Huus Gstaad

After an epic three week, summer road trip that started in the Côté d’Azur, and included stops in Epernay, London, Cambridge, and Lucerne we were ready for some rest and relaxation. We made a brief stop in Engleberg to meet up with an old friend and then began the trek to what could be the perfect summer hideaway- a chic chalet in Gstaad, where classic Alpine design meets contemporary architecture (and it’s dog and family friendly.)

Set in the glorious Swiss Alps at more than 1,000 meters above sea level, the spectacular surroundings of Huus Gstaad influence every aspect of the hotel.  Built in the classic wooden-clad chalet style, the 136-room hotel holds onto the quintessential styles of the local architecture, while at the same time infusing it with a sense of modernity.

Defined by tree lined valleys and clusters of picturesque gingerbread chalets, HUUS Gstaad’s design is influenced by the centuries-old traditions found in this pocket of the Swiss Alps. Nestled on a rolling hillside between the villages of Saanen and Gstaad, the seven-story structure boasts unparalleled panoramic views over the majestic Bernese Oberland. Designed to blend seamlessly into the surrounding landscape, the hotel’s wooden façade mimics the local woodlands, while the use of natural, locally-sourced materials throughout the interiors, further blurs the lines between inside and out.

At the heart of the hotel is the living room. Furnished using a mix of contemporary materials and styles, the lounge evokes a sense of familiarity amid a setting of warmth and wonder.  Deep sofas invite guests to curl up with a book from the adjacent library which boasts a 500 plus collection ranging from cookbooks and travel guides to design and lifestyle journals and poetry books. When we visited in August, the living room extended out onto the terrace, which wraps around most of the building, overlooking the picturesque town of Saanen and the mountains beyond.

Our party of five meant that we needed one of the larger rooms, so we opted for the 732 square foot Suite, which had two queen beds as well as two sofa beds. The highlight of the room was the balcony which looked out over the surrounding alpine environment with a magnificent view of the mountains.