Silvana Messner and the Myar family: how the recent renovation managed to preserve the hotel’s five-century heritage, with a green tower and a rooftop pool
Adler Historic Guesthouse: a new life for a historic hotel in Brixen – Christoph Mayr and Silvana Messner
In the very heart of Brixen, in South Tyrol, overlooking the Eisack river, is Adler Historic Guesthouse. A luxury lifestyle hotel that derives its name from the Adler bridge, located just a few steps away (Adler in German means eagle). It was inaugurated in June 2023, but its structure has a much longer history. Built in the Sixteenth century, it has always been a hotel and it is recorded in Brixen land registry as the most ancient building of the city. During the centuries, it welcomed several renown guests, such as Emperor Maximilian I, French philosopher and writer Michel de Montaigne, Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria and Prince Cosimo de’ Medici.
Recently, two young entrepreneurs, Christoph Mayr – whose family already owned the hotel – and Silvana Messner, decided to renovate it. They wanted to provide Brixen with a more modern and sustainable facility, while at the same time safeguarding its historical heritage.
The renovation project of Adler Brixen: a fluid transition between history and the present
Despite lasting only five months, from January to June 2023, Adler’s renovation «involved the whole building», states Silvana Messner. The restyling project was designed and implemented by Studio Bergmeisterwolf, also from Brixen. Founded by Gerd Bergmeister e Michaela Wolf, the studio is characterized by a constant search for a new spatial balance that enhances the local identity, but at the same time projects existing structures towards the future.
With Adler Studio Bergmeisterwolf aimed at building connections: between old and new, inside and outside, the city and the river, which runs parallel to the hotel. The result was a project that draws a fluid transition from history to the present, generating new axes in the hotel’s heritage. Local tradition becomes an inspiration to create spaces of dialogue between yesterday and today, as well as between city and nature, giving the building a new language.
The historical walls of the building have been preserved, as well as the copper engravings on the façade, dating back to 1670 and now contrasting with the renovated outer look. This is characterized by a play on proportions, materials, details, and shadow effects. Completes the building a line drawn upwards on the roof, whose colors and materials were inspired to the surrounding environment. Inside, the original axes have been reopened and the historical vaulted ceilings have been maintained to remind guests of Adler’s past. In the inner courtyard, a new building has been erected. This consists in a trapezoidal construction on a single column, with three levels. The result is a tower, covered in green ceramic, as the roofs of the typical Brixen houses.
Adler Brixen gasthaus: a green choice for guests caring about sustainability: an eco-friendly hotel caring about environmental footprint
Adler’s renovation was also driven from the desire to reduce the hotel’s environmental footprint: «And we are still working to make our facility as green as possible». For example, plastics has been completely eliminated from the building and a comprehensive recycling concept has been embraced.
Moreover, Adler’s staff adopts a series of everyday green practices and also seeks for guest’s collaboration. The hotel is equipped with charging stations for electric cars and food products are primarily sourced from the local territory. In the rooms, cleaning products have eco-labels only and it is up to guests to decide whether and when they want for their bed linens and towels to be changed. «Reduce, recycle, reuse» is Adler’s mantra.
Adler’s commitment for a more sustainable future is part of a wider movement that involves the whole city, which the hotel’s owners are proud to work side by side with. Indeed, in Brixen they plan every event with a focus on sustainability and there is a growing range of eco-friendly mobility.
Adler Brixen, Südtirol: hotellerie as a local family business, from foot do artisanry
Adler is a family business that works along with several other family businesses in Brixen and wants its guests to become part of the family themselves: «No matter if our guests are in Brixen for a short or long holiday, or either for work. Our goal is to make them wish to return, just like you wish to return home. In Brixen every enterprise, from food to artisanry, is a local family business. This is Brixen, a bi different from other towns in South Tyrol and from the average city everywhere nowadays. Brixen itself is like a big family».
Adler Brixen hotel: local natural materials, earth tones and minimalist style
Adler now features over forty rooms, with nine different accommodation types. Every room is characterized by a modern and minimalist style, but in each one «there is something special, a peculiar and unique detail that reminds us of Adler’s long history». They all include oak wood furnishings, parquet floors, and a combination of light colors, in contrast with the dark green fiberglass doors of the bathrooms. During the renovation, the owners selected only natural materials, preferring those coming from the local territory.
