The landscape identity of Inselsberg and its architectural silhouette are carefully revealed and made accessible through targeted measures. Architectural interventions on the plateau are designed to blend seamlessly with the topography—the visitor center, dining facilities, and terraces frame the complex with a restrained, landscape-oriented architectural style.
Like a partially excavated fossil, the visitor center is designed to blend into the mountain. Projections and recesses create wind-protected areas for visitors, and the building’s volume is topographically integrated into the natural landscape. Inside, the building serves as an exhibition space with varying room and floor heights, offering insights into the mountain world with a focus on geology and history. At the same time, it opens up to the eastern slope, framing the view of the Thuringian Forest.
The plateau will once again be made accessible to all. The Rennsteig trail follows its historic route directly over the summit, while a circular path encircles the facilities below the plateau. The additional building volumes for the hotel, hostel, and other lodging options will be located below the plateau, framed by existing trees and new plantings. This preserves the mountain’s silhouette, while the Stöhr Mountain Inn and the hostel, with their architectural history, continue to shape the identity of the site.
