Helvet - Living the high life

Steiger & Cie

In the early 2000s, when Verbier’s high-end luxury real estate development was well underway and the popularity of contemporary alpine style on the rise, an ambitious young man saw an opportunity. Florian Steiger, a former CEO in the music industry, built a rock-solid team directed by Nicolas Koch in Verbier and Oliver Herweg in Zermatt, and Steiger & Cie was born. More than a typical agency, Steiger & Cie has always had ambitious goals: from the beginning, they sought to build an interconnected ecosystem that met every single one of their clients’ needs, both during and after a real estate purchase, using a vast network of reputed, highly-skilled professionals. Beyond BrokerageToday the company has offices in Verbier, Zermatt, and Crans-Montana. When it comes to property brokerage, Steiger & Cie’s close and exclusive partnership with Cardis | Sotheby’s International Realty ensures this core part of their business resonates on a global level and is up to the highest international standards. In posh ski resorts where the luxury market is key, Steiger & Cie manage all kinds of real estate assets, from small apartments sold for less than one million francs, to rare chalets that can go for 25 million or more. Finding and presenting real estate assets is one thing; knowing how to truly highlight their real value is another. Steiger & Cie take great pride in their stunning (but never misleading) photography of featured chalets and apartments, and avoid using extensive retouching or deceptive wide-angle views in their images. The company stands by their belief that ensuring authenticity and establishing trust from the offset is the best (and only) way to build a business relationship. Both clients and partner notaries use the same key words to describe Steiger & Cie: honest, reactive, and highly professional. But establishing trust is just the beginning: in order to close a deal, one needs an extremely thorough understanding of every element involved in the decision making. Being able to find the right asset for the right client, means taking both a client’s nationality and budget into account, as the canton of Valais has imposed strict regulations on real estate purchases by foreigners, something Steiger & Cie are well-versed in. The company also has strong ties to the canton’s largest architectural office. Can we expand the building? Will the undeveloped neighbouring parcel stay that way? Have redevelopments already been planned? Steiger & Cie will look for and provide the required information. How can a foreigner obtain a residency permit? How can I finance my purchase? How can I benefit from a tax package? Once again, you can count on Steiger & Cie. Yet another of the company’s strong selling points: to answer all the questions that might arise, even the uncomfortable ones. But it’s not all about selling points. Unlike many other agencies, Steiger & Cie is not here to simply push a sale and benefit from a short-term commission. The company looks further into the future with every decision they make to ensure they maintain their excellent reputation among current and future buyers. They will even go as far as to setup short-term rentals for clients interested in certain properties, so they can see firsthand if the property is a fit before making their purchase. And once the deal has been closed, Steiger & Cie is still available to coordinate workers and artisans for any needed renovations. Their vast network, which also includes relationships with local authorities, shifts the company identity beyond the realm of simple real estate brokerage and makes them a valuable community partner. In short, they are an engaged and committed companion, able to handle complex cases from start to finish, without mishaps and without wasting any time. www.steigercie.ch

