Six Senses Crans-Montana, Switzerland, opening in 2021
Situated in the heart of the Swiss Alps, the Six Senses Crans-Montana project is inscribed in the site as a powerful, tectonic structure. Share
Located in one of the region’s most prominent ski areas, Six Senses Crans-Montana in the canton of Valais is just two hours by car or train from Geneva. The project’s architecture, AW², studied the perception of the surrounding mountains, mirroring the natural environment to design a space that integrates into the landscape.
The hotel accommodation and facilities are grouped together in the central 6-storey core structure which forms an elevated platform with two chalet-inspired residential buildings above. This platform provides panoramic views of the mountains from the bar, the outdoor swimming pool and lounge areas fitted out with log fires and a film projection station.
The hotel itself comprises 47 guest rooms and suites, with several Six Senses residential units already completed and available for purchase under a special provision that is one of the last construction projects able to offer residences for sale to foreigners. Two restaurants are planned as well as a sun terrace and bar plus a retail space. Wellness offerings include a 22,000 square foot (2,000 square meter) Six Senses Spa specializing in Alpine treatments, a gym and fitness studio, swimming pool and suspended relaxation area. The spa will also include a dedicated area for children and teen treatments. Six Senses Crans-Montana will be fully operational in 2021.
The architecture and interiors of this alpine retreat have been designed to incite relaxation and revive the senses through an enveloping and cocooning experience in which the mountain views are given primary place. The project is based on the concept of dark to light, of gradually revealing what is hidden as a sensory architectural experience inspired by the surrounding environment. Like a rock emerging from the mountainside, the hotel extends outwards, reaching up towards the light. This concept has been applied to the journey that every guest embarks on from the moment they arrive at the underground entrance modelled on a mineral grotto.
The building does not impose itself on the landscape but provides a framing of the environment through a play of perspectives and openings on to the exteriors. The interiors are based on a refined elegance using natural materials such as leather, wood and stone that reflect and dialogue with the surrounding nature. Six Senses Crans-Montana is a project balancing a strong aesthetic presence, respect for the environment and architecture that truly belongs in its site where the ‘ski-in and ski-out’ experience complements the extensive wellness spa.
