When it comes to retreats in remote settings, it’s an oft-repeated trope that guests get to escape the hustle and bustle of urban life and indulge in the beauty of simple things; the reality however is that only a few destinations truly deliver on that promise. One of these is Santnerpass hut, a mountain shelter at the heart of the Dolomites in northern Italy. Perched at an altitude of 2,734 metres at the second highest peak of the UNESCO world heritage-listed Rosengarten Mountain Range, the hut can only be reached on foot via a two or three hour hike, which in combination with the dramatic vistas, makes it a veritable getaway.

Ordinally built in 1956 by local mountain guide Giulio Gabrielli, the hut had remained closed for five years when young couple Michel Perathoner and Romina Huber took it upon themselves to breathe new life into it in 2018, re-opening it a year later. Not ones to rest on their laurels, they later oversaw a complete re-design, courtesy of Bolzano-based Senoner Tammerle Architekten whose contemporary take on the alpine vernacular makes for a breathtaking result. Inaugurated last summer, Santnerpass hut’s striking architecture and minimalist sophistication is complemented by the couple’s hand-on hospitality – Michel works in the kitchen while Romina serves guests.

This reimagined hut, which can sleep 40 people, stands as an exemplar of traditional alpine craftsmanship with a timber structure enveloped by galvanized sheet metal cladding, a tried and tested material that is exceptionally resistant to extreme climatic conditions. This choice is not only practical but aesthetically deliberate, designed to harmonize with the natural setting by softly reflecting its surroundings.

Crafted entirely from spruce wood, the structure's interior preserves the raw beauty of the material, which serves to create a rustic and understated ambience. Larch flooring furnishings crafted from maple throughout the bar and dining area remain untreated, showcasing the natural allure of the wood. The overall design ethos is one of minimalist simplicity, ensuring functionality while fostering a cozy and inviting atmosphere for visitors where clean lines and an uncluttered layout also enhance the connection with the outdoors.

The architectural highlight is undoubtedly the vast glass facade that wraps around the building on the ground floor. Doubling as a passive solar heating system, it bathes the bar and dining area in warmth and light whilst also framing the majestic landscape outside. The stunning vistas also make for the undisputed centrepiece of the Santnerpass hut’s culinary experience which combines contemporary variations of Tyrolean cuisine with traditional South Tyrolean dishes such as dumplings and apple strudel. With Michel working in the kitchen and Romina serving guests, it’s an intimate yet a truly sublime experience, especially as the sun sets enveloping the hut’s surroundings in a rosy-red hue thanks to the Enrosadira, also known as Alpenglow or Dolomite glow, an optical phenomenon that takes place when the sun is in close proximity to the horizon.