If It's Hip, It's Here (Archives): modern hotels

Brand new, Switzerland's Whitepod resort has just opened (on the 20th of December 2011) featuring 15 private geodesic pods that resemble igloos anchored on wooden platforms, a recently built spa, a central chalet and private skiing for the guests.

The 15 Luxury Igloo Pods

Inside the pods:

Each pod has a large double bed for 2 people. Five of the pods are equipped with mezzanines that can hold 2 extra beds. However, the mezzanine beds are not intended for adults, they are more appropriate for children from 8 to 16 years old.

All pods are equipped electricity, a floor lamp, wood-burning stoves and organic luxury bedding. The bathrooms are heated with an electric heater and equipped with fully fitted bathrooms; shower, sink, toilet, hairdryer, towels and amenities. And each pod has two pairs of Crocs™ (plastic clogs) at your disposal, lol!

The Central Chalet (chalet Les Cerniers)

At the center of the 15 pods, stands a charming early 1800s wooden chalet where guests meet for breakfast in the morning or gather in the evening around its central fireplace for evening drinks and socializing.

Note: The pods are not equipped with WiFi but there is free Wi-Fi in the Pod-house and in the chalet Les Cerniers.

Pampering and wellness:
Whitepod offers two different wellness areas...

The Relaxation area, which is inside the Pod-house, at the center of the pods, has:
- One Finnish sauna
- One Japanese bath
- Changing rooms
- Showers
Open every day from 15:00 to 20:00 or on request

The Treatment area, which is on the first floor of the chalet Les Cerniers, holds:
- Two massage rooms
- One massage room with a double bath

Skiing:

The Whitepod ski estate is made of 7 km of ski pistes with 700m altitude difference and caters for beginner and intermediate levels.

The two private lift installations can be opened from 11 am to 3 pm upon demand and ensure the guests benefit from a perfectly maintained and safe skiing experience.

The domain also has excellent snow conditions from December through to March.

The Whitepod Welcome kit:

Whitepod is located in Switzerland, in the canton of Valais, in the village of Les Cerniers, at the foot of the Dents-du-Midi mountain range (the beginning of the Swiss Alps), and faces the international ski resort Villars.

Included in the price:
Buffet breakfast at the Pod-house
Access to the relaxation area
All equipment necessary for the stay – back bag, headlights, snowshoes, sledge
Access to our private ski slopes
Free WIFI at the Pod-house
Tea-Time – afternoon tea & pastries served everyday
Parking
All taxes

images courtesy of Whitepod, Photographer: Vincent Hofer | Jean-Marc Palisse – Designer: Angelique Buisson

Whitepod Concept SA
Les Cerniers | CP 681
CH-1871 Les Giettes - Switzerland
reservations@whitepod.com

On a sheer river bank, amongst birch, aspen, pine and nature-sculpted boulders, lies Juvet, Europe’s first landscape hotel, conceived of by Knut Slinning.

Located in Burtigard, Gudbrandsjuvet, Norway and constructed by Jensen and Skoven Architects at first glance, the seven detached guest rooms seem modest and unassuming. But when you open the door and go in, it’s as if nature rushes in to greet you through the massive panoramic windows. You can almost feel the trees brushing against you, and the snow-white drops of spray from the river Valldøla on your face.

The Seven Individual Accommodations
Each room is a detached small independent house with one, or sometimes two of the walls constructed in glass. The landscape in which these rooms are placed is by most people considered spectacularly beautiful and varied and the topography allows a layout where no room looks at another. In this way every room gets its own surprising view of a dramatic piece of landscape, always changing with the weather and the time of the day and the season.

The Spa
According to legend, those who drink the water from Olavskjelda (St. Olav’s Spring) will remain healthy and young forever. Thus when enjoying their spa, you are practically bathing in holy water.

In addition to pampering yourself in the spa or relaxing in your secluded accommodations, activities in the area include all types of Winter sports, Hikes, Rafting, Wilderness camp and World heritage site.

Open March through October, the hotel offers peaceful, secluded and inspiring surroundings for both private individuals and companies who want to design their own arrangements – whether it’s a private event, a camp gathering or business meeting.

Client: Knut Slinning
Project Architects: JSA; Jan Olav Jensen, Børre Skodvin, Torunn Golberg Helge Lunder, Torstein Koch; Thomas Knigge
Landscape architect: Jensen & Skodvin
Static consultant: Siv. Ing. Finn Erik Nilsen
Year Planned: 2004 - 2007
Year Built: 2007 - 2009
Area: 800m2
Cost: 1 Million Euro