Hotel Carina Zermatt
September, 2025
I’m sitting in a busy coffee shop in Zurich. Around me, people are talking in groups or quietly working behind their laptops, some lost in whatever their phones have to offer. Outside, a steady drizzle. Inside, the comfort of coffee and the soft soundtrack of a Parisian bistro fills the background of overlapping conversations.
It’s been a week now since I returned from Zermatt. Yes, Zermatt again—but this time I stayed somewhere new. Not one of the hotels I already know, but a little further from the centre: a recently renovated house called Hotel Carina.
22 rooms divided into different categories, plus three beautifully designed apartments with a clear view of the Matterhorn. The house comes together with a cosy fireplace lounge, tucked-away spaces for work or ideas, and a spa designed for relaxation. Klein aber fein, as we’d say in German.
After hearing the story of how the hotel came to life, and after a few conversations with Thierry and Nathalie, it became clear to me: this is precisely the kind of project I’d like to be involved in. The place inspired me before I even arrived, and the feeling stayed with me long after leaving (I can still feel the silence and the fresh Alpine breeze as I type these words.)
The story?
An architecture office from Geneva went for an off-site trip to Hotel Carina. Due to an unforeseen storm in Zermatt, the team got stuck in the Hotel longer than intended.
The results?
Using the location as a case study, and the time to reinvent the space into a modern, boutique style environment - carefully designed rooms, hand-picked, locally produced furniture, combining aesthetics, functionality and cosiness, while maintaining hints of history.
The mood?
A minimalistic approach, allowing individual stories to unfold. A place for each visitor to create their own lines and drawings of their stay, giving room for stories to flourish and bloom. A space for intimacy - with oneself, a partner, friends or the opportunity to connect with new minds. Rooms to (re)connect after a day out and about discovering the alpine landscapes surrounding the village.
My experience?
After a while, being "out of business" with the Hotel Nomad project, I couldn't have asked for a better return. I immediately felt at home at Hotel Carina, inspired to create and support the location with this new moment.
Returning to Zermatt is always a balm - it feels like coming home. A village where so much took place in the past few years - so many stories, opportunities, exchanges and encounters. Returning allows for an inevitable revival and provides the opportunity to experience a known location from different perspectives, creating new memories and stories.
It was a reminder of why I love this job - connecting with the locals and the employees who make the Hotel what it is, while having the opportunity to live the village life and explore the stunning surrounding nature. This time, with friends living the experience with me, while being in front of the camera.
Even weeks later, the warmth of the place and the people remain inside, even in this cold, cloudy city day.
Below are a few impressions that I hope will inspire you, as my immersion has inspired me (scroll all the way down to the video).
I'm already looking forward to returning to Hotel Carina for future seasons (soon, with a restaurant!).
