HOW THE SCOTCH CLUB RECASTS HISTORY IN COCO OAK
At the newly opened Hotel Kristberg in Lech am Arlberg, contemporary architecture meets lived history. In the Scotch Club, acsono AG and Schorn & Groh have helped shape a space where acoustics, atmosphere, and materiality come together with striking precision.
With Hotel Kristberg, the Zimmermann family has created a destination above Lech am Arlberg that does not preserve its heritage as a static memory, but reinterprets it as a lived experience. Designed by cp architektur and opened in December 2025, the new property brings together 27 suites, a spa, Salon Lech, and the Scotch Club in a composition that merges Alpine hospitality, family legacy, and contemporary design. Architecturally, the project is defined by the interplay of mass and transparency: a solid core of dark exposed concrete gives the building its structural presence, while expanses of glass and black-stained wood draw the surrounding landscape deep into the interior. Public spaces such as the lobby, bar, and Salon Lech flow seamlessly into one another, while the suites emphasize privacy, atmosphere, and panoramic views through generous glazing, filtered sightlines, and custom-designed built-ins.
This spatial and emotional ambition comes into particularly sharp focus in the Scotch Club. Founded by Egon Zimmermann in 1966, the venue was a defining fixture of Lech nightlife for decades. Today, it has been reimagined for a new era: early in the evening, it operates as a dinner club; later, it shifts into a bar and social destination with its own evolving rhythm. In doing so, the Zimmermann family carries forward what has always defined the Scotch Club: a place for encounters, stories, conversation, and memorable nights. That spirit is also expressed architecturally. Carefully framed sightlines connect the club to the center of Lech, establishing a deliberate relationship between inside and out. Reflective, fluid surfaces heighten the polygonal geometry of the room, while a palette of rust red and purple, together with textiles that nod to the 1970s, lends the interior a tactile, sensual quality. Displayed Formula 1 helmets recall the period when the Scotch Club drew not only the ski jet set, but also an international motorsport crowd. A defining element of the space is the ceiling: mosaic-like wooden elements improve acoustic performance, bring warmth to the room, and root the interior in its Alpine setting.
acsono AG played a pivotal role in shaping that experience. As a specialist in architectural acoustic solutions, acsono defined the Scotch Club above all through its acoustic performance and realized the striking ceiling landscape using its FineMicro system. Developed for applications with demanding acoustic, aesthetic, and hygienic requirements, the system is suited to wall and ceiling cladding as well as furniture components. In the Scotch Club, that technical expertise becomes an integral part of the atmosphere.
The connection to Schorn & Groh also came through acsono. According to the project data, Schorn & Groh supplied more than 500 square meters of custom-cut veneer in CoCo Oak Coffee for the ceiling. The design intent for the surface had been clearly established early on: the architects were seeking a wood finish with depth, warmth, and a distinctly contemporary elegance. Through reference projects introduced by acsono during the material review, CoCo Oak quickly emerged as the right choice. The final veneer selection then took place in person at Schorn & Groh in Karlsruhe, adding a more direct and personal dimension to the material decision.
The use of CoCo Oak in the Scotch Club is a choice that resonates on both an aesthetic and a conceptual level. The veneer is inspired by a natural phenomenon: the gradual color transformation of oak in bog-like environments. However, where authentic bog oak and traditional ammonia-smoking often yield unpredictable results—ranging from uncontrollable deep blacks to bluish-green tints—the innovative CoCo process bridges this technological gap. By precisely replicating nature’s principles, the process allows for exact control over color intensity. Unlike conventional methods, this veneer offers lighter and medium earthy tones in a consistent color. The result is a through-colored real wood veneer that translates history into a modern surface: familiar in feel, yet unique in impact—and as contemporary in its interpretation as the Scotch Club itself.
