Design Hotels – Mountain magic

No matter their geographic locations, these eight properties reflect and revel in their mountain landscapes.

Design Hotels – Mountain magic

by | 14 Dec 2021 | Design

No matter their geographic locations, these eight properties reflect and revel in their mountain landscapes.

Sunyata Hotel Meili in Shangri-La, China was carved from a former Tibetan home cradled in a remote hillside and pays homage to the Japanese philosophy of wabi-sabi. Design details like rough-hewn furniture and uneven concrete walls reflect Yunnan province’s mountain terrain, while Tibetan references abound in elements like Buddhist murals and deep wooden window frames.

Rooms Hotel Kokhta in Bakuriani, Georgia also reflects the textures of its natural surroundings and Georgian heritage through interiors crafted from chestnut wood, terracotta and local stone. Located in the highlands of the Koktha-Mitarbi region, which was initially developed for Olympic training, the ski-in ski-out resort has some of the country’s finest slopes right on its doorstep.

Set on a 23-acre mountainside site with sweeping views, Scribner’s Catskill Lodge provides a luxury retreat in the natural splendor of New York’s Catskill Mountains. All guestrooms feature dark maple floors, vintage rugs and bespoke furniture, while many have large windows and private decks, and some have their own fireplaces. Nearby are the slopes of Hunter and Windham Mountains, snowshoe trails, apple orchards and local microbreweries.

Across the Atlantic, tucked away in Andorra’s Incles Valley, one of Europe’s most hidden vales, L’Ovella Negra Mountain Lodge offers an intimate escape. The community-minded lodge takes a slowed-down approach to hospitality and, with only four rooms, encourages guests to do the same. The lodge’s central fireplace, low lighting and abundance of candles create the perfect ambiance for rest and relaxation, although snowshoe trails and ski slopes are also just a stone’s throw away.

At Wiesergut in Hinterglemm, a 14th-century estate has been masterfully renovated to include a glass passageway and floor-to-ceiling windows with unparalleled views of the Austrian Alps. The onsite restaurant focuses on elevated Alpine cuisine crafted with locally sourced ingredients, and the spa offers sublime wellness treatments alongside views of the mountains and Glemm Valley beyond.

In Lana, in the South Tyrol region of Italy, 1477 Reichhalter is housed within a 500-year-old historic structure that has also been updated with contemporary design details, although the original façade remains an integral part of the property. Nestled in the heart of the Etschtal Valley, the nearby Mount Vigiljoch is lined with forests and wooden gabled farmhouses, while the Tappeinerweg trail is a 19th-century landscaped botanical path with over 400 labelled tree and shrub specimens.

Two properties in Zermatt, Switzerland, a town with access to 38 Alpine peaks, each offer distinct experiences. With over 50 guest accommodations and multiple buildings, Cervo Mountain Resort is a micro-community and the only property in the area to provide ski-in ski-out access. The four onsite restaurants focus on locally sourced ingredients, and a sophisticated après-ski programme features live music and DJ sets paired with perfectly crafted cocktails.

At The Omnia, American modernism meets European craftsmanship throughout one statement-making structure. Here, 30 individually designed rooms with warm wooden detailing, and suites with private fireplaces and woodburning stoves, are paired with contemporary lodge-style common spaces. At the in-house Michelin-starred restaurant, executive chef Tony Rudolph maintains the authenticity of Alpine cuisine while giving it contemporary, seasonal twists.

ABOUT THE CHAIN

 

Established in 1993 as the first of its kind, with a portfolio of only ten iconic member properties, Design Hotels today represents and markets a hand-selected collection of privately owned and operated hotels.

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