Our Conscious Eye On
- Vigilius Mountain Resort

Set on a car-free mountaintop in South Tyrol, Italy, Vigilius Mountain Resort is an eco-friendly hideaway with pristine views of the Dolomites. The hotel’s dedication to its surroundings starts from the foundation: South Tyrolean architect Matteo Thun’s motto is “eco not ego.” In that spirit, the hotel was built from local materials like larch wood, silver quartzite, and clay, with expansive windows that allow the outside world to merge seamlessly with the interior. Vigilius has earned the prestigious EarthCheck Gold certification, which means that the hotel must regularly evaluate its progress and set new goals under EarthCheck’s guidance. The hotel prides itself on using renewable energy resources. Rather than oil or gas, Vigilius generates heat from wood chips sourced from surrounding farms. In addition to lowering emissions, this practice generates income for the local community. To keep heat inside, triple-glazed windows were used throughout the property and the rooftop, covered in grass, offers first-class insulation. With the belief that “it is not enough to simply become more sustainable,” as the hotel told us, Vigilius has ambitions to give something meaningful back to the community.