In the Banff National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site immersed in more than 6,500 square kilometres of protected forest, Matteo Thun & Partners designed the new wellness area for Fairmont Château Lake Louise: Basin Glacial Waters, a project that transforms the Canadian landscape into an architectural experience.
Conceived as a natural extension of the lake, the forest and the Rocky Mountains, the project rises on the site of the hotel’s historic outdoor pool, originally built in 1926 and closed in 1980. The new semi-hypogenous structure blends discreetly into the landscape through a conscious and respectful design approach.
The intervention by Matteo Thun & Partners privileges natural and local materials such as hemlock wood, local stone and textured plaster, selected for their ability to age gracefully over time and develop an authentic patina. The close collaboration with Parks Canada guided every stage of the project, ensuring the preservation of the site’s identity and the historic architecture of Fairmont Château Lake Louise.
The relationship between architecture and nature defines the entire wellness experience. Exterior lighting was reduced to a minimum in order to avoid any form of light pollution, while the openings facing the park were designed to frame the landscape without altering it. The infinity pool unfolds as a natural continuation of the lake itself and incorporates stones inspired by the pebbles of the glacial basin, transforming the sensory journey into a direct connection with the surrounding environment.
During winter, the building almost disappears into the snowy landscape, becoming part of the natural scenery. “Nature as protagonist” is in fact the core principle behind the project: the lake, mountains and forest take centre stage, while architecture and interior design become subtle tools serving the experience.
The interiors continue this narrative through a tactile and timeless language. Wood, stone and raw surfaces define essential and enveloping spaces, where the idea of “shelter” shapes the entire architectural concept. A system of continuous beams extends from the façade into the interiors, creating a “box in the box” structure that reinforces the sense of protection and material continuity.
The wellness building was conceived as an intuitive extension of the landscape: the indoor pool flows seamlessly onto the outdoor deck without interrupting the views of the mountains and the lake, turning the wellness experience into a complete immersion in Canadian nature.
For more information, visit www.matteothun.com
CREDITS
Project: Fairmont Château Basin Glacial Waters
Studio: Matteo Thun & Partners
Location: Lake Louise, Canada
Year: 2025