Claude Hervé-Bazin 2020-03-02 07:00:53

An international school

Question: What do the Canadian racing driver Jacques Villeneuve, the French actor Charlotte Gainsbourg, and North Korean president Kim Jong-Un all have in common? Answer: They all studied at international schools in Switzerland. While our country is known for its mountains, cheese, chocolate and banks, the same is also true for these private schools and the high-quality education they dispense. Training the citizens of the worldFounded in 2010, the Lemania-Verbier International School (LVIS) falls squarely into that category. Some 130 students aged between three and 15 and hailing from around 20 countries receive their schooling there, in uniform. With fees ranging between CHF 25,000 and 35,000 – around the average for schools of this type in Switzerland – the LVIS mainly welcomes children from privileged backgrounds, among them the offspring of aristocrats, who are particularly appreciative of the discretion for which the Bagnes region is known. More than anywhere else in Switzerland, Verbier is the kind of place where locals pass the likes of Richard Branson and ex-Nestlé CEO Peter Brabeck in the street, skis over their shoulders, and pretend not to know who they are. The Verbier International School takes pride in “educating citizens of the world”. It takes a holistic approach to teaching and its lessons are in English, with French courses running in parallel. The values underpinning the curriculum, which leads to an IGCSI qualification recognised throughout the world, are also very British in spirit. “Our specific aim is to encourage our students to be open-minded, bold, morally upstanding, communicative, curious and critically minded,” said the school’s director Thibaut Descoeudres. To achieve that goal, this 44-year-old former elite paraglider and the 20 teachers on his staff carefully deliver “bespoke teaching” in small groups of five to 15 students, “avoiding the vertical transmission of knowledge, which is somewhat outdated”. An impressive backdrop for learningThey are all of the mind that their students learn just as much in the two chalets housing the classrooms as they do when tackling the mountains facing them. Sport in general, and skiing in particular, are central to this atypical, high-education schooling. Many are the people who have moved to Verbier and sent their children to school there because of what it has to offer. The school’s youngsters ski at least twice a week during the winter, and some strive for excellence by taking part in ski races and freeride competitions. The school has even entered into a partnership with the Freeride World Tour Academy run by the Swiss Ski School in Verbier. It is a formula that is working very well indeed: the LVIS’s waiting list is growing, with around 20 youngsters having put in applications, and a boarding school will open shortly. www.lvis.ch

Laurent Grabet 2020-01-27 07:00:36

The Cervo

In 1839, Doctor Lauber opened the first lodge in Zermatt with just three beds on offer (the predecessor of the Hotel Monte Rosa). Today, one of his distant descendants, Daniel F. Lauber, is working at the helm of the most intimate Design Hotel™ in Zermatt: the Cervo. Made up of eight independent chalets that each house their own spa, this prestigious 5-star establishment has been patiently building a small luxurious empire, and now includes two restaurants (the iconic Cervo Puro and the Ferdinand), the Owner’s Lodge penthouse, the Overlook Lodge (made up of five large apartments), and the Schali Lago chalet located on the edge of the small Schalisee lake, near Täsch. What do all these venues have in common? An exemplary appetite for alpine purity, brought to life through the use of warm and welcoming natural materials, and an assiduous quest for the best panoramic views, with the Matterhorn at the forefront. Leaning up against the heavily-wooded slopes, the Cervo looms over the village and the Sunnegga funicular station, the gateway to Zermatt’s skiable area. A distinguished member of Design Hotels™, the Cervo is celebrating its 10th anniversary by embarking on an ambitious transformation. In 1839, Doctor Lauber opened the first lodge in Zermatt with just three beds on offer (the predecessor of the Hotel Monte Rosa). Today, one of his distant descendants, Daniel F. Lauber, is working at the helm of the most intimate Design Hotel™ in Zermatt: the Cervo. Made up of eight independent chalets that each house their own spa, this prestigious 5-star establishment has been patiently building a small luxurious empire, and now includes two restaurants (the iconic Cervo Puro and the Ferdinand), the Owner’s Lodge penthouse, the Overlook Lodge (made up of five large apartments), and the Schali Lago chalet located on the edge of the small Schalisee lake, near Täsch. What do all these venues have in common? An exemplary appetite for alpine purity, brought to life through the use of warm and welcoming natural materials, and an assiduous quest for the best panoramic views, with the Matterhorn at the forefront. (R)evolution at the CervoSummer 2020 promises big changes for the Cervo. The hotel will partially shut its doors as it undergoes a modernization. The driving force behind these changes is the idea to delicately bump the Cervo out of its alpine shell and open it up to the world. Nothing revolutionary: the hotel’s infamous alpine chic style (which may very well have been invented here), will not disappear, rather it will evolve in a way that integrates more transnational, cosmopolitan influences for today’s mobile world, with the added goal of becoming more eco-conscious. The best concrete example of this? The lounge will become home to the 100% vegetarian Bazar restaurant, where Eastern specialities will sustainably be brought to life using the best local products from Valais. Meat-based diets are slowly falling to the wayside and raclette’s reign over mountain dishes has come to a end. Today’s reality is much more versatile; desires fluctuate in accordance with temptations. At Puro, the maison’s highly-rated restaurant that received 14 points from Gault&Millau, the menu leans towards the southern Alps, shining a spotlight on pasta and ravioli dishes with contemporary flair. Only the Ferdinand, forever tied to its alpine roots, will remain fully committed to its still-sacred manta: 100% pure, made in Switzerland. A Remodelled HotelOn a technological level, the Cervo is moving away from fading fossil fuel-based models towards clean energy. Once renovations are complete, 90% of the Cervo’s electricity and heating will be provided by a multi-source system that includes solar and geothermal heat pumps, which tap into deep subterranean waters some 150 m below the surface. The psychology of the establishment is also evolving. A new swimming pool with a view of the iconic Matterhorn is being built in the spirit of onsen, Japanese baths, with updated wellness and massage spaces, and a yoga teacher will be on staff. The Cervo aims to break free of the restraining image of a simple “hotel venue” to become a true living destination, an incubator for ideas and desires, and a venue with a focus on personal development. The fitness centre will be transformed into a meditation room to encourage inner journeys, with Beyond Exploring as its new slogan. The former spa will be redistributed into four future Spa Suites. A new chalet will be built with some 15 new, high-comfort rooms, complete with cosy contemporary decor at reasonable prices. The Owners Lodge, which is one of the most lavish options in Zermatt, will become more exclusive, as a way of extending the full range of offers available at the hotel. The renovations will be overseen by the interior design firm Dreimeta d’Augsbourg, and are set to run from April-May through November 2020. In the interim, the Cervo will be partially closed without fully closing its doors. Some of the rooms and amenities will remain open from June 26-September 27 as part of the Ferdinand Pop-Up Hotel (which includes a room service breakfast), offering the perfect opportunity to experience this incredible place without breaking the bank. www.cervo.chwww.ferdinand.swiss

