Architecture and Culinary Art in Bregenz/Vorarlberg
Vorarlberg is one of those rare places where contemporary architecture and regional cuisine both emerge from a rich tradition of craftsmanship. Design-hotels, wineries, and art cafés sit alongside traditional farms and alpine cheese restaurants that celebrate local ingredients.
Begin in Bregenz at the Kunsthaus: Peter Zumthor’s glass-and-concrete gallery is a masterclass in natural light, tactile materials, and serene spatial sequencing. After exploring world-renowned art, its café demonstrates how architecture and culinary art can elevate one another.
Architecture and Culinary Art. Kunsthaus, Bregenz (Peter Zumthor). ©onehundredyears.vorarlberg
Nearby, the tiny Hotel Kleiner Löwe (Herzog & de Meuron) proves that a small building can be a design gem. Minimalist rooms and a peaceful garden make it both an architectural landmark and a base for culture, mountain walks, or a lakeside picnic.
Hotel Kleiner Löwe, Bregenz (Herzog & De Meuron). ©onehundredyears.vorarlberg
At the former Doppelmayr industrial site, Bernardo Bader’s Rickenbach village combines 2026 the principles of reduce, re-use, and recycle with local building traditions, elevating life with café and guesthouse.
Rickenbach Gasthaus & Café, Wolfurt (Bernardo Bader). ©onehundredyears.vorarlberg
Hotel FLINT in Dornbirn, designed by Marte.Marte, pairs finely crafted concrete architecture with local warmth, exemplifying contemporary hospitality in Vorarlberg.
Hotel Flint, Dornbirn (Stefan Marte & Bernhard Marte). ©onehundredyears.vorarlberg
For alpine serenity, Baumschlager Eberle’s Peterhof merges traditional woodcraft with thoughtful design: energy efficiency, larch-shingled chalets carefully positioned to frame mountain views, and a restaurant that highlights alpine ingredients.
Peterhof Restaurant & Chalets, Furx (Baumschlager Eberle). ©Slowdown Hotels
Together, these destinations reveal why Vorarlberg is well worth a visit: architecture infused with craftsmanship, inventive use of natural materials, hotels and cafés that are destinations in their own right, and a culinary scene rooted in alpine produce. Pack comfortable shoes, an appetite, and a camera — you’ll need all three.
Guiding Architects offers tailor-made (up to 5-day) tours in Vorarlberg, highlighting the region’s seamless fusion of forward-thinking design, traditional craftsmanship, and culinary culture.
Text by: Willem Bruijn, ONEHUNDREDYEARS
