The Chedi Andermatt & Residences @ First European Hotel Project by General Hotel Management’s (GHM)

The Chedi Andermatt & Residences the first European hotel project by General Hotel Management’s (GHM)  entrusted into the immensely capable design hands of Jean-Michel Gathy of Denniston Architects has just completed its unveiling. The first glimpse into the philosophy and design achievement of the larger Andermatt Swiss Alps development project envisioned as a year-round resort destination comprising residential apartments, luxury chalets, 18-hole championship golf course, retail village, hotels, sports centre and leisure facilities. The Chedi is an exciting benchmark for the reawakening of this quaint hamlet, now poised to rival any world-class mountain hideaway and jet-set hot spot.

Motivated by the location and the destination experience, Jean-Michel balances honoured heritage and unrivalled design vision with awe-inspiring nature at The Chedi Andermatt; all sustainably designed and executed, using locally sourced materials and expertise. A tribute to traditional Swiss architecture, whilst at the same time elevating the concept, the ruggedly luxurious mountain hotel is cosy yet chic, comfortable yet classy.

The exterior echoes established Swiss chalet-style, imbued with contemporary graces – the timber facade, pitched roof and stone embellishment provides a classic frame for the generous incorporation of glass; reflecting and illuminating the inner social scene and outer natural beauty. Warm and welcoming, the 30-metre check-in bar transforms a traditional reception into a place to meet, mingle and mix drinks and likewise, departing from a formal lobby, the feature fireplace and large loungers invite a shared space to relax and refuel.

In the 104 guest rooms, striated woodwork sits knowingly next to striking 4-metre monochromatic Rubens-inspired murals; the authentic timber-clad walls behind the beds are dotted with antique lanterns to emulate a starry night sky. The concept of ‘adjustable living’ is thoughtfully in harmony with the setting – the double shutter windows accommodating in-and-out fireplaces, allows guests to enjoy the ambient heat from both within their room and out on their terrace. Radiant light, a sense of space and a perception of place exude throughout the hotel. With the open-plan approach, lofty ceilings, timber pillars and carefully positioned light-magnifying glass surfaces augmented by the tapestry of wood, rich earthy hues and layered, tactile soft-furnishing – Jean-Michel has managed to make The Chedi wonderfully inviting, familiar and aspirational, all at the same time.

Spoilt for choice, The Chedi offers seven dining venues, serving everything from drinks and snacks to haute Swiss cuisine, western and eastern dishes. Quite special, the 2,400 sq. m. spa is a destination unto itself with temperature-controlled outdoor lap pool, 35-metre indoor pool, hydrothermal baths, state-of-the-art gym, yoga and personal training, Finnish saunas, sol steam baths and 10 luxury treatment rooms, with the finest organic products from SpaRitual, ila, REN and Alpienne (incorporating local folk remedies).

“I think The Chedi Andermatt is a fabulous success being one of the first hotels in Switzerland where you have the comfort of a 5-star chalet, the energy of a sporty destination, the aesthetics of a contemporary design and the respect of local value and architectural language. This project is a major position strike for the industry where all Swiss service values are expressed and respected, yet in a contemporary environment, having lost nothing of the traditional comfort. The design of the Chedi Andermatt is respectful, quirky, energetic, creative but yet beautifully integrated in a small village. It gives a new life for Andermatt, the mountain, a new vision for the Swiss Alps,” comments Jean-Michel Gathy. “With the reinvention of Andermatt centred around The Chedi, I set out to create a hotel that would pay homage to the past, while also continually evolve, not only as the development progressed, but from day to night, season to season and person to person. I wanted the element of glass to ensure the changing vistas became part of the hotel, to radiate the energy of tradition, time and treasured holiday moments.”