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connorrenwick · 5 years ago

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Design Milk Travels to… St. Moritz, Switzerland

Switzerland’s St. Moritz has long revelled in its reputation as the premiere destination for royalty, celebrities, and the well-heeled to escape from the depressing cast of grey winters in other parts of the world for the elegant ambiance of alpine living. It is in fact the birthplace of winter tourism – the brainchild of visionary hotelier Johannes Badrutt, whose Kulm Hotel first wooed and wowed English vacationers in 1864 with a “love it or your money back” guarantee. Word of mouth would eventually spread to kickstart what would snowball into the glamorous snow-ladden culture now associated with the chic alpine destination in the most expensive country in the world.

Today, the elevation of wealth and landscape on display in St. Moritz continues to extend to extraordinary heights, with opulent accommodations, decadent dining, and death-defying winter pastimes attracting vacationers with promises of 5-star stays graced by 320 days of sunshine a year.

Where to Stay

With its noble Neo-Baroque silhouette standing against the towering sawtoothed Upper Engadin Valley and just a short cross-country ski ride from St. Moritz proper, the Grand Hotel Kronenhof could be mistaken as an anachronistic time capsule of alpine luxury. There’s no denying the hotel is unapologetically grand in demeanor, old world in its charm. A glowing crown atop of its domed front cues all intending to enter, beauty rules this roost.

And indeed, the hotel’s history spans over 170 years – the survivor of two World Wars, weathering a succession of owners alongside the ebbs and flows of the global economy – emerging impressively intact as a magnificent example of a bygone era where resplendent artisan craft embellished rooms from floor to ceiling.

Photos by Gregory Han

The echoes of festivities past are to be found throughout the hotel’s winding hallways, including an antique single lane bowling alley (complete with a totally awesome retro boombox delivering the jams), a newly redecorated smoking room, and a secret speakeasy basement bar embellished with remnants of the hotel’s historic ties to wine and skiing.

Yet the Grand Hotel Kronenhof is in the process of inviting a degree of modernity within, only recently revealing 13 rooms and suites awash in the tastefully calculated contemporary efforts of interior designer Pierre-Yves Rochon. The hotel’s efforts have struck the balance between respecting the wishes of generations of returning guests desiring tradition, while also satisfying a new generation of alpine guests appreciative of the hotel’s history, but also demanding of a contemporary experience.

The Grand Hotel Kronenhof’s historic past lives comfortably in harmony with a contemporary spa and indoor pool wing where guests can wade in the warmth of a heated pool on the most frigid of alpine days while watching ice skaters glide by just out its windows. Photo: Gregory Han

Even if you never intend to stay at the Tschuggen Grand Hotel, you may want to book a treatment at Tschuggen Bergoase, the hotel’s architecturally conspicuous 4-floor wellness center. Designed by Swiss architect Mario Botta, the hotel’s adjoining spa and pool facility (free for hotel guests) is housed within erections of Duke White granite stone sourced from the Alps, topped by vertical sails of of glass that take on the glow of enormous lemon slices at night.

If you do have reservations as a guest, you’ll be treated to rooms executed by interior designer Carlo Rampazzi, who has finished each grade of room with a pastiche of colors and textures bordering on the whimsical – a warm and showy effect emphasized against the snowy serenity of the nearby alpines.

The Tschuggen Grand Hotel also stands out as a completely carbon neutral property, designed and constructed for minimal CO2 emissions, offering guests four tiers of pricing intended to offset emissions generated by their journeys to and from the hotel, while also offering complimentary pick-up service for guests arriving by train (a highly recommended and easy mode of arrival and departure from St. Moritz.)

Tucked in the topography of the Engadine Valley, the Nira Alpina’s glass and slatted timber exterior leaves a contemporary and minimal imprint against a mountainside just outside the borders of St. Moritz. Geothermal power keeps the entire interior warm.

If we were to imagine the typical Nira Alpina guest, it would be a *Wallpaper reading vacationer; an avid hiker, skier, mountain biker, and all-around outdoor adventurer appreciative of the veneer of sedate luxury, but most desirous to be outdoors enjoying all the Swiss Alps can offer.

Rooms are finished with a contemporary confidence, with wood and earthen tones giving precedence to the awe-inspiring views of the Engadin Mountains framed by windows spilling out to balconies and terraces, and an eclectic selection of vintage and contemporary artwork decorating public spaces.

Photo: Hotel Hauser

If luxury ranks secondary to experience in your travel plans, the Hotel Hauser St. Moritz offers an affordable and contemporary home base for the budget design traveler, centrally located in the heart of St. Moritz and just a bus ride and ski lift’s journey from exploring the Upper Engadin.

