DESIGN CREATED BY PEOPLE ACTING AS A GROUP OR ENTITIES THAT SHARE OR ARE MOTIVATED BY ONE COMMON INTEREST
DESIGN CREATED BY PEOPLE ACTING AS A GROUP OR ENTITIES THAT SHARE OR ARE MOTIVATED BY ONE COMMON INTEREST
EVOLENE, SWITZERLAND
The Grand Kurhaus
Resort & Tourism
Completed
Set high in the Swiss Alps at over 2,000 meters elevation, the Grand Kurhaus Arolla is an architectural and cultural landmark nestled within a dramatic pine forest overlooking the Eringer Valley. Originally built in 1896, the Kurhaus has long served as a gateway to the alpine wilderness — a historic mountain refuge, defined by its connection to the natural world. The vision for its landscape design is to preserve this legacy while transforming the grounds into a contemporary alpine sanctuary, where luxury, ecology, and mountain experience converge.
The Grand Kurhaus is perched on an idyllic platform overlooking the Eringer valley set amongst a spectacular Pine forest. The arrival experience is not so much of a road but a series of courts collected around the maintainers cottages which provides for a beautiful destination attraction. The design truly embraces the majestic landscape where the indoor and outdoor space merge through large glass exteriors with a warm and rustic timber façade treatment. A series of central courtyards create a spine which displays the changes of season throughout the entirety of the public resort spaces.
The landscape masterplan that enhances the resort’s immersive alpine character while resolving key technical challenges posed by the mountainous terrain, including complex cut and fill operations, structural integration, and ecological conservation.
The landscape vision for Grand Kurhaus Arolla unfolds through a series of distinct yet interconnected zones, each designed to amplify the resort’s unique alpine identity and guest experience. The arrival sequence is envisioned as a dramatic revelation, treating the Kurhaus as a hidden mountain gem. Here, the forecourt is carved four meters below the existing ground level, creating a sheltered entry plaza that protects guests from alpine winds while offering a sense of intimate enclosure. This significant cut-and-fill intervention necessitates careful structural underpinning of the existing building, as well as retaining walls crafted from local stone to integrate seamlessly into the mountain context.
At the arrival plaza, the guest experience is further elevated through thoughtful details. Alfresco terraces activate the space with the scent and sound of alpine cuisine, creating a lively and welcoming ambiance. Framed views extend through the towering pine canopy toward the sweeping Arolla Valley, while natural play elements and cozy seating zones soften the transition from the journey into the serene embrace of the resort. The arrival zone thus serves not merely as an entry point, but as the first immersive chapter in the Kurhaus narrative.
The design introduces a series of central courtyards that weave the hotel wings together, forming a linear landscape spine that anchors the resort’s heart. These semi-enclosed gardens host dynamic seasonal displays, shifting in color and texture throughout the year. Planting themes feature resilient alpine perennials and ornamental grasses, while sculptural stone elements evoke the region’s glacial geology. Functionally, the courtyards accommodate a variety of uses—from morning yoga sessions and small group workshops to elegant dining events or evening conversations gathered around glowing fire features. Subsurface heating in key pathways ensures comfort and accessibility even in winter’s deepest snows.
Along the forest’s edge, the landscape transitions into the Forest Deck and Poolscape, where architecture and nature merge effortlessly. Sunlight filters through pine branches, illuminating elevated sun terraces furnished with timber loungers and soft planting. The indoor-outdoor pool becomes a seamless extension of the forest, with an infinity edge that appears to spill into the treetops. Nearby, a poolside café and indoor swing chairs offer sheltered spaces for relaxation, while innovative stormwater capture beneath the deck sustainably manages snowmelt and runoff, reinforcing the project’s ecological sensitivity.
A key highlight of the design is the Mountain Onsen and Thermal Wellness Zone, set into the eastern slope of the property. Conceived as a secluded haven of geothermal luxury, the onsen is crafted to resemble a natural alpine spring. Stepped stone pools with varying water temperatures invite guests into a deeply immersive experience, enhanced by the gentle sounds of stream-like water flows and the visual warmth of timber louvers adorned with moss planting. The onsen’s placement within the hillside ensures both privacy and protection from prevailing alpine winds, creating a tranquil retreat for relaxation and rejuvenation.
The landscape culminates in a series of Hillside Ponds connected by winding trails and a dramatic sky bridge. This cascading sequence of three alpine ponds offers spaces for sunrise breakfasts, quiet reflection, and playful family exploration. The sky bridge soars into the forest canopy, granting breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding forests and distant glaciers. Ecological integration is central to this zone, with naturalized pond banks, alpine wetland planting, and rainwater harvesting from resort rooftops ensuring sustainable water management and vibrant habitats for native flora and fauna. Altogether, these landscape zones craft a resort experience that is both luxurious and intimately connected to the majestic Swiss alpine environment.
WHZ Environmental Design Sdn Bhd
Haaq + Baquet Architecture
2019
2020
Landscape Design, Tender Competition, Idea
14 ha
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