It is one of the most rewarding tasks when an architect is not only allowed to design the building, but also the entire interior!
The ALEA RESORT HIDEAWAY is a sophisticated piece of architecture in the centre of Bad Orb near Frankfurt.
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Gold 🏆 Winner
Urban Design & Architecture Design Awards 2025
ALEA RESORT Hideaway Interior
Residential Interior (Built)
Firm
PLAJER + FRANZ project gmbh
Architect/Designer
Alexander Plajer
Design Team
Alexander Plajer + Werner Franz
Location
Bad Orb, Germany
Country
Germany
Photographer/Copyright
©Ken Schluchtmann, die photodesigner.de



The property is situated on a slope and looks down onto one of the most beautiful spa parks in the area. In the late 18th century, salt was extracted from the brine in Bad Orb. A graduation tower from that time is a spectacular wooden structure in the immediate vicinity.
The task presented a challenge. After the initial assignment, the spatial programme grew from normal hideaway flats to an extremely sophisticated project with an underground car park, penthouses, a pool on the roof and a spa with gym.
In addition to the high-quality furnishings and the sophisticated fixtures and fittings, which were completely designed and manufactured especially for this project, the inconspicuous but innovative building technology is also worth mentioning.
Guests receive a number code and an app link on their phone and can use it to operate all the functions and doors of their temporary flat.
The flats are fitted with large-format tiles and french parquet flooring. The continuous exposed concrete ceilings of the three metre high rooms create a harmonious, high-quality and youthful ambience.
Exposed concrete surfaces and terrazzo surfaces also connect the floors via staircases with an inviting air space.
On the upper floor, there are penthouses with room heights of up to five metres and even higher-quality fittings. The sloping roof surfaces are clad on the inside with oak wood, in which a special design conceals the lighting, air conditioning and sound system.
A pool on the roof provides a view of the park. Its roof louvres can be opened and allow the heated pool to be used all year round.
A spa with sauna and steam bath as well as a gym look out over the five metre high room. There is so much to tell… but pictures say more than a thousand words.