Particularly wood that is felled during the waning and new moon phases has a particularly high durability and resistance. The reason for this is that during the waning moon a tree is able to absorb more liquid, whereas the opposite happens during the waxing moon. This process is comparable to the rhythm of ebb and flow in the world's oceans. If a tree is felled during the waning moon, it contains more bound water inside, which evaporates during drying and results in the wood shrinking more and becoming denser, more pressure-resistant, and more resistant to fungi and many other pests. This means that Moonwood is more durable and long-lasting than wood that was cut during other moon phases, and it helps protect the Forsthofalm from weathering and aging for many more years.

As previously mentioned, the responsible use of energy and resources and compliance with defined environmental standards play an important role at the Forsthofalm. Our approach includes using wood from the region for parts of the building and its interior, generating energy through solar thermal and photovoltaic systems, and implementing further measures assessed as part of our environmental certifications.

The Forsthofalm was constructed from solid moon-phase timber without glue or metal. Beechwood dowels were used in the load-bearing timber structure to join the solid wooden elements without adhesive or metal connections. This distinctive construction method continues to shape the character and atmosphere of our hotel today.

Our accommodation holds the Austrian Ecolabel under certificate no. 769 and the EU Ecolabel under licence no. AT/051/071. These labels confirm that the accommodation meets the environmental criteria defined by the respective certification schemes.

The distinctive atmosphere of wood

With its individual grain, warm colours and characteristic scent, wood shapes the atmosphere of the Forsthofalm. Many of our guests describe their experience with comments such as: “You sleep particularly well in the wooden hotel” or “The scent of wood is everywhere—pure relaxation.”

Together with the colours and other materials used throughout the interiors, the solid moon-phase timber walls create a warm and welcoming environment. They make the hotel’s distinctive construction tangible and provide a place where our guests can slow down, relax and enjoy the hotel’s proximity to the surrounding landscape.

The vision of wood grows: a new building and extension

In 2013, the existing hotel concept was expanded with a timber extension measuring 1,200 cubic metres in volume. In the new SKY SPA, our guests can relax while enjoying uninterrupted views of the surrounding mountains and experiencing the Alpine landscape.

The extension continues the wood-focused architecture of the Forsthofalm. Surrounded by forests, meadows and mountains, its design draws on the colours, materials and impressions of the immediate surroundings.

Half a century of wood at the Forsthofalm

Wood has been an essential part of the Forsthofalm for around 50 years. Its consistent use as the principal building material has given the hotel its characteristic style and demonstrates how timber can be used as a construction material under Alpine conditions over many decades.

Today, the Forsthofalm combines this long history of timber construction with modern architecture, comfortable accommodation and the specific environmental requirements of the Austrian Ecolabel and the EU Ecolabel.