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Design Takeaways From a Simply Beautiful Swiss Hotel
Homes can take a hint from the modesty, purity and warmth of this new hotel in the Alps
Houzz Contributor. I am an architect and writer living in New York City. I have Bachelor of Architecture and Master in Urban Planning degrees, and over ten years experience in architectural practice, split between Chicago and NYC. Currently I'm focused on writing and online pursuits. My daily blog can be found at http://archidose.blogspot.com
Houzz Contributor. I am an architect and writer living in New York City.... More »
My recent visit to St. Gotthard Pass — a 6,900-foot-high Alpine pass connecting the German- and Italian-speaking parts of Switzerland — started with a tour of a former military bunker deep in a mountain that has been converted into a cultural and exhibition center. It ended with a visit to a hospice converted to a hotel, just steps from the bunker's exit. Contributing to the mood of these two varied yet linked entities (more hotels will probably be needed for the bunker's new use) was the weather: Sun to the east gave way to fog, low clouds and rain in the pass.
This ideabook takes a peek inside the former Altes Hospiz, converted by Swiss architects Miller & Maranta into a wonderful hotel that respects the place's history while providing modern comforts — and some lessons for residential architecture and interiors.
This ideabook takes a peek inside the former Altes Hospiz, converted by Swiss architects Miller & Maranta into a wonderful hotel that respects the place's history while providing modern comforts — and some lessons for residential architecture and interiors.
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The hotel's conversion was completed in 2010, but the building (center) dates back, in one form or another, eight centuries. The right side of the building, below the lowest part of the gray roof, is actually a chapel, the most historic part of the building. The chapel and the hospice have been rebuilt a number of times for various reasons, most recently 100 years ago.
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Miller & Maranta kept the building basically as is but added a floor, created a new wooden structure and added a new roof. The last piece is the most idiosyncratic aspect of the design, due to its asymmetrical form, its exaggerated dormers and the lead surface.
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As we round the lake in front of the hotel, the chapel's bell tower becomes visible at right.
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Approaching the building, we can see the chapel entry; the hotel entry is on the far side of the building from this view. The roof's asymmetry continues around this side as well.
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The fourth side of the building, where the entrance to the hotel is found, varies from the other three in that it is one solid wall, sans roof.
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The ground-floor entry is more monastic or like a church than a hotel, which is fitting given the building's history. The small windows appear larger because of the size of the opening on the inside face of the deep wall. I'll admit that this photo captures only a fraction of the quality of light coming in through these windows.
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A corridor that leads to the stair in the center of the building is definitely more hotel-like. The stone floor is an especially nice touch.
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The upstairs corridors that serve the different rooms utilize wood floors and a similar gray wall finish. Overall the finishes are minimal, but they exude a warmth that is accentuated by the light coming in through the small windows. Note the tray at the door for holding shoes.
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| The unit I was able to visit is a duplex that serves five people. A living area comprises the entry level downstairs, and two bedroom areas are upstairs. Every surface is covered in solid wood boards, making the rooms warmer still than the corridors. |
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| The stair is especially nice. The simple design features a solid guardrail down the center of the steps. |
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One of the two bedrooms upstairs is larger than the other, serving three people. Here we can see the new wood structure that the architects added. It's apparent that the room is under the roof's peak. All of the finishes and even the furniture pieces are simple, but the spaces are very cozy.
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The other bedroom has two beds; not visible is a dresser serving both. Again we see a small window centered in the room. The room layouts are hardly regular, matching the asymmetrical exterior. Inside, the design creates a calm that is a respite from the unpredictable weather of St. Gotthard Pass.
Ideabook published on Sept. 5, 2012.
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These shelters fit in their stark surroundings beautifully, and this particular one looks extra fitting as its asymmetrical shape mimics surrounding mountain peaks.
Kudos to John recognizing this!
I think Sasso San Gottardo is the military bunker that got converted to a museum that you mention at the beginning of the article, yes?
http://www.sasso-sangottardo.ch/en/
John, not to upstage your beautiful photos, but here some additional pictures taken by Ruedi Walti.
Hospiz, lake and rocky peaks behind, taken during sunnier weather. Yes, this architecture blends into the rugged surroundings very well.
The street view shows how this burg like architecture fits beautifully into its setting.
I find these hotels to be really fun because they are so austere. They are usually extraordinarily quiet and lack the bustle of an American hotel. Even the dining rooms are monastically quiet. Some of my American colleagues found the atmosphere to be depressing -- a sentiment that is shared with some of the Houzz readers. I get that, but I always found it to be refreshingly civilized.
This is a retreat. It's a place for people (probably mostly Swiss) to get away from their everyday lives and distractions to find solitude (does not equal lonelyness). The stark landscape, architecture and the interior with its absence of stuff and clutter help this pursuit.
The interior seems to me a melding of a typical SAC (Schweizer Alpen Club) mountain climber cabin and a monastery. As the hospices on high altitude mountain passes were historically run by monks, the interior style is actually quite traditional as well.
Beautiful, I love it.
To each his/her own.
And to that end … why all the negative comments on Houzz? The outside world seems to be engrossed in constant conflict and petty ugliness. Do we really need to contaminate this beautiful site? What would happen if when we didn’t appreciate a photo or article we simply clicked to the next? No disapproving comment, no negativity, no nothing, just a click.