Distant Rock

2024 Author: David Durham | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 02:26

The hotel "Vels", proposed by the architects of Ad Hoc, is located, according to Moscow views, very far away - in the northern corner of the Perm Territory, in the foothills just west of the Ural Mountains. One would like to frivolously declare that "cars do not go there", but cars, no, they do: the place is located near the small village of Vels, with a population of about 200 people, with a pier and a school. From the village to the nearest larger settlement, it has 400 inhabitants, 45 minutes by car. To Perm 6 hours. Around the forest, local roads lead mainly to tracts - that is, the points are uninhabited, abandoned, although with attractive names, for example, Priiskovoye. Now it is, in general, completely wild, a place - one of the areas of extreme tourism, river rafting marked "corporate rest". Ad Hoc's proposal develops the theme, since the architects designed not just a hotel in the woods, but a tourist route, the southern and starting point of which is Perm, and the farthest one is Vishersky Reserve, located about 70 km north of the hotel. The route is named "Salty Ear", the hotel is the most capital building offered on it.

Vels is the name of the river that flows into Vishera here; both rivers bend, form loops, islands and peninsulas, and at the same time a cave, which the architects use in the project. A village is located on one of the peninsulas. An exceptionally beautiful place is made by stone pillars, unweathered fragments of solid rock, which now and then grow along the banks of rivers and in an open field. The architects chose the place for the hotel "for creative people" to the east of the village, on the banks of the Vels River, where the stones begin.

Ландшафтный отель Велс © Ad Hoc Architecture

Matching nature, the hotel is exceptionally beautiful. In miniature, it repeats the tourist route, since the building is also built like a walking loop, a mini-route that needs to be explored, to discover in it half-hidden, accessible only for an inquisitive traveler, spaces of special solitude. In some ways, there is a noticeable resemblance to the house on Cape Meganom, which gave the name to the bureau of the same name, but they do not stop there: the rocks enter the hotel space, like the landscapes - everything is focused on them here. If the tourist route in the area of the Vishera River is by definition intended for wandering people, greedy for impressions and truly wild nature, then the hotel is its model, a response to the need of a “creative person” to walk in circles even at home, or in a temporary shelter. The analogies of the Norwegian tourist trail, one must think, would be appropriate: only the trail proposed by Ad Hoc is much more immersed in the reality of almost untapped nature.

The project is the bureau's own initiative; a website has been created for him. “I was born in Perm and have been to those places,” says co-author of the project Stanislav Subbotin. - The places are beautiful, but not very accessible. We decided that the situation needs to be changed. Now the architects are looking for investors and, according to them, there are already positive responses. More and more often there are cases of initiative of architects offering interesting projects in search of an investor. Perhaps it will be very interesting if this initiative is actually implemented. Daria Gorelova ***

Below is a description of the architects, so detailed that I would like to publish it in full.

The basis of our idea is the development of tourism in the Perm Territory, in order to encourage people from other countries to come to the Perm Territory again and again, and the Perm people themselves to explore their own land. This is one of the main components for the development of the region's economy. The local nature attracts many, but at present not everyone can explore this region, because there are no equipped places for stops, observation points, hotels and information points. We suggested a route called "Salty Ear". The name came by itself when we connected all the most beautiful points on the map and got the silhouette of an ear. The expression "Salty ears of Perm" is a traditional nickname for the inhabitants of Perm lands. This is due to the salt-making industry, which is widespread in the region. It is believed that the nickname was given to workers who carried bags of salt on their shoulders, which made their ears soaked in salt.

One of the points on the map is the village of Vels, where we proposed a project for a landscape hotel. This place is located near the most picturesque places of the Perm Territory.

The hotel is located on the banks of the Vishera River and adjacent to the Vels River, with the Ural Mountains visible in the distance. There are stones on the slope near the water, partly going into the forest. Among these stones, we made an observation path and entered the hotel into the landscape. This site is not included in the reserve zone, but attracts the attention of tourists with its picturesque nature.

The hotel protrudes from the relief and descends into terraces to the water. The skeleton of the hotel is a path that bends around existing stones, forming an observation path with vivid views of the surrounding area.

The famous Bolshaya Velsovskaya Cave is also located here, which was formed during the underground flow of water from one large river to another (from Vels to Vishera). The entrance to the hotel is through this cave. The scenario of movement is such that a visitor from a dark cave enters the bright central space of the hotel. After passing through the cave, the visitor can feel the spirit of the place and completely immerse himself in its atmosphere and history.

In the central space of the hotel, among the stones, there is a restaurant, a bar, a recreation area, an amphitheater with a stage and a space for performances.

The hotel has studios for creative people. This is a space where the residents of the hotel can do what they love and be inspired by their surroundings. Here you can meet interesting people and find like-minded people or immerse yourself in an atmosphere of complete solitude and isolation. A place for inspiration, which is not only aesthetically pleasing, but also psychologically and emotionally neutral, where it is possible to concentrate, clear the mind, artistic feelings.

The part of the hotel with guest rooms is located in the woods, on an elevation, in order to provide maximum privacy and beautiful views for the residents of the hotel. Walking along the observation path or sailing past the hotel on a boat, you cannot see the rooms themselves, since they are located on the highest level and next to the forest. The layout of the rooms is focused on the best views from the windows. Each room has a fireplace and couches by the window, which offers incredible views of the forests and mountains. The hotel is not designed for a large number of guests, the place is intended for privacy and inspiration.

One of the features of the hotel is the silence room jutting out of the stone in the forest. Such a room is designed so that a person can stay alone for some time with himself, his thoughts and find inspiration. This is especially important for creative people. The bridge leading to this room starts from the depths of the forest and cuts into the stone with an observation deck. The path to this place is not specially accented in any way. Only walking through the forest can you accidentally find a path that leads to this room. He who seeks will always find.

In the forest, among the dense pine trees, there is a spa area. Visitors have a view of stones, forest, tree trunks and dense crowns. The spa consists of an enclosed area and a patio with an outdoor jacuzzi.

You can get to the spa and sauna by following the trail. The same path connects the sauna and the Vishera river, on the bank of which there is a descent to the water.

The sauna is buried in the relief, creating the impression of a cave - so that no one can see those who are inside. Sauna visitors can feel the privacy and relaxation in the fresh air. It is pleasant to relax here after skiing, walking or after a long journey. The spa center itself is made of concrete with particles of salt and has medicinal properties.

Hotel Vels is a synthesis of the Ural nature, cultural history and modern architecture. Rest in such a hotel allows you to enjoy the beautiful views and breathe a breath of fresh ideas. Architecture is designed to act in harmony with nature.

We have created a website especially for the project: www.velshotel.com. On it you can study in detail our hotel and the program for the development of tourism in the Perm Territory.