Claude Hervé-Bazin 2020-02-10 07:00:46

Air Zermatt

The Alps as WitnessIt’s often aboard an Ecureuil AS350 B3, a light and versatile aircraft, that one boards (heart beating wildly) for a 20-40 minute flight. Three minutes later, the Matter Valley unfolds and the blue-coloured avalanches of the Hohlicht Glacier sparkle below. The helicopter turns, rises, skims the top of a white-capped ridge, and flies directly towards the region’s most legendary triangular peak. In just eight minutes of flying, one reaches the Matterhorn’s hostile north face, plastered in ice and just metres away. The Hörnli ridge is next, with its alpine hut at its base, tiny and barely visible from on high. The helicopter continues to climb, hovering for a moment above the summit, before following the ridge’s edge. The Klein Matterhorn, Breithorn, and Monte Rosa sweep by on the starboard side, followed by views of the Gorner Glacier on the return journey. Another day, perhaps, will be the time to try helisking, seated in one of the plush, comfortable leather seats of an Eurocopter EC130 T2, until climbing out and breaking through the snow’s frozen crust, wading through the thick powder at the start of the run, feeling the rush of the icy wind from the helicopter’s blades. Imagine finding yourself up there alone, on top of the world. The best part is, it costs next to nothing: a drop-off at Unterrothon (7-8 minute flight time) is only 80 francs! www.air-zermatt.ch

