This scheme for a luxury hotel takes full advantage of its scenic topography - some 80 miles northwest of Pittsburgh, USA - delivering panoramic views of the Pennsylvanian countryside. The building’s tectonic, two-tier structure is disseminated through a series of block elements and floor slabs - the former housing the services and utilities, the latter delivering the hotel’s range of bedrooms and suites, as well as its recreation and relaxation facilities.

The building’s strong planar form defines its mood, its presence in the landscape. The pronounced horizontal articulation, in particular, to the ground floor and lower ground level ‘roots’ the hotel in its surroundings, generating a sense of place and belonging. These two monolithic slabs articulate a comprehensive podium on which three slender floor plates are stacked. These are setback and right aligned, delivering a generous deck space to the ground floor, which interfaces with the hotel’s high-end bar and restaurant. Above, the bedrooms take their place within a composition that appears to float, the refined horizontality being accentuated by the indented glazing on all four sides.