A touch of infinity

Juraj Dulencin

Project idea

The foundation of the concept is a direct relationship with the night sky. The site selection was driven by an analysis of light pollution across Slovakia, identifying a location with minimal artificial illumination. The ability to experience a clear, star-filled night sky becomes a defining and magical quality of the hotel, transforming the view of the sky into a central architectural and experientíal element. This emphasis on nocturnal views informs the form, orientation, and spatial composition of the building. The architecture is shaped to frame the sky, control light, and enhance the perception of darkness and stars, making the celestial experience an integral part of the stay. The result is a hotel where landscape, energy, and the-night sky are unified into a single, coherent architectural concept.

Project description

The spatial layout is based on a logical division into public, semi-public, and private zones. The first underground level accommodates the social and operational functions, including the entrance hall, reception, food service facilities, wellness area, and staff support spaces. A central motif of the design is the atrium, which provides natural daylight and creates a quiet internal environment protected from external influences. The accommodation is organized as duplex hotel units that clearly separate the daytime and nighttime zones. The lower level serves as a relaxation space with seating and sanitary facilities, and is directly connected through glazing to a private outdoor terrace. This ferrace functions as a sheltered private atrium, forming an intimate exterior space for individual retreat. The upper level of each unit is dedicated exclusively to sleeping. The bedroom is oriented toward the landscape and the night sky, which becomes an integral part of the spatial experience. In the evening, it allows views of the stars while falling asleep; during the day, it operates as an additional window toward the landscape. The opening can be closed with shutters at night or whenever full blackout is required, allowing regulation of both light and privacy.

Technical information

The structure is designed as a reinforced concrete "bathtub" system consisting of a foundation slab and retaining walls, allowing the building to be partially embedded into the terrain and stabilized within sloped conditions. This solution simultaneously establishes a clear boundary between the natural landscape and the interior architectural space. The material concept responds to the character of the site and supports the perception of the architecture as a quiet, framing element. The selected materials are rendered in subdued natural tones, avoiding strong contrasts and reflective surfaces in order to prevent unwanted light reflections. In this way, the architecture respects not only the physical but also the visual and atmospheric qualities of the site.