Bringing a GHM property to a Swiss military village that had barely registered on the international travel map was an act of genuine conviction — and The Chedi Andermatt, which opened in 2013 as the centrepiece of Samih Sawiris's vast Andermatt Swiss Alps development, answered the brief with architectural seriousness. Jean-Michel Gathy of Denniston Architects designed the 123-room property as a compound of dark-timber chalet volumes arranged around a long reflective pool, the steeply pitched rooflines and vertical cedar screening referencing vernacular Urserental forms while the massing carries the precision of a contemporary resort. At dusk, the courtyard composition visible in the images — birch trees rising from stone paving, the pool mirroring the illuminated facade — suggests something between a Japanese ryokan and a Valais farmstead. Inside, Gathy's characteristic layering of dark-stained oak, polished stone, and close-grained walnut panelling establishes the atmosphere he has refined across properties from Amanjiwo to The Chedi Milan. The lobby lounge moves through fluted dark columns and low-slung armchairs in sage linen, scored by raking afternoon light. Guestroom suites under the ridge carry exposed pale spruce beams on vaulted ceilings, leather club chairs, and nero marquina marble coffee tables — the alpine structural vocabulary filtered through an Asian-inflected restraint that is Denniston's consistent signature. The indoor pool, lined in green-grey stone beneath a full-length glazed roof, distils the entire design approach into a single serene room.

1hr 30min drive from Zurich airport (ZRH); 2hr drive from Milan Malpensa airport (MXP)

Surrounded by the natural beauty of the Swiss Alps, The Chedi Andermatt offers an extraordinary blend of traditional local hospitality and Asian grace and elegance and sets new standards in the international luxury-hotel market. Glossy Alpine wood, smooth leather sofas, over 200 fireplaces and numerous panorama windows offer a warm and cosy spot to linger a while. This perfect harmony bears the signature of star architect Jean-Michel Gathy. Located 1,447 metres above sea level, this five-star deluxe resort enchants guests with its 119 elegant rooms and suites, meeting rooms equipped with the latest technology, award-winning restaurants and bars, a modern Spa and Health Club and a spa area that is probably unique in Switzerland - an oasis of calm and relaxation.