Guests can choose among different views: the city, the river, the mountains, the inner courtyard. For example, the Panorama Balcony Room faces Plose, a massif with several peaks near Brixen, and a renowned skiing destination. The Terrace room, on the other hand, offers a view of the cathedral spires and the White Tower. All the rooms in the main building have ancient walls, which date back to the hotel’s construction over five centuries ago. Completely new are, instead, The Pin rooms, located into the courtyard green tower: each occupies a floor, with a different space layout.
Adler spa and rooftop pool: bringing wellness into the heart of the city
Other news of the recent renovation are the spa and the rooftop pool. With these two additions Adler’s owners wished to create a wellness oasis in the very heart of Brixen. Their aim is to gift their guests a mindfulness experience and help them immerse completely in the moment, with no need to leave the city.
The spa is placed on three floors. The first one hosts the fitness room, the second one features a Finnish sauna, a steam bath and a relax area, while on the rooftop terrace guests will find a bigger panoramic relax area and a pool, heated in winter.
Finsterwirt-Oste Scuro, Vinothek Vitis and Tagesbar: the enogastronomic offer at Adler Brixen
Part of the Adler family are also gourmet restaurant Finsterwirt-Oste Scuro, winery Vinothek Vitis, and café Tagesbar. Here guests can taste traditional South Tyrolean cuisine and wines, or just enjoy a break with local organic food and creative recipes.
Located just a minute’s walk away from the hotel, Finsterwirt-Oste Scuro is a historic restaurant, which has been owned by the Mayr family for six generations. Designed inside as the typical stube, it also offers the possibility to eat outside, on a pergola terrace. Here, specialties of the South Tyrolean cuisine are reinterpreted with a contemporary twist and prepared using only local raw materials. Examples are vegetables and aromatic herbs from Harald Gasser’s Maso Aspingerhof in Barbian, Villnösser Brillenschaf sheep meat and Alpine Grey beef, both from Val di Funes/Villnösstal. Guests can choose between the à la carte menu and three guided tasting options: Territorium, with local specialties; Tempus, with seasonal offers; Piscis & Olus, with a focus on fish and vegetables.
Below Finsterwirt-Oste Scuro is winery Vinothek Vitis, characterized by a more modern design and culinary offer. The owners consider it as a wine library, where every bottle tells a story. Here guests can find a selection of red, white, sparkling and rosé wines, each served in the right glass and paired with creative dishes. These can be inspired either by the local tradition or the Mediterranean cuisine. The wine list includes local, national and international labels, which are also for sale.
On the ground floor of the hotel is Adler Tagesbar, a café that serves homemade cakes, quick snacks and light bites, such as focaccia or soup during winter. Here guests can have breakfast, take a break during the day or enjoy an aperitif with drink specialties.
What to do in Brixen: Adler’s advice
Adler can be a base to visit Brixen and the surrounding region. The city features a medieval old town, several museums, and parks.
During the cold season, skiing, tobogganing, winter hiking and ski touring can be practiced in the surrounding mountains. The Dolomites are UNESCO World Heritage. From spring to fall these activities give way to hiking, jogging and biking.
Brixen is also the scene of several events every year. In May, the Water Light Festival welcomes local and international artists, who are invited to create artworks related to water. From the first Sunday of Advent to January 6, the cathedral square is filled with Christmas markets, where traders and caterers from the region sell local enogastronomic products and handicrafts.
Adler Historic Guesthouse, Brixen
Adler Historic Guesthouse is a family-owned luxury lifestyle hotel in the center of Brixen, South Tyrol. The most ancient building of the city, the hotel has an over five-hundred-year history. From January to June 2023 the current owners, Christoph Mayr and Silvana Messner, renovated it together with Studio Bergmeisterwolf. Its heritage has been preserved, while focusing on modernity and sustainable practices. A tower, a spa and a rooftop pool have been added.
Part of the Adler offer are also gourmet restaurant Finsterwirt-Oste Scuro, winery Vinothek Vitis, and café Tagesbar. At Adler guests will find a series of green practices: zero plastics, local products, recycle, reuse, e-mobility facilities and the opportunity to decide for themselves when to have their bed linens and towels changed.