The hotel’s origins has a tasty past, originally founded as a family operated bakery-confectionary shop in 1892 before slowly transitioning to a modest 18-room hotel in 1955. The hotel’s distinctive exterior is the work of architect Robert Obrist, a self-supporting structure set on pillars, built upon the foundations of the original modest, traditional structure. The 51 rooms are tastefully simple, furnished with moon-phase-harvested larch or mountain pine, supposedly imbued with lunar-aided properties of questionable scientific repute (but undisputedly fragrant and beautiful).

Notable mentions: Kulm Hotel St. Moritz \\\ Auberge Resorts Collection St. Moritz (slated to open in 2022) \\\ Badrutt’s Palace Hotel

Where To Visit

Now its third Swiss iteration, Nomad St. Moritz‘s reputation as a prominent and focused design fair was built upon equal parts far-flung exclusivity and chatter spilled forth from attendees impressed by the intimate experiential installations housed within the event’s 16th-century built, Chesa Planta mansion.

Artist Carsten Höller’s enormous mushroom replica sculpture welcomes guests entering Nomad’s reception “cabin”. Photo: Gregory Han

Established in 2016, the traveling art fair is prominently attended by the set hardly prone to bat an eyelash at artwork, collectibles, and unique contemporary furniture pieces priced in a stratosphere of figures normally associated with car and homes (I on the other hand batted my eyes so often, I eventually just kept them closed). It is at Nomad where collectors and sellers convene to establish the vocabulary of luxury later echoed by media.

The building’s intimate, modest sized rooms present an obvious challenge for those invited to display collections within the classical architecture setting, but there’s an undeniable pleasure in witnessing the skillful efforts used to create an in situ ambiance using the mansion’s pre-existing interior features in relation to a gallery’s temporary display of objects.

Nomad’s “by invitation only” nature makes a ticket in attendance a special thing indeed. So to quote a most mischievous sage, “If you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up.”

Pritzker Prize–winning architect Norman Foster has left his imprint across St. Moritz, most notably in his bulbous timber clad Chesa Futura, followed up a renovation of the Kulm Hotel’s 110-year-old Eispavillon overlooking the historic five-star hotel’s winter ice skating rink and summertime park. Photos: Foster + Partners

Notable mentions: Chesa Futura \\\ Kulm Eispavillon \\\ Parkhaus Serletta and St. Moritz Design Gallery

Where To Shop

The wide swath of international luxury brands lining St. Moritz streets clearly informs of the clientele who come to holiday in the Swiss Alps, with no dearth of options to test the credit limits of even the platinum carded. Only recently the efforts of Parisian architect Luis Laplace bestowed St. Moritz with their own Hauser & Wirth gallery outpost and retailers like esteemed Swiss watchmaker, Bucherer continue to put their best foot forward for shoppers seeking the best St. Moritz can offer.

Photo: Läderach

But personally, I’ve found St. Moritz’s most coveted gifts can be procured in a couple shops only a few blocks from one another at a more reasonable price. Firstly for the sweet tooth: as an avid lover of all things chocolate, I highly recommend leaving enough room in your luggage to come home with a wide selection of fine artisan sweets from Swiss chocolatier, Läderach. I regretfully only purchased two boxes during my last visit, immediately regretting a rare instance of self-control. Confections are made with an eye for design and presentation, making them ideal souvenirs, but as good as they look, they’re exceeded by their immensely satisfying spectrum of flavors.

A two minute walk from Läderach discreetly located in a quiet alleyway is Glattfelder, a family-operated shop dedicated to loose leaf and bagged teas, alongside coffee, caviar, salmon, and spices (apparently covering all of the necessary dietary needs of the average St. Moritz citizen.) Mixed in with the usual assortment of black, white and green teas, a selection of herbal blends made from flowers and plants sourced from the Swiss mountains offer an aromatic gift to bring back home in remembrance of this high altitude paradise.

Photos by Gregory Han

Final Thoughts

St. Moritz’s reputation is built upon its appeal as a wintertime destination, but summertime adventures in this alpine region of Switzerland offers another wholly different yet equally unforgettable experience for those drawn to hike ever upward. In warmer months, mountainside trails are garlanded by alpine flowers, misted by glacial-fed streams, and occasionally garrisoned by sure-footed ibex, greeted by melodious marmots, and most ignored by emo-coiffed Highland cows.

If it’s your first time visiting St. Moritz, consider booking a train ride from Zurich. The four-hour journey will afford you an unceasing opportunity to fill your Instagram with Switzerland’s most picturesque landscape from the comforts of a smooth riding train. If you’re planning to stay for an extended period, a Swiss Travel Pass not only permits access to the Swiss Travel System’s trains, buses, and boats, but also gives free access to over 500 museums and mountain excursion up to Rigi, Schilthorn, Stanserhorn, and Stoos.

If you’ve traveled to St. Moritz, Switzerland and have any additional favorite spots or recommendations for first time visitors, let us know below so we can share (and also check it out ourselves the next time we’re there).

