The historic Kulm Hotel St. Moritz has unveiled a £1.5 million (CHF 1.75 million) refurbishment of its largest guestroom by the fashionable French hotel designer Pierre-Yves Rochon. Previously known as the Presidential Suite, the 176 square metre room will now be known as the Corvatsch Suite, as it has views out over Lake St. Moritz towards the Corvatsch mountain, which is owned by the same company that owns the hotel.
When renovating the suite, Rochon focused heavily on using materials, manufacturers and craftsmen from Graubünden in order to give the room an authentic Alpine feel. For example, the bathroom has massive Valser granite basins, while Swiss stone pine wood has been used in the bathroom cladding and in the creation of a bench beneath the large corner window that is very typical of the Engadine region. Additionally, the artworks include a series of monochrome images taken by local photographer Gian Giovanoli of the valley, further strengthening the local connection.
Another reason for choosing regional suppliers was to minimise the travel miles of the re-design, but when furniture had to be brought in from further afield, sustainability was an important consideration. This resulted in the inclusion of the 1970s inspired dining chairs by Patricia Urquiola for Cassina, which have been engineered to be completely disassembled for ease of disposal and recycling of the organic premium materials, starting with the metal core.
Similarly, the Little Petra sheepskin armchairs by Viggo Boesen in front of the fireplace are made from wood sourced from sustainable woods. These sheepskin armchairs are the best place to sit, in front of a roaring log fire, on a crisp winter’s day with a glass of Champagne in hand, while the cosy corner seat beneath the window is the perfect spot to witness ‘blue hour’, when the mountains change colour from glistening white to icy blue as the sun sets after another fabulous day on the slopes.
But it is not just gazing out at the beautiful view that will induce soporific feelings. The warm tones of Swiss stone pine used to create that corner bench provide a cosy ambiance but are also beneficial to sleep as the scent of the wood is said to have a positive effect on the nervous system and reduce stress.
While the overall style of the Corvatsch Suite can be described as contemporary Alpine chic, it is definitely the ancient Alps themselves that give the room its real wow factor. Located on the top floor of the hotel, the suite’s wrap-around windows and two balconies simultaneously invite the stunning natural backdrop into the room and offer the most magnificent vistas out over the Engadine valley.
While the Corvatsch Suite has one bedroom, it can be connected to an adjacent Junior Suite, 43 square metres in size, that has been renovated in a very similar style, thereby creating one large apartment of 219 square metres, suitable for families.
Kulm Hotel St. Moritz was the first hotel to be built in St. Moritz. The Kulm Hotel opened its doors in 1856 and immediately became popular for summer spa and painting holidays, particularly among the British who comprised around 75% of the hotel guests. The then owner of the Kulm Hotel, Johannes Badrutt, initiated winter holidays to St. Moritz from 1864 and, as a result, the hotel, resort and Switzerland itself celebrated 150 years of winter tourism in the 2014/15 season.
Since the 19th century, the Kulm Hotel has changed considerably through expansion and renovation, but the fabulous location at the heart of St. Moritz with views over the Lake remains the same.
A member of The Leading Hotels of the World, Kulm Hotel St. Moritz has 164 rooms, six restaurants (including formal dining in the Grand Restaurant, the Italian Pizzeria with 14 Gault Millau points and local Engadine specialities at Chesa al Parc); the extensive Kulm Spa St. Moritz (with a 20m indoor pool with underwater music, various saunas and steam room, a Jacuzzi, a fully-equipped gym and treatment rooms, all with stunning views over Lake St. Moritz); and six conference rooms, with capacities ranging from 50 to 500 people.
Factbox
Winter rates for the Corvatsch Suite start from CHF6,100 (approx. £5,400) for two people on a half-board basis; while winter rates for the Corvatsch Suite and adjoining Junior Suite start from CHF8,800 (approx. £7,700) for four people on a half-board basis. To book, call +41 81 836 8000, email info@kulm.com or visit kulm.com.
Address: Via Veglia 18, 7500 St. Moritz, Switzerland
Phone: +41 81 836 80 00
