In 2001, the Riders Palace in LAAX opened as Switzerland's first Minergie hotel. With its modern design, sustainable construction, state-of-the-art multimedia technology in the rooms, and a huge party venue with a capacity of up to 1,000 people, the hotel has so far catered to a young, freestyle-loving crowd. Now, the former party hotel is undergoing a redesign and will be renovated over a period of two years.
From party hotel to lifestyle hotel
Since 2001, the Riders has been one of the most important hotspots in LAAX. Under the name "Riders Palace," the hotel was primarily known for its wild and long party nights. International artists such as Mando Diao, Cypress Hill, Samy Deluxe, and the Babyshambles have performed on stage at the hotel's own club. But times are changing, and so is the clientele of the Riders: it is getting older and more mature. For this reason, a new concept for the legendary hotel was developed in 2016 and implemented during a renovation phase lasting just under two years. Thus, for the 2017/18 winter season, the former Riders Palace was presented to guests as the Riders Hotel.
With the new design, the creators play with the contrasts between nature, culture, and urbanity. The interior design has been reduced to a minimum. Simplicity, naturalness, and functionality are the new motto. Guests at the Riders Hotel are no longer defined by characteristics such as age or place of residence, but by their passion for the mountains, music, design, and quality.
Trends that the new concept picks up on include healthy, vegan-vegetarian food in the new Riders Restaurant, weekly live concerts in the lobby, a gym for training and yoga, and open offices that can also be used as studios. The Riders Club will, of course, remain an important part of the Riders Hotel. Jan Delay, for example, will be DJing at the club at the end of December. Capacity has been reduced from 1,000 to 600 people, but that's still more than enough space for long nights of partying.
Previously designed and built snow parks – now a hotel
From the creative director to the construction manager to the interior designer – the men behind the new concept are all passionate freestylers and have been celebrating the urban lifestyle in the LAAX mountains for years. The new director of the Riders Hotel is no stranger to the scene either: Roger Heid was snow park manager in LAAX for many years and was one of the people responsible for building the world's largest halfpipe, among other things.
Now Roger Heid and his team want to launch the new concept for the 2017/18 winter season. However, the hotel has long been welcoming more than just freestylers: the Riders Hotel also offers a temporary home to families, musicians and music lovers, artists, athletes of all kinds, gourmets, and connoisseurs. They can all experience the unique vibe and connection between nature, mountains, art, and urbanity at the Riders Hotel.
details
Completed
Jonathan Voellmy, Creative Director
Michael Adamina, architect
James Niederberger, carpenter
Renato Nigg, Construction Manager
Roger Heid, Hotel Manager
December 2017
- Completely renovated bedrooms
- New, strictly vegan-vegetarian restaurant
- Open office spaces
- Studio for all creative types, musicians, and athletes
- Lobby with bar to relax in
- Weekly live concerts
- Converted according to the Greenstyle motto "reduce, reuse, recycle"