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from WordPress https://connorrenwickblog.wordpress.com/2020/02/27/design-milk-travels-to-st-moritz-switzerland/

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lovetanvir14 · 6 years ago

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Beautiful Hotels near Mountains

To travel to the mountain area requires both physical strength and emotional strength. We get out of rush but we are not prepared to do so, as a result, we can not enjoy it according to our expectation. I will tell you, you should travel to the mountain area with the necessary preparation and take with the necessary things. I will introduce today with the some beautiful Hotels near the mountains. https://fairyqueentravel.com

Beautiful Hotels near Mountains

Wildflower Hall, Himalayan Mountains near Shimla, India Set among scenery practically untouched by humans, Wildflower Hall in the Himalayas is a premiere mountaintop resort that will make you feel as if you’re stepping into the pages of a fairytale. On the interior, you’ll find antique furnishings, wood paneling and original artwork for an old world feel, along with magnificent vistas of endless forests and snowcapped mountains.

Nira Alpina, Switzerland Nira Alpina, set in the town of Silvaplana in the Engadin Valley of Switzerland, offers gorgeous views of Lake Silvaplana and rooms with a large terrace or balcony and panoramic windows overlooking the mountains.

St. Regis Lhasa Resort, Lhasa, Tibet St. Regis Lhasa Resort features unparalleled views of the Himalayas and Polata Palace along with architecture that reflects Tibetan elegance and simplicity. Its Gold Energy Pool is a bejeweled pool like no other, overlooking the surrounding valley for the ultimate in relaxation.

Hotel Alyeska, Girdwood, Alaska Hotel Alyeska is part of Alyseska Resort, a luxury chateau style hotel set in Alaska’s Chugach Mountains along the south central coast, just below a popular ski mountain. https://fairyqueentravel.com

Four Seasons Resort, Jackson Hole, Wyoming The Four Seasons Resort is a ski-in, ski-out lodge that sits at the base of Jackson Hole Mountain, surrounded by jaw-dropping vistas of the Grand Teton Mountain Range, teeming with an abundance of wildlife that surely makes it one of the most beautiful destinations on earth any time of the year.

Topnotch at Stowe Resort & Spa, Stowe, Vermont Topnotch was the very first full resort to open in Stowe, Vermont, claiming a prime location right at the bottom of the state’s tallest peak, Mount Mansfield, surrounded by maples and pine. Come in the fall and you can enjoy hiking hillside trails with amazing views of a landscape dotted with fiery reds, golden yellows and brilliant orange hues.

The Arrabelle at Vail Square This luxury hotel in Vail, Colorado sets a new standard in luxury lodging, reflecting the romantic heritage and ambiance of the European Alps, with architectural touches of Innsbruck, Prague and Salzburg.

Salish Lodge & Spa, Snoqualmie, Washington This contemporary chalet sits just atop Snoqualmie Falls in the Cascade Mountain foothills of Western Washington, offering an extensive selection of wilderness offerings, from guided bike rides to kayaking as well as a “romance concierge” who works with the resort and its guests to provide great options to enhance romance.

Explora Patagonia, Chile This magnificent resort located in the heart of Torres del Paine National Park in central Patagonia sits on the banks of the Salto Chico waterfall and offers breathtaking views of the Paine Massif mountain range. https://fairyqueentravel.com

Altapura, Val Thorens, France Altapura is a 5-star luxury resort that radiates après-ski opulence with a warm indoor/outdoor pool as well as a Scandinavian-style interior accented by giant snowflake cutouts. At 7,545 feet, it’s the highest resort in Europe and comes complete with the largest ski area in the world featuring 372 miles of ski-in, ski-out trails and views of Les Trois Vallées’s six glaciers and rocky peaks.

The Majestic Yosemite Hotel, Yosemite National Park, California One of the most scenic and popular national parks in the country, Yosemite National Park is the home of the historic Ahwahnee, set among soaring cliffs and cascading waterfalls in Yosemite Valley. Staying here you’ll be close to trails heading to El Capitan and Half Dome – or you can simply view this iconic landmark right from your window.

The Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel There are few hotels in the world that can rival the majesty and opulence of this famed resort in the heart of Banff National Park that was styled after a Scottish Baronial Castle. This “Castle in the Rockies,” as it’s often referred to, has been rising out of the forested Banff Valley for more than 125 years, setting the standard for a luxury vacation.

Stein Eriksen Lodge, Deer Valley, Utah This award-winning lodge is the state’s only Forbes five-star hotel and spa with mid-mountain ski-in/ski-out access on the slopes of Deer Valley.

Badrutt’s Palace Hotel, St. Moritz, Switzerland Head to the Swiss Alps to take in all the glitz and glamour of Switzerland’s famous ski town, St. Moritz – and, there is no better place to stay than Badrutt’s Palace, a historic, internationally known luxury hotel overlooking exceptional mountain views and a stunning, pristine lake. https://fairyqueentravel.com

Source: Trips to Discover ✍️Tanvir Hassan

#beautifulhotel mountain travel travelers travelphoto traveling

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