On the spot of the cultural centre there was once a multi-storey building constructed in 1854 in urban style by the manufacturer, Johann Baptist Purger, along with some council offices and doctor's surgery. It also served as a temporary warehouse for the toy manufacturer Anton Sotriffer. Both buildings influenced the character of Kirchplatz, until, in 1969, they had to make way for a congress hall for the 1970 Winter Olympics built at the turn of the century and bearing the name 'Kulturhaus Luis Trenker'.

This several-storey building was built in 1890 by Johann Baptist Sotriffer, owner of the Pedetliva farm, along the new valley road. In 1922, his son Anton (born 1893) opened a shop here, including a section dedicated to the direct sale of wood carvings and wooden toys produced in the valley. While tourism flourished in the 1930s, the international export of Val Gardena carvings faced a decline. In this challenging interwar period, Anton Sotriffer responded with innovation, experimenting with new materials and products. The Sotriffer shop still exists today.