Faern Arosa Altein Swiss Ski Hotel Reveals Stunning Renovation By London Design Studio ‘Run For The Hills’

Award-winning London-based design studio Run for the Hills has completed its first full-hotel commission, Faern Arosa Altein.

Founded by designer Anna Burles and Chris Trotman, Run For The Hills is an award-winning London-based multidisciplinary design house specialising in interior design and creative branding. Renowned as the go-to design team for effortlessly cool interiors, its portfolio includes hotels, hospitality, bars, restaurants and cafes, boutique cinemas, creative workspaces and residential. Run For The Hills also creates and exhibits its own range of fine art and design bespoke pieces for private and commercial clients.

Set in the snow-clad mountains of Switzerland, the team has worked with Faern to redesign the picturesque 126-key hotel. Run for The Hills restored the entrance lobby, concierge desk and breakfast buffet, and designed all its bars, restaurants, common areas and breakout spaces. These include the half-board restaurant, Zus Brasserie, a cosy library cocktail bar, Alchemilla Parlour, as well as the property’s signature Alpensand Panoramic Social Club, a panoramic restaurant and bar located on the fifth floor. The building’s extensive refurbishment included a full renovation of the guest bedrooms and suites, as well as a range of communal areas such as a cinema, games room, kids’ playroom, and meeting space. 

A WELLNESS ESCAPE FOR MOUNTAIN LOVERS

Standing on a hillside within the beautiful national park resort of Arosa, the hotel is the brainchild of Faern Resorts, a collection of resorts in the Swiss Alps dedicated to creating high altitude living wellness destinations, with innovative food and beverage concepts in some of the most loved Swiss mountain resorts.

CONTEMPORARY ALPINE

Designed as a sociable haven for guests returning from a busy day on the mountain, the contemporary alpine interiors feature tactile upholstery, sheepskins and cosy woollen armchairs. Tailored mesh panels, ribbed glass column lights and antique brass fittings add an urban twist to the hotel’s modern charm. 

BELLE EPOQUE-STYLE CONCIERGE

A Wes Anderson-inspired wooden reception desk nods to the hotel’s heritage and complements the stunning architectural arches within the cosy-chic lounge-lobby hotel foyer. A sweeping dusky marble staircase encourages guests down to explore the hotel’s Zus Brasserie and inviting cocktail bar, Alchemilla Parlour.

DESIGN SCHEMATIC

The interiors palette is grounded in alpine neutrals, forest greens, burnt rusts, and golden sun ochres, warmed with characterful timber furniture and joinery. Tabletops feature light and dark terrazzo stones and berry-red marble swirls. The tailored joinery is softened by fluted banquettes and sofa-height dining set-ups, accessorised with rustic ceramics and scattered Slim Aarons artwork, a nod to the retro village of Arosa.

“The hotel is deeply atmospheric and steeped in history. We felt privileged to fashion its next chapter. Working closely with Faern Resorts CEO Romain Semmel, we developed our interior concept to honour its heritage, whilst also creating a fresh lifestyle escape for the next generation, channelling the spirit of chic millennial high-altitude living,” says Anna Burles, Co-Founder and Creative Director, Run For The Hills 

TIME FOR BED

The hotel’s bedrooms offer a mix of comfort singles, doubles and larger deluxe corner suites for groups and families. Many have spacious balconies, with uninterrupted views over the valley and rooftops of Arosa. Inside, Run for The Hills’ guest room design concept is unashamedly boutique-inspired. The soft curves of the custom headboards and contemporary joinery styles are punctuated with characterful lamps. The rooms are infused with alpine zig-zag textiles on the armchairs which are paired with statement Swiss green cross woollen bed blankets for extra warmth and cosiness. The suites filled with retro mountain photography, including some from the Slim Aarons vintage collection.

The bathrooms are contemporary chic, featuring black-framed showers and brassware, washstand basin and terrazzo floors. The decorative palette is organic and rich, with a mix of timbers, woven panelling and rich clay paint colours creating a warm, elegant atmosphere. The final palette speaks to the hotel’s setting: timeless tones from nature are accented by textural upholstery and sheepskin balcony seating to create a layered, modern mountain style.