Daniel Bauchervez 2020-03-09 07:00:47

The Monte Rosa Hut

Perched at 2,883 m, on a natural terrace that overlooks Castor and Pollux — twin 4000-meter summits—, the Breithorn, the Matterhorn, the Border Glacier (Grenzgletscher) and the upper Gorner Glacier, lies the ultra-modern Monte Rosa alpine hut. The structure itself is a joy to behold, a true feat of engineering, and one of the country’s most surprising high-altitude, architectural wonders. Run by the Monte Rosa section of the SAC (Swiss Alpine Club), this high-tech edifice appears to hover on the mountainside like a “rock crystal,” one of its earliest nicknames. Built on stainless-steel foundations, with a wooden, spiral-shaped interior that’s covered in windows, aluminium siding, and a 180 m2 photovoltaic system, the building is 92% energy-sufficient and certified Minergie-P. An Architectural GemThis living mountain laboratory was launched by the SAC in 2003, to mark the 150th anniversary of Zurich’s Federal Institute of Technology (ETH). After laying the structure’s concrete centre, which binds the heart of the building to the rock itself, a six-story structure (made entirely of spruce wood from Valais) was pre-assembled into 420 units, transported up the mountain, and pieced together on-site like a giant puzzle. It was high-precision work, especially considering that certain sections weighed over 1.5 tons each. The ultimate goal was to build an iconic, environmentally-friendly mountain hut that would be strong enough to resist the intense local winds (the building can withstand winds up to 200 km/h), while not sacrificing any comfort for its guests. That goal has been achieved. The hut can welcome 120 people in 18 rooms, made for 3-8 people each. But these are no ordinary mountain dorm room accommodations. Here one can expect good mattresses, hot running water, indoor bathrooms, and even four showers; true luxury when it comes to alpine hut standards (at the old Monte Rosa hut, hikers had to melt snow over a coal-powered stove for water). If that were not enough, an integrated microfiltration system cleans waste water, which is then repurposed, and an ETH-designed computerized energy management system considers weather data and expected visitor numbers to optimize the building’s energy consumption accordingly. The Perfect Ski-Touring DestinationThis is one mountain hut that is never left empty. Reservations to stay overnight must be made in advance, particularly during high season. The hut will only be open in 2020 from March 13-May 23, and from June 6-September 19. The hut makes a perfect ski-touring destination. Approaching the hut is relatively straightforward for the experienced skier, crossing an exceptional landscape of legendary mountain peaks and glaciers, while the bravest, most-prepared visitors will take in the view as they climb the Dufourspitze. www.monterosahuette.chwww.neuemonterosahuette.ch

Laurent Grabet 2020-01-20 06:00:37

Steiger & Cie

In the early 2000s, when high-end luxury real estate development in the Swiss Alps was well underway and the popularity of contemporary alpine style on the rise, an ambitious young man saw an opportunity. Florian Steiger, a former CEO in the music industry, built a rock-solid team directed by Oliver Herweg in Zermatt and Nicolas Koch in Verbier, and Steiger & Cie was born. More than a typical agency, Steiger & Cie has always had ambitious goals: from the beginning, they sought to build an interconnected ecosystem that met every single one of their clients’ needs, both during and after a real estate purchase, using a vast network of reputed, highly-skilled professionals. Beyond BrokerageToday the company has offices in Zermatt, Verbier, and Crans-Montana. When it comes to property brokerage, Steiger & Cie’s close and exclusive partnership with Cardis | Sotheby’s International Realty ensures this core part of their business resonates on a global level and is up to the highest international standards. In posh ski resorts where the luxury market is key, Steiger & Cie manage all kinds of real estate assets, from small apartments sold for less than one million francs, to rare chalets that can go for 25 million or more. Finding and presenting real estate assets is one thing; knowing how to truly highlight their real value is another. Steiger & Cie take great pride in their stunning (but never misleading) photography of featured chalets and apartments, and avoid using extensive retouching or deceptive wide-angle views in their images. The company stands by their belief that ensuring authenticity and establishing trust from the offset is the best (and only) way to build a business relationship. Both clients and partner notaries use the same key words to describe Steiger & Cie: honest, reactive, and highly professional. But establishing trust is just the beginning: in order to close a deal, one needs an extremely thorough understanding of every element involved in the decision making. Being able to find the right asset for the right client, means taking both a client’s nationality and budget into account, as the canton of Valais has imposed strict regulations on real estate purchases by foreigners, something Steiger & Cie are well-versed in. The company also has strong ties to the canton’s largest architectural office. Can we expand the building? Will the undeveloped neighbouring parcel stay that way? Have redevelopments already been planned? Steiger & Cie will look for and provide the required information. How can a foreigner obtain a residency permit? How can I finance my purchase? How can I benefit from a tax package? Once again, you can count on Steiger & Cie. Yet another of the company’s strong selling points: to answer all the questions that might arise, even the uncomfortable ones. But it’s not all about selling points. Unlike many other agencies, Steiger & Cie is not here to simply push a sale and benefit from a short-term commission. The company looks further into the future with every decision they make to ensure they maintain their excellent reputation among current and future buyers. They will even go as far as to setup short-term rentals for clients interested in certain properties, so they can see firsthand if the property is a fit before making their purchase. And once the deal has been closed, Steiger & Cie is still available to coordinate workers and artisans for any needed renovations. Their vast network, which also includes relationships with local authorities, shifts the company identity beyond the realm of simple real estate brokerage and makes them a valuable community partner. In short, they are an engaged and committed companion, able to handle complex cases from start to finish, without mishaps and without wasting any time. A blessing to buy in ZermattWhy buy property here? “Because we love Zermatt, its atmosphere, its slopes, its year-round lively character, and, of course, for its view of the Matterhorn,” says almost every buyer. Some have dreamed of owning property in Zermatt all their lives, but once they’ve made the leap, they still need to find the right object to fit their needs. The market is incredibly limited. There are rarely more than 5-10 chalets for sale at any given time among the 50 or so real estate options available. Compromise is almost always part of the deal. Additionally, the process for foreign non-residents is not always straightforward: one can either invest in a hotel property or go through the process of obtaining legal Swiss residency, which sometimes means selling all other properties owned abroad. This policy was designed to ensure Zermatt’s future as a true living village, keeping property owners engaged in the local community and avoiding too many empty homes and “closed shutters,” as the village continues to evolve. www.steigercie.ch

