Tag Archives: Switzerland

GIPFELRESTAURANT BY HERZOG AND DE MEURON

3 February 2016

The Gipfelrestaurant with it’s breathtaking views of the seven peaks Churfirsten Massif in Switzerland sits on top of the Chäserrugg mountain and literally stopped me in my tracks. I want to go there – badly!

Star architects Herzog and de Meuron re-invented the original restaurant which was built back in 1972 when the cable car station was constructed. Making the most of the views across Lake Walensee and the surrounding peaks the building sits on a plateau at 2,262m above sea level in this unspoilt part of the Swiss Alps.

The goal was to increase tourism in the summer months and pay tribute to local tradition, craftsmanship and cuisine. Locally sourced spruce is therefore one of the dominant materials used, from the pre-fabricated frame by craftsmen in the valley to the floorboards and long angular roof it covers every surface and gives a lovely warm feel.

The Gipfelrestaurant is a destination place serving fresh local food and encouraging conversation through communal dining at long wooden tables before relaxing in front of one of the wood burning fires or the covered terrace enjoying the views.

I couldn’t imagine a more perfect place to enjoy the Swiss Alps – summer or winter.

MORE INFORMATION | Chäserrugg
ARCHITECTS | Herzog and de Meuron
PHOTOGRAPHY | Juergen Pollak with thanks

Follow Stylejuicer with Bloglovin

Architecture / LEAVE A COMMENT /

INTERIORS CRUSH | SWISS SKI CHALET

11 December 2014

Are you ready for another interiors crush!? I dunno but I’ve just got a thing at the moment for all things modern/rustic as you can tell from my newly created Pinterest board.

Maybe it’s the cold weather or the fact that I haven’t even seen a glimpse of a mountain in a gazillion years but I love what Dutch interior designer Marcel Wolterinck has done with this Swiss ski chalet. Would you have guessed that it’s a new-build!?

Marcel mixed old and new wood for the interior and kept the colour palette deliberately muted to emphasise the different textures and materials. I especially love the floorboards which have been painted in shades of grey to give them a more lived in look.

My favourite room has to be the kitchen diner with its’ wood paneled feature wall. The rough old woods contrasts beautifully with the glossy black kitchen units and industrial style stainless steel countertop and the extravagant chandelier adds a touch of glamour.

But the pièce de résistance has to be the large terrace that connects the interior with it’s stunning alpine surroundings and mountain views. I’d happily crash out on the daybed next to the fire pit. *bliss*

INTERIOR DESIGN | Marcel Wolterinck
PHOTOGRAPHY | Davide Lovatti with thanks

Follow Stylejuicer with Bloglovin

Home & Interior / LEAVE A COMMENT /

PLACES TO GO | BRUECKE 49, VALS

3 October 2014

Now I’ve written about Bruecke 49 before – the beautiful boutique B&B – nestled in a small valley in Switzerland but their new photography and a chat with the owners has inspired me to feature them again.

I’m always impressed if people leave their career paths to follow their dreams and restoring Bruecke 49 into an intimate yet luxurious and contemporary B&B has been the life-long ambition of Ruth Kramer and Thomas Schacht.

The Swiss/Danish couple opened in December 2011 and as Thomas tells me they have been lucky to attract some wonderful guests who all share the same passions for design, art, literature, music and of course nature. He says:

At our breakfast table we have met rock-stars, some of the most wealthy people in the world, designers, architects, marketeers, artists, writers … and they have met each other. Friendships have been started and contacts made in our small “breakfast club”.

It must be such a satisfying and wonderful feeling to be able to give like minded guests this special blend of contemporary luxury and timeless beauty in a place you love.

The small village of Vals sits at the end of the Vals valley and consists of a small community of only 950 people most of them working in farming or as artisan craftsmen and guests are able to enjoy and buy some of the local products at Bruecke 49.

Surrounded by mountains it’s a hikers paradise but don’t forget to check out the famous Therme – built by Peter Zumthor who won the Pritzker Architecture Prize for his design in 2009 – for some relaxing spa time.

I’m delighted about Ruth and Thomas’ success, a large part of which has to be attributed to Ruth’s skills as an interior designer decorating the place with Danish design classics and eclectic local finds, giving it a warm homely feel.