“We created a design language for guest rooms of differing sizes; a suite of joinery designs which could flex for the varying styles and orientations of rooms. Bed sizes and storage solutions may vary, but we looked to connect them with signature features and maximum guest comfort touches, to make each room a relaxing retreat,” says Michael Smith, Associate Creative Director, Run For The Hills

A HAVEN FOR FOODIES

The hotel has several distinct spaces for both dining and drinking, including the stucco-ceiling Grand Dining Room Zus Brasserie. Surrounded by large windows, this spacious room provides exquisite mountain and village views. The space is utilised to serve healthy and hearty breakfasts ahead of a day’s skiing, and upon nightfall transforms into a sophisticated restaurant offering candle-lit dinners for half-board guests. Zus Brasserie also offers a wide selection of wines nestled in the softly lit, arched timber and mesh wine cabinet. The nature-inspired material palette features warm and organic, rich timbers, bouclé and wool upholstery fluted banquette sofas in forest greens, berry reds and bark browns, and structured dining chairs in angled forms and Deco-inspired curves. These are given a contemporary twist with graphic art and mirrors suspended from ironwork rails that reflect the stunning views beyond.

The Rustic Buffet adjoins Zus Brasserie, offering plentiful self-serve cuisine under a statement decorative tree that celebrates the full height of the beautiful arched space, framed by the swirling marble staircase.

PANORAMIC DRINKS & DINING

The hotel’s buzzy après ski rooftop restaurant & bar, Alpensand Panoramic Restaurant & Social Club, boasts breath-taking views of the Swiss Alps; sun-drenched by day, twinkling clear views by night. Offering an all-day à la carte menu, the light-filled indoor drinks-and-dining space extends out onto a magnificent balcony with uninterrupted views of the valley and village. It’s the perfect spot to enjoy a refreshment in the sun, and an unrivalled location for après-ski sundown aperitifs and winter warmer cocktails. Alpensand channels 1970s decor, updated with alpine-inspired wallpapers from Mind The Gap’s TYROL collection, cosy Romo upholstery and a vintage collection of tongue-in-cheek mountain resort artworks by Slim Aarons. These are paired with cushy velvet sofas and deep, comfortable armchairs to provide a great spot to socialise and relax with friends. The bar is designed to host après ski DJ sets to accompany the exquisite cocktails, craft beers, sharing platters, artisan pastries and warming drinks. This space is open to guests and non-residents alike.

ALCHEMILLA PARLOUR BAR

Alchemilla Parlour Bar, the hotel’s lower ground level social lounge set within the historic panelled Library Room, provides evening drinks, inventive cocktails and small plates for guests and locals. A beckoning, sumptuous space with richly upholstered cocktail armchairs, black veined stone drinks tables and group nook sofas, Alchemilla is the perfect spot for retiring after dinner. In keeping with Faern’s spirit of joyful celebration, creativity and playful rebellion, the art is full of personality, channelling the spirited style of 1970s alpine fashion photography and surreal collage.

SKI AND SWIM

During the winter season (December to April), guests have access to heated boot racks in the ski room, with close access to the main lifts and an expansive ski and snowboarding area with sledging, snowshoeing and cross-country trails for those who don’t ski. In summer (June to October), Arosa is home to numerous lakes, picturesque hiking routes, mountain biking, parachuting for adrenaline junkies, and superb golfing experiences. Guests can play tennis on the two outdoor courts or take a dip in the outdoor pool. The hotel also offers breakout spaces, toddler and teenage games rooms, meeting spaces and a cinema room.

MOUNTAIN SPA

The hotel also boasts the town’s largest spa destination, with pools, water jets, steam and sauna as well as pampering treatments for after a busy day on the slopes.

Faern is a new collection of striking lifestyle resorts in the Swiss Alps where celebrations big and small make every encounter meaningful. Debuting with two hotels; Faern Arosa Altein and Faern Crans-Montana Valaisia, Faern is approaching each alpine destination with a fresh, new take inspired by the scenic sights and unforgettable vistas.

The brand name Faern has evolved from the German ‘Feiern’, meaning “to celebrate” and the English “fern”, an icon of mountain flora. Guests of Faern will experience a playful rebellion where spaces have been harmoniously created to offer creativity and quality time. Holistic health and wellbeing and also mountainous enjoyment is pivotal to the brand's ethos, where people come together to celebrate alpine living in a home away from home.