Claude Hervé-Bazin 2020-01-15 07:00:50

Charity Night

While it might be unlucky for some, 13 is a number bringing lots of good fortune to Charity Night. The famous Bagnes-based event will take place for the 13th time on Friday 3 April and will have a whole new look for the occasion. Gaining in altitude, it will decamp from the Espace Saint-Marc in Le Châble and set up in Verbier, with the Savoleyres Restaurant the most likely venue. “The essential ingredients should stay the same: friendly tables organised around sports stars, good food, good humour and, above all, the desire to help out children in need. We are breathing new life into it, though,” says Éric-A. Balet, the CEO of Téléverbier and co-founder of the event. Balet is passing the baton on to a new committee that will now oversee this major end-of-season social gathering, which is expected to bring together nearly 200 people. The event will no longer be connected to the Verbier High Five and will be brought forward to the weekend before the Swiss Ski Championships, another late-season highlight, which will take place on Easter Saturday, 11 April. The proceeds from Verbier Charity Night will go mainly to the Swiss branch of the Right to Play organisation. Over the years more than CHF 500,000 has been raised in support of it, and the money has been used by Right to Play International to fund various projects in some of the world’s poorest countries. The aim of these projects is to harness sport and, to a lesser extent, music to help disadvantaged children get back on their feet, make friends and build their lives. Away from Charity Night, Balet joined up with some of his friends four years ago to launch Right to Play Friends, a charity with around 50 members, who each make a monthly contribution of CHF 50 to directly fund an educational project in Burundi. A total of 32,000 children have directly benefitted from the venture. Over the years, many leading sports stars and celebrities have graced Charity Night with their presence, among them Bernhard Russi, Thomas Lüthi, Dario Cologna, Alberto Tomba, Pascal Richard, Tina Maze, Laurence Rochat, Didier Cuche, Estelle Balet, James Blunt, Bastian Baker and Kacey Mottet-Klein. www.righttoplay.chwww.aidesportive.ch

