RO EN
The Sinaia aparthotel among conifers, with the misty Bucegi peaks behind; stone and timber volumes with cantilevered balconies
Residential · HoReCaYear — 2026–In progressStatus — In progressLocation — Sinaia Romania
01 of 38←→

Sinaia Aparthotel — Mountain Hospitality Development

The aparthotel sits at the foot of the Bucegi massif, close to the access point to Sinaia's ski area. The plot slopes steeply, and the project starts precisely there: rather than levelling the ground and placing a compact mass on it, it takes up the movement of the terrain and translates it into a sequence of planes and steps.

The terrain gives the form

The massing is fragmented and articulated across staggered levels that follow the natural slope and build a composition of terraced volumes. This strategy lets the building adapt to the relief without imposing a single heavy body, and the result stays coherent with the scale of the landscape: a silhouette that is dynamic yet settled, and does not compete with the mountain behind it.

The building is entered at level +3.00 and the parking at +0.00 — a difference absorbed by the slope itself, not by added ramps.

The valley facade, with a solid stone wall to the left and staggered timber volumes to the right; guests on the terraces
Fig. 01
The valley facade, with a solid stone wall to the left and staggered timber volumes to the right; guests on the terraces
Concept sketch in ink and watercolour: the aparthotel's stepped volumes descend with the slope, with stone cores and horizontal timber bandsThe stepped terraces at sunset, descending with the slope; a couple on the cantilevered balcony, planting on each level
Fig. 02–03
02Concept sketch in ink and watercolour: the aparthotel's stepped volumes descend with the slope, with stone cores and horizontal timber bands03The stepped terraces at sunset, descending with the slope; a couple on the cantilevered balcony, planting on each level
Hand-drawn axonometric seen from above: the three staggered bodies, with planted terraces, stone walls and timber facades, among the conifers
Fig. 04
Hand-drawn axonometric seen from above: the three staggered bodies, with planted terraces, stone walls and timber facades, among the conifers

Stone, timber, mineral render

The materials follow the same logic. Natural stone, timber and mineral render in neutral tones evoke traditional mountain architecture, reinterpreted in a contemporary language. The contrast between the warmth of the timber and the mass of the stone walls emphasises the depth of the volumes and the relationship between solid and void — most legible on the valley facade, where balconies and terraces cut into the mass.

The cascade of terraces in evening light, with the lit path at the base and the conifer forest to the left
Fig. 05
The cascade of terraces in evening light, with the lit path at the base and the conifer forest to the left
Arrival from the street: the bus stop and parking in front of the building, with green roofs and mountains behind
Fig. 06
Arrival from the street: the bus stop and parking in front of the building, with green roofs and mountains behind
The timber-clad central volume rising above the stone retaining wall; guests on the stacked balconiesThe aparthotel seen from the road, with the bus stop, the parking and the rocky peaks in the distance
Fig. 07–08
07The timber-clad central volume rising above the stone retaining wall; guests on the stacked balconies08The aparthotel seen from the road, with the bus stop, the parking and the rocky peaks in the distance

Ten units on the typical floor

The brief brings together hotel-standard accommodation units, shared spaces and relaxation areas, arranged so that every level receives daylight and views towards the mountains. The typical floor combines seven one-bedroom apartments of 58.89 to 81.56 sqm with three studios of 49.04 to 57.70 sqm, articulated around a central shared space.

Through fragmentation, balance and topographic adaptation, the built volume becomes a controlled extension of the relief and a discreet backdrop to the Bucegi landscape.

Corner sketch of the main body: a timber-clad volume in the foreground, a white-rendered volume behind and cantilevered slabs over the terraces
Fig. 09
Corner sketch of the main body: a timber-clad volume in the foreground, a white-rendered volume behind and cantilevered slabs over the terraces
← Previous projectCluj County Council Next project →Rosenthal House