Seasoned travellers themselves they know what a difference small details make. Individually styled bedrooms, a large living area with design classics inviting you to relax, a library with plenty of books, magazines and newspapers to browse, an outdoor fireplace and BBQ, a state-of-the-art kitchen, a healthy organic breakfast with freshly brewed coffee and of course the smell of freshly baked bread in the morning.

Ah… my kind of heaven.

ABOVE | The owners Ruth Kramer and Thomas Schacht

MORE INFORMATION | Bruecke 49
PHOTOGRAPHY | Martin Kaufmann with kind permission by Bruecke 49

Follow Stylejuicer with Bloglovin

Travel & Places / 1 COMMENT /

CHALET CHIC – BRUECKE 49 VALS SWITZERLAND

20 December 2013

Grüezi*, I’ve been dying to write this post for you! Six days to go till Christmas and Brücke 49 in Vals Switzerland comes with the most wonderfully wintery and Christmassy (I’ve decide it’s a word) photography you can imagine. It was hard whittling down the almost 100 photos Mr Schacht, the owner sent me but I hope I’ve done Martin Kaufmann, the Danish photographer proud and selected just the juiciest ones for this post.

As much as I love Christmas a part of me wants to escape and spend the week in a quiet ski resort in the Alps, ideally in a warm, welcoming, modern, clean, stylish chalet with all mod cons and really nice hosts. Et voilà, Mr and Mrs Schacht provide just such a service in the charming resort of Vals in Switzerland. Actually, they call it a home from home and modestly claim Brücke 49 to be a B&B with a difference. Well actually, it’s a luxurious, stylish and understated abode with a personal and relaxed atmosphere judging by the photos.

I adore all the quirky little details like the traditional stag’s head, the old-fashioned china, the felt slippers and I love the custom upholstered chair in various fabrics. The dark grey walls in the entrance area are bang on trend (as discussed previously here) and it all comes together with the sanded floorboards, the animal skin rugs, granite stone slabs on the ground floor and heavy wooden beams. A superb interior design job sensitively combining rustic chalet chic with classic modern lines.

And, no, I’m not just writing this to get an invite. In fact I think Mr Schacht would never be so bold as to toot his own alphorn but I really feel passionately about this beautiful little gem tucked away in the mountains. Let’s hope the not too distant future will bring a trip to Vals for me and the crew.

*Traditional Swiss greeting {ahem, not just eye-candy, educational as well this blog #justsaying}

Enjoy and I hope you’re inspired!

More information | Brücke 49, Vals, Switzerland
Photography | Martin Kaufmann

Travel & Places / LEAVE A COMMENT /

GENTLE RENOVATION OF A SWISS CHALET

5 November 2013

Today’s story of the gentle renovation of an old Swiss chalet is a bit of a fairy tale so let me start by saying:
In a land far, far away…

Mirko Beetschen and Stéphane Houlmann of Berdorf Agency discovered the old house in Interlaken and sensed that this was the beginning of a wonderful liaison. With their trained and sensitive eye the two interior experts immediately saw the treasures which came to light during the sensitive renovation process.

Though modestly looking from the outside the house oozes with original features from the 19th century like the wooden panelling in the parlours, the parquet floors, the old staircase or the fabulous fireplace in the library. It took a while to find the right team of experts who had the skills, knowledge and vision for this renovation project but one by one the craftsmen came together each giving their best to bring the vision to life.

Interestingly, the team found English newspapers from 1895 under the old linoleum flooring and a dog-eared copy of a Charles Dickens novel in one of the closets which points to previous British or American owners during the time when the Alpine tourism in Interlaken really took off.

As with all old buildings one of the major problems was insulation. Each room, from the cellar to the attic, had to be looked at individually for the best possible energy efficiency. The building still had to be able to ‘breathe’ and the solution was to stuff the roof with soft sheep wool creating a natural warmth that gives an exceedingly comfortable atmosphere. As a visitor you feel like taking a good book and a mug of something hot snuggling into the nearest corner straight away.

I love the fact the owners used forty different, finely tuned hues of paint which perfectly harmonise with the antique features of the house and add to their beauty, as if it has always been like this.

The chalet, that can sleep no less than 13 people, is a rare success of contemporary living coupled with historic charm which Mirko and Stéphane now share with friends and family.

Their talent for gentle but creative renovations has since attracted owners of similar properties in the area who have instructed them to work their magic on their own historic chalets.

…and they lived happily ever after. The End.