Laurent Grabet 2020-03-11 07:00:03

Verbier the capital

As the sun slips behind the Val de Bagnes, the evening chill quickly takes its grip on Verbier. With shoulders tense and tight, passers-by quicken their step as they make their way down the street. In the superchalets, meanwhile, the happy occupants are relaxing in the warmth of their very own private spas. As for everyone else, the time has come to make a beeline for the resort’s most select oases of wellness. AWAY Spa & Fitness, W VerbierWith its graceful curves, the W’s beautiful swimming pool stretches from indoors to out, comprising hot and cold areas separated by huge glass screens. Covering an area of 800m2, the adjoining AWAY Spa comprises a jacuzzi, sauna, hammam, relaxation area and treatment rooms (La Prairie and Phyto5). On the menu are detox massages, holistic treatments and bespoke treatments making use of Swiss plant oils and pure oxygen, among other things. There is also a fitness room, yoga and pilates room, nail studio, hair salon, and yoga sessions for skiers. Feeling hungry? Then munch on seasonal fresh fruit from one of the bowls or pick something from the health menu. www.wverbier.com Spa Cinq Mondes at La Cordée des AlpesCould this be the most beautiful of them all? One of the resort’s flagship hotels, La Cordée des Alpes (a member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World community) is home to a simply stunning spa, combining a stripped-back contemporary feel with the timelessness of beautifully shaped wood. The centrepiece is a 15m indoor swimming pool heated to 30°C and stretching between an extended fireplace and a long window looking out to the Mont Blanc massif. Also featuring a jacuzzi, sauna, hammam, three individual treatment rooms (Cinq Mondes) and a fitness centre, the spa is open to non-residents booking at least one treatment. It can also be reserved for private functions. www.hotelcordee.com Experimental Spa by Biologique RechercheSituated in the centre of the resort, the ultra-trendy Experimental Chalet – the latest offering by a group running bars and hotels in Paris, London and Ibiza – is a hotel, restaurant, cocktail bar, club and spa rolled into one. The spa uses products made by luxury French bespoke skin care brand Biologique Recherche and containing only fragrance-free natural and biotechnical active ingredients. Guests receive a personal assessment before each treatment. The spa is home to three treatment rooms, a hammam, jacuzzi and 50m² solarium. The treatments on offer include facials and a range of massages: essential oils, sport, hot stones, scalp and feet. fr.experimentalchalet.com The L.Raphael Temple of BeautyA pioneer in skin care and anti-ageing treatments, the L.Raphael brand operates out of Geneva, Cannes, New York and Beverly Hills. It has also opened an ultra-luxury “Temple of Beauty” at La Truffe Blanche in Verbier, a 280m2 chalet-spa that can be booked for private use. As well as nine treatment rooms, it also has a truly stunning 15m swimming pool that takes its design cues from Art Deco and Baroque, not tomention a hammam, Finnish sauna, gym, home cinema, hair salon, nightclub, and a vodka bar. It even serves sushi. www.l-raphael.com Spa Nuxe at Le Chalet d’AdrienHere at Verbier’s sole Relais & Châteaux establishment and only five-star hotel, the long 16m swimming pool (heated to a temperature of 29°C) attracts all the attention. When its huge glass doors are opened, the Alps are revealed in all their glory and offer a majestic backdrop to the terrace in the summer months. The spa also boasts a jacuzzi, sauna, hammam, fitness room and private treatment rooms. A wide selection of treatments are on offer, all using Nuxe products: body and facial treatments with flowers, plants,honey and crème fraiche; a range of massages (relaxation, detox, Californian, energy, and deep tissue); and a treatment that goes by the name of modelage vers les cimes. Lasting an hour and 20 minutes, it makes use of heated cushions, Edelweiss essence mist, and magnetite stones. www.chalet-adrien.com MassagesThere is more to life than spas. You could just as easily have a massage at a beauty salon or at home. There are a good 20 or so companies and individuals who offer such a service in Verbier. If you don’t want to leave the comfort of your chalet, hotel room or apartment, you can book services with 1936 Massage (specialising in relaxing and sport massages), or Chilali Massage (Swedish, sport, deep tissue and hotstones massages, reiki and shiatsu, yoga and stretching). Their masseurs bring all the necessary material with them. The two companies also offer pilates sessions and facials. Wholeycow Yoga Massage Fitness offer another option, taking a positive, global, physical and mental approach founded on personal development. Its services include Thai massages and reflexology, massages for pregnant women, aromatherapy, and après (or avant)-ski fitness sessions designed to help you raise your game on the pistes. www.massage1936.comwww.chilalimassage.comwww.wholeycow.ch

