Located at the foot of the picturesque Matterhorn Mountain, Zermatt is the quintessential Swiss ski resort. When it comes to accommodations, the upscale village is made up of a limited number of luxury chalets and “old Europe” grand palace hotels. With its hyper modernist yet warm design aesthetic, ultra-refined menu, and wellness offering, THE OMNIA is a breath of fresh air, and not just because it perches at 5,209 feet above sea level, a good distance from any smog-filled urban center.
Owned and operated by renowned Swiss furniture manufacturer USM, the Rock Mountain lodge-inspired address is anything but a folky alpine residence. Rather, it translates the essentialist principles espoused by American modernists (mostly European transplant) like Mies van der Rohe, Raymond Loewy, Vladimir Kagan, and Eero Saarinen, but with warm materials and accents reflective of the surroundings.
In THE OMNIA’s midst, one finds dense pine forests; primordial rock formations with sculptural dimensions; and everlasting ice peaks. Guest rooms and suites – not numbered but alphabetically lettered (in true purist fashion) are imbued with mid-tone white oak flooring, custom doors, and built-ins interplaying with stark white walls and gray-tone furnishings. Industrial metallic accents make all the difference. A degree of timelessness is also achieved with a common thread of gray granite and dark brown leather.
The top-level roof suite extends across the top of the building – imagined as private residences with some of the best views in town. The accommodation comes replete with a private sauna, classic yet refined wooden bathtub, and a high-performance Swarovski telescope. Most rooms come with semi-private balconies.
The aesthetic carries through to the common areas: an almost Paul Rudolph-esque split-level lobby with library nook; intermediary level sauna and heated pool that extends out to a deck with full Matterhorn view; and lower level restaurant with geometrically cut-out ceiling tiles, exposed concrete columns, and dramatically oversized pyramid lamp shapes fabricated in perforated metal. Softening the effect are plush sofas, muted tone carpeting, and stacked-stone fireplaces. Most of the materials were sourced and processed locally. USM’s own facilities are two hours away.
Imagined by award-winning chef André Kneubühler, the dynamic menu served here centers on locally sourced sustainable produce, paired with top quality fish or meat. Like the design of the space, the offering is modular and tied to site.
Another proponent of American Modernism, Turkish American architect Ali Tayar was responsible for the cohesive design of THE OMNIA; applying his philosophy of flexible modulation to the hotel and not just because USM’s flagship Haller System product is inherently modular. Its endless potential is fully demonstrated here, in everything from standard storage systems to room service food trays and cleaning carts. Much of everything else was custom designed for THE OMNIA, reflecting a true modernist “total-work-of-art” approach.
“The aim of the project was to create a contemporary mountain lodge, so Tayar and our team tried to avoid the omnipresent ‘alpine chic’ aesthetic and to showcase only a few exquisite pieces of modern-style furniture,” says third-generation USM CEO Alexander Schärer. “It was also clear that the USM pieces would be integrated into the whole concept in a very unpretentious, natural way.”
What: THE OMNIA
Where: Zermatt, Switzerland
How much: Starting at $878 per night
Design draws: USM’s cohesively designed American modernist mountain lodge nestled along the edge of Zermatt with choice views of the Matterhorn.
Book it: THE OMNIA
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Photography courtesy of THE OMNIA.