Switzerland
The sheer range of hotels in Switzerland defy any purely alpine expectations. From former castles in Basel, to design pieces in the countryside, to igloo-pods and even overwater bungalows inspired by the tropics, the hotels of Switzerland are as varied as any in the world. Here are ten of the most fascinating.
Volkshaus Basel
Basel, Switzerland
It’s something of a surprise to see the Swiss architects Herzog & de Meuron named in a boutique-hotel project. Outside of Switzerland, the firm is better known for large-scale projects like stadiums and museums. But Basel’s Volkshaus, while it’s not a football stadium, has been central to this city’s public life for centuries, and to adapt it for use as a hotel was no small task. Once a castle, later a brewery, still later a concert hall and office complex, it’s a site with a history that demands preservation.
Experimental Chalet
Verbier, Switzerland
Barely ten years ago the original Experimental Cocktail Club took Paris by storm, and what began as a liquor-fueled labor of love soon snowballed into bars, restaurants, even hotels — a full-spectrum hospitality brand. Now the Experimental Group’s urban hotels — two in Paris and one in London — are joined by the Experimental Chalet, in the Swiss Alpine village of Verbier.
The Capra
Saas-Fee, Switzerland
Even by the lofty standards of Swiss alpinism, the village of Saas-Fee is something else. “Pearl of the Alps” might seem a confusing nickname until you plop yourself in the heart of this gabled, car-free hamlet, from whose perspective the surrounding snow-capped four-thousanders distinctly take on the aspect of an oyster’s lip. Ski resorts around here have embraced intimacy in size and scope — rather than compete with the grandeur of the mountains, they take pride in a humble familiarity with the land. Snow globes rather than glow snobs, if you will. Into this elegant tableau we welcome a relative newcomer: The Capra Saas-Fee.
The Chedi Andermatt
Andermatt, Switzerland
Andermatt is as pretty as any Alpine village, but it was also occupied by the military for a hundred years, complete with firing range and barracks to house 1,000 soldiers. Sometimes an outsider — in this case, the Egyptian-born developer Samih Sawiris — is the right person to take on the challenge. The result is the sophisticated and ecologically friendly Chedi Andermatt resort, the first European hotel from the Chedi group, a luxury brand that’s well-established in Asia.
7132 Hotel
Vals, Switzerland
Therme Vals, the thermal baths designed by architect Peter Zumthor, have long been regarded as a masterpiece, the sort of place where architecture and design junkies make pilgrimages to commune with the quartzite temple that houses the geothermic waters. And now, in Hotel 7132, this village has a hotel that’s worthy of sharing space with the famous spa.
Six Senses Crans Montana
Crans-Montana, Switzerland
Even by the standard of Swiss Alpine luxury resorts, Six Senses Crans-Montana is remarkable. It might seem as though a ski hotel is a compromise between lavish luxury, ultra-modern style, and outdoor adventure opportunities, but this one somehow maximizes all three.
Hotel Märthof
Basel, Switzerland
A beautiful neo-Baroque building on the Marktplatz square in the center of the old town, along with the adjoining 1920s commercial building, forms the setting for the Hotel Märthof, a boutique hotel that is at once a celebration of a hundred-plus years of local history and an introduction to a youthful and energetic side of Basel.
Hotel Palafitte
Neuchatel, Switzerland
Hôtel Palafitte is a South Pacific-style overwater bungalow hotel, located not in the Maldives but on the waters of Switzerland’s Lake Neuchâtel, at the foot of the Jura mountains, with a stunning view of the Alps across the lake. Completed just in time for the Swiss Expo.02, this is an utterly futuristic execution of a timeless concept. After all, farmers lived in houses on stilts above the waters of this very lake some five thousand years ago — but never quite like this.
Whitepod
Les Giettes, Switzerland
For a Swiss Alps experience that’s a step up from evenings cozied up in a traditional wood chalet, consider Whitepod. In this boutique “glampsite” most guests spend the night in energy-efficient, low-impact geodesic pods, all set on a serene stretch of land with 25 km of private hiking trails. All pods have electricity, are heated, hold a fully fitted bathroom, and come with a range of upscale features.
Hotel Des Horlogers
Brassus, Switzerland
A clockwork-themed design hotel could go so very, very wrong, but in the hands of the Bjarke Ingles Group, the Hôtel des Horlogers transcends its inspiration. The setting, in the stunning Vallée de Joux, certainly helps, and the architecture, though inspired by watchmaking, avoids literal depictions. The rooms are handsome and light-filled, the views far-ranging, and the whole operation is as green as you expect a 21st-century luxury boutique hotel to be.