Daniel Bauchervez 2020-01-13 07:00:27

Your very own spa

No less than 22 glaciers surround Zermatt. Small ones, large ones, and one very large one: the Gorner Glacier. At 3,131 m, looking down from the sun-soaked terrace of the Gornergrat train station (just a short, 33-minute journey from Zermatt aboard a cute red train), one sees a landscape of white grooves and folds, that envelop the shoulders of Monte Rosa’s massif like a majestic, silken scarf. On the left lies the Gorner Glacier, while the right side is dominated by the Border Glacier. A clear view is never guaranteed, as fog often sweeps into the valley, obscuring the landscape, before a breath of wind lifts the veil. Stretched out over 12 km, and 1.5 km at its widest point, the Gorner Glacier is Switzerland’s third longest glacier and the second largest in terms of surface area (53 km2). In the same way that a river absorbs many streams, the Gorner Glacier pulls in many other glacial tongues from the sides of the Breithorn, although the Trift Glacier and the Lower Theodul Glacier no longer connect to the Gorner Glacier, largely due to climate change. Losing a record 30 m per year (with a record loss of 290 m in 2008), the Gorner Glacier is still among the most fortunate glaciers in the Alps, even if it has retreated more than 3 km since the end of Little Ice Age around 1860. Back then, the seracs enveloped the Im Boden alpine pastures. A similar fate has befallen the Furg and Theodul glaciers (where one can ski year round), as they too have retreated with time. Zermatt, thanks to its high altitude, is faring better than the rest of the Alps as its largest, most robust glaciers continue to resist. But their future is less certain. A study published in October 2019 by the Swiss Academy of Natural Sciences revealed a 10% loss of cumulative glacial volume across Switzerland in only five years. By 2100, two thirds of alpine glacial mass is expected to have disappeared (or 90%, if one goes off the most pessimistic estimates). This loss is bound to trigger a radical shift for ecosystems and humanity, especially for the many men and women who live at the base of these great, icy wonders.

