CONTENTS INTRODUCTION p. 9 CREDITS p. 254
AETHOS MONTEROSA p. 17 — Italy
BLUEBIRD CADY HILL LODGE p. 27 — USA
CALDERA HOUSE p. 35
— USA
CERVO MOUNTAIN RESORT p. 43 — Switzerland
ELEVEN DEPLAR FARM p. 49 — Iceland
TITLE PAGE — The Brecon, Switzerland PREVIOUS — L’Ovella Negra Mountain Lodge, Andorra
EXPERIMENTAL CHALET VAL D’ISÈRE p. 59 — France
FORESTIS p. 71
— Italy
FÝRI RESORT p. 83 — Norway
HÔTEL SAINT-GEORGES p. 99
— France
HOTEL LILIEN p. 91 — USA
HOTEL WILLA p. 109 — Mexico
L’OVELLA NEGRA MOUNTAIN LODGE p. 121
— Andorra
Continues
CONTENTS (CONTINUED)
MARIBEL p. 141
MIRAMONTI p. 149
— Spain
— Italy
LE COUCOU p. 131
— France
NIEHKU MOUNTAIN VILLA p. 157
OLM NATURE ESCAPE p. 167
— Sweden
ONE&ONLY MOONLIGHT BASIN p. 175
— USA
— Italy
PANORAMA LANDSCAPE HOTEL p. 183 — Finland
ROSEWOOD COURCHEVEL LE JARDIN ALPIN p. 191 — France
SEEBICHL p. 201
— Austria
THE BRECON p. 225 — Switzerland
SHIGUCHI p. 209 — Japan
STORFJORD HOTEL p. 217
— Norway
TINKERSFIELD p. 237
— Australia
WERDENFELSEREI p. 247 — Germany
INTRODUCTION
OVER THE PAST several centuries, skiing has evolved from a method of transportation
to a coveted recreational pastime and premier world sport, sowing a distinctive culture along the way. Today’s ski communities are deeply enriched by their own vernacular and fashion, and a day on the mountain is traditionally enjoyed together – with the post-ski celebrations (aptly coined “après-ski”) often as valuable as the snow and slopes themselves. Naturally the mountain’s resorts, valleys, and hillsides have transformed over the decades to accommodate this influx of adventurers and holidayers. Today, thousands of hideaways are designed specifically to elevate the slope-side experience. In The World’s Best Ski & Design Hotels, we’ve highlighted 26 retreats built for skiers and mountain enthusiasts who appreciate great architecture, thoughtful interiors, worldclass skiing, and lively après-ski spots. OPPOSITE — Maribel, Spain
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To design their quintessential ski escape, several hoteliers looked to the past to shape their future. The “golden era” of skiing, which reigned between the late 1950s and early 1970s, heavily influenced the design and aesthetics of these properties. Vibrant hues, wood-clad interiors, and Nordic textiles were reimagined as an ode to this period, resulting in a warm dialogue between then and now. And in an effort to cultivate mid-century’s notoriously decadent après-ski scene, hotels implemented more imaginative methods of refueling and relaxation after a long day on the slopes. One hotel in Courchevel built a paredback restaurant enveloped by the forested mountains. With multiple fireplaces and a chic, cave-like interior, the quaint social hub offers a selection of delectable dishes unique to the region and the hotel. Another hotel in Megève designed a fantastic piano bar, with thick velvet curtains theatrically framing a wooden bar – resulting in a colorful, bespoke lounge, reimagining history in all the right ways. Protecting the mountain’s landscape and prospective climate is another recurring theme that heavily influences the design and programming for the majority of these properties. One aspiring hotelier from Italy discovered a derelict sanatorium and spent years mindfully transforming it into a luxurious getaway. When the time came to expand the property, the hotel consulted with local heritage advisors and arborists and was encouraged to build vertically so the hotel’s expansion wouldn’t encroach on the surrounding flora and fauna, yet still provide impeccable views of the distant Dolomites. Several hotels also curbed their carbon footprint by sourcing materials locally and adding energy-efficient systems to the hotel’s program. They also prioritized working with local craftspeople and manufacturers, in an effort to further preserve the heart and soul of the land and communities for generations to come. New and seasoned skiers have also come onto the hospitality scene to explore, reinvent, and challenge the traditional lodgings and activities that define a perfect ski holiday. For some, the proximity to the mountain and swift access to the summits is a must for any ski trip, while for others, retreating far from the resorts and crowds to a place of solitude is a sought-after luxury they can’t ski without. At a newly opened resort in Big Sky, Montana, guests don’t have to choose. The hotel’s exceptional lodgings are tucked within a secluded valley, bordered by the protected lands of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, and provide direct access by a private, heated gondola to a wide network of slopes in one of the largest ski areas in the United States. Finally, numerous hotels in these pages are family-owned and operated. One Austrian couple recently handed the keys of their architectural masterpiece to their two sons. The brothers creatively filled their childhood stomping grounds with designer furnishings, original works of art, and colorful fine objects, resulting in a hip, stylish retreat overlooking a placid lake, just minutes from the slopes. Whether you’re looking for an intimate lodge submerged in the mountains or a vibrant getaway in the heart of a village, the hotels in this book offer beautiful, design-forward escapes hemmed in by the world’s most breathtaking mountains, each pioneering and molding the new age of skiing into tomorrow. Bon voyage!
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PREVIOUS LEFT — Miramonti, Italy PREVIOUS RIGHT — Rosewood Courchevel
Le Jardin Alpin, France
OPPOSITE — Experimental Chalet
Val d’Isère, France
FOLLOWING — Le Coucou, France
AETHOS
MONTEROSA
— Aosta Valley, Italy “THE MOUNTAINS DICTATED EVERYTHING,” says Lily Wecker, chief executive
officer of award-winning hotel group Aethos. When the company decided to open their first Alpine getaway, the Aosta Valley in northwestern Italy checked all the boxes. Just two hours away from Milan, the spectacular mountain region is made up of glaciers, waterfalls, pine forests and towering summits, striking the perfect balance between seclusion and convenience. “Unlike many Alpine hotspots, the Aosta Valley has remained refreshingly low-key, drawing people who come for the mountains rather than the scene,” says Wecker. Inaugurated in 2023, Aethos Monterosa offers easy skiin, ski-out access; unparalleled views of the midnight-blue mountains; and a dreamy, minimalist aesthetic that poetically echoes the essence of the landscape. OPPOSITE — A contemporary take on the traditional chalet, the wood-clad suites are tucked into verdant hillsides
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