(Feature story from the Field Book Issue 1)

Cervo simply cannot be explained in a single sentence. It is a world of its own, perched high on the hillside overlooking the town of Zermatt, and offering stunning views of the Matterhorn. This collection of separate buildings, amassed and linked together over time, creates a unified experience with the beauty of the mountains and self-discovery at its heart.

Cervo was renovated over an eight-month period in 2020, and the hotel’s philosophy was completely redefined accordingly. Redesigned by Armin Fischer and Andrea Kraft-Hammerschall from the Dreimeta studio, Cervo now boasts warm colours, wooden surfaces, and natural materials that vary depending on the style of the lodging. The hotel features several different lodging concepts, aptly named The Huntsman, The Nomad, The Alpinist, and The Overlook Lodge.

Perhaps even more importantly, sustainability was a central priority during the process, and a whole new concept was developed, including efforts to lower the footprint and a greater focus on social and local responsibility. A new geothermal heat pump generates 99 per cent of the energy required for heating and hot water, and has an integrated heat recovery system for the wastewater. Wood has been used wherever possible, both because it will match the surrounding forest and because it is a sustainable material. All waste is recycled, LED lighting is used throughout all the buildings, and solar panels have been added to the balconies. Ingredients for the restaurants are sourced within 150 kilometres of Zermatt whenever possible, and the restaurants have placed a greater emphasis on vegetarian dishes.

Cervo takes an interesting and forward-thinking approach to interacting with nature, engaging with the local community, and taking full responsibility for and ownership of the hotel’s footprint. There’s no other mountain town on Earth where the elements are as present as they are in Zermatt, where Cervo is leading the way to the future.