Claude Hervé-Bazin 2020-02-17 07:00:34

Helvet.swiss - Zermatt Green-tinted Glasses

Zermatt’s Green-tinted Glasses

In the 1970s, when the rest of the world was fully focused on the growth of the automobile, Zermatt decided to focus on electric cars, a choice sceptics were quick to denounce. But for the station, the choice was largely tied to the goal of ensuring tourism would thrive, while limiting the potential negative impacts of the industry on this beautiful, narrow valley. The Zermattmobile When authorities realized there were not many electric car options on the market, they decided to invest in local design and invention. Almost half a century later, Reinhold Julen (at Jumbo Garage) and his colleagues Stefan and Bruno Imboden are responsible for the production of these vehicles, developed in conjunction with their work as mechanics. It was an enormous challenge to develop vehicles like a small pickup truck with a tipping trailer, or a fuel transporter, that would meet both the technical and legal requirements outlined by the village. It was also expensive: the vehicles produced in Zermatt cost between 65,000 and 120,000 francs, not including the batteries. Built out of aluminium, they are incredibly rust-resistant and have an impressive life span of 30 to 40 years. Their designs were almost exported to New York City as a potential replacement for the city’s existing fleet of 12,000 taxis, but the project was eventually abandoned because the Zermatt vehicles don’t reach high enough speeds. They’re limited to 20 km/hour maximum, the perfect speed for navigating Zermatt’s small village streets, but unfortunately not fast enough for America’s megalopolis “city that never sleeps.” Today, some 500 perfectly silent electric vehicles are allowed to circulate in the ski station, 40 of which are taxis. All other vehicles must be parked in Täsch and riders must take the 12-minute train to Zermatt which runs three times an hour. From the train station, visitors must walk to their accommodation, take a bus, an electric taxi, or (if they’re lucky) climb aboard one of the Grand Hotel Zermatterhof’s two horse-drawn carriages. Horses and recycled plastic Article three of the commune’s bylaws explicitly states that pedestrians always have the right of way in Zermatt. Even the latest modifications, agreed upon in September 2019 between the commune and the local transportation company Alpin Cargo, state that in the afternoons, any package deliveries on Bahnhofstrasse can only be delivered by stagecoach. But vehicles are not the only point of concern for local authorities. 100% of wastewater is collected and treated, trash is collected and recycled, and the use of hydropower is encouraged (currently 60% of the station’s energy is hydropower-derived). Eager to set the example, the commune recently adopted a new paving mix that includes recycled plastic. A first in Switzerland, although others are likely to follow suit as this new, more flexible asphalt blend is highly resistant to the extreme temperature fluctuations that take place between winter and summer. In Zermatt, just about everyone is onboard with the commune’s green initiatives. Numerous hotels have undergone eco-conscious renovations (including the local youth hostel), which, slowly but surely, are making a difference. The Zermatt Marathon has made a public commitment to sustainable development and the village also hosts the annual Zermatt Summit, which welcomes around 150 business leaders who have openly committed to promoting global business models that meet our world’s ecologically-conscious demands. A sustainability test for Zermatt’s ski domain It’s not easy to develop a sustainable ski area. And yet in Zermatt, such plans have long been underway: a dedicated working group has been tackling the challenge since its founding by the Zermatt lift operating company (Bergbahnen) in 2002. One of the first large-scale projects, finished in 2009, was to certify the Matterhorn glacial paradise’s restaurant as Minergie-P. This goal ensured construction was done in a way that would significantly reduce the building’s energy consumption. The building has since won Swiss and European awards for its solar panels, which provide enough energy to meet 100% of the building’s energy needs. The building even houses its own microbiological sewage-treatment plant, allowing wastewater treatment directly onsite. These achievements are all the more impressive when one takes the building’s 3,883 m altitude into consideration- it’s a true model of its kind. A second solar installation was commissioned in Trockener Steg in 2010. And more recently, this base station for the new T3 cable car (which takes passengers to the Matterhorn glacier paradise) was outfitted with 877 m2 of solar panels that generate 157,200 KWh each year. All this despite the difficult meteorological conditions of the winter months, which present numerous technical challenges. The Swiss Alpine Club faced similar challenges when they committed to two flagship projects over the course of a decade: the complete renovation of the Monte Rosa alpine hut (2,883 m), the first mountain refuge to be labelled Minergie-P in 2009, followed by the Hörnli mountain hut (3,260 m) at the base of the Matterhorn in 2015. Project guidelines included eliminating the use of diesel, integrating solar energy, and treating and reusing wastewater. Managing Zermatt’s ski domain, which is energy intensive by definition, is more problematic. Each year, the Zermatt lift operating company’s 68 vehicles and engines consume 1 million litres of diesel fuel. To minimize their impact, the company has started using “eco speed” fuel, which is more expensive but which reduces fine particle emissions by 13% and carbon monoxide emissions by 11%. Infrastructure cables, which have to be regularly changed, are upcycled for bridge construction in Asia. Any defunct infrastructure is carefully dismantled and the impacted area is ecologically restored. Additionally, local authorities have designated six of the ten local forests as protected sites, creating “quiet zones” (with an exception for freeriders, of course) so that flora and fauna can thrive. Here going green is not revolutionary. Zermatt’s green policy is one of small steps, which when taken day by day, contribute to change on massive levels and shape a future that’s highly-conscious of the environmental issues at stake. www.zermatt.ch/en/sustainability

Daniel Bauchervez 2020-02-24 07:00:07