Boutique Design - December 2018 - 100

2 0 18 G O L D K E Y AWA R D S

BEST HOTEL LUXURY
SOURCES

BÜRGENSTOCK HOTEL AND ALPINE SPA
OBBÜRGEN, SWITZERLAND
DESIGN FIRM: MKV Design, London
THE COMMISSION: Recreate one of Europe's most glamorous

resorts with an eye toward the future. Build on this mountaintop
retreat's legacy of visionary thinking, environmental responsibility and deep connection with the natural world to introduce leisure and health-conscious travelers to new era of peak
experiences.

ations and circulation and to ensure that each of the 102 guestrooms benefited from magnificent views thanks to a full-height
window in both the sleeping area and bathroom. In the lobby
lounge, with its imposing windows, curvilinear forms and deepseated sofas, to the guestrooms. Spices Kitchen * Terrace, the
Pan-Asian restaurant, occupies a stunning glass box protruding
from the hotel over the sheer drop of the mountain. "The sensation is as a bird in flight hovering over the world, completely at
one with nature," says Katsarou Vafiadis.

THE CHARRETTE: In addition to honoring the resort's inher-

itance, use every line drawn, space orientated and material
selected to celebrate the magnificence of the mountaintop
terrain 1,475 feet above Lake Lucerne. Attention to scale, height
and internal layout were key, says Maria Katsarou Vafiadis,
founder, MKV Design. Neutral colors bridge the outdoor/indoor
transition as does the materials palette: stone from the mountains, timber from the forests, bronze resembling the
light of late afternoon and a deeply veined green marble wall in
the bathrooms.
THE CHALLENGE: Synthesize fin-de-siècle and contemporary
styling. Start with the basic: a great view-from everywhere. The
designers reconfigured the original masterplan to enhance oper100 boutiquedesign.com

DECEMBER 2018

THE COOL STUFF: Pamper guests with thoughtfulness, not
things. The guestrooms' integrated window seat provides the
perfect place for observing the surroundings. Oak cabinetry
reveals the touch of craftspeople in the details of its construction
rather than just showing off. Bathrooms run the length of the
room, a considerate feature since few of the guests are traveling
solo (ditto for the walk-in closet).
THE CARRY-OUT: Restrain yourself. Instead of offering a kaleidoscope of art and FF&E, focus on a few memorable statements
guests would really appreciate. Case-in-point: A contemporary
two-way fireplace warms a bather relaxing in the sunken tub and
a guest curling up on the window seat.

J O H N AT H I M A R I T U S

WINNER

OWNER: Katara Hospitality,
Zug, Switzerland; OPERATOR:
Bürgenstock Resort, Obbürgen,
Switzerland; DESIGN FIRM:
MKV Design, London: Maria
Katsarou Vafiadis, managing
director; Giovana Valmaggia,
associate (architectural design);
Helen Quaine, associate
(FF&E design); ARCHITECT:
Russli Architekten, Lucerne,
Switzerland (Bürgenstock
Hotel); Patrik Dierks Norbert
Sachs Architekten BDA, Berlin
(Alpine Spa); PURCHASING
COMPANY: Katara Hospitality,
Zug, Switzerland; GENERAL
CONTRACTOR: Cerutti
Partner Architekten AG,
Rothenburg, Switzerland
(Bürgenstock Hotel); Thomas
Spitzmüller, Giswil, Switzerland
(Alpine Spa); DESIGN
CONSULTANTS: Sektor 4
(lighting design, Bürgenstock
Hotel); Licht Kunst Licht, Bonn,
Germany (lighting design,
Alpine Spa); Gasser, derungs
Innenarchitekturen GmbH,
Zürich (exhibitions consultant);
ARCHITECTURAL MATERIALS:
Impronta Italgraniti;
ART & ACCESSORIES:
Trowbridge; AUDIO/VISUAL
& ELECTRONICS: AVS
Systeme AG, Hünenberg,
Switzerland (hotel and spa);
Bose; Samsung; BATH &
SPA: Dornbracht; Laufen;
FABRICS: Abbott & Lloyd; Agua
Fabrics; Christiane Baumann
Design; Dedar; Delius;
Osborne & Little; Pierre Frey;
FLOORCOVERINGS: Nourison;
FURNITURE: Epoca; Minotti;
Cassina; Hamilton Conte;
Sifas; Poliform; LIGHTING:
2F Lighting; Porta Romana;
SIGNAGE: Graphic Design
Dubach; WALLCOVERINGS:
4spaces; Cole & Son; Kobe;
Tektura; Vescom; WINDOW
TREATMENTS: Jording
Meisterwerkstätten; OTHER:
Electrolux Professional (kitchen
equipment); Grupo Malasa
(joinery - Alpine Spa); Odermatt
AG and Höller KG (joinery Bürgenstock Hotel); Markus
Rüegg Feuer AG (fireplaces hotel and spa)
http://www.boutiquedesign.com
Boutique Design - December 2018

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