In 2001, the Riders Palace in LAAX opened as Switzerland’s first Minergie hotel. With a modern design, sustainable construction, the latest multimedia technology in the rooms and a huge party location with a capacity of up to 1,000 people, the hotel was previously aimed at a young, freestyle-enthusiastic clientele. Now the former party hotel is being given a new concept and will be remodelled over two years.
Former party hotel becomes lifestyle hotel
The Riders has been one of the most important hotspots in LAAX since 2001. Under the name ‘Riders Palace’, the hotel was known for its wild and long party nights. International artists such as Mando Diao, Cypress Hill, Samy Deluxe and Babyshambles have performed on the stage of the hotel’s own club. But times are changing and so is the Rider’s clientele: it is getting older and more mature. For this reason, a new concept for the legendary hotel was developed in 2016 and realised during a two-year renovation phase. For the 2017/18 winter season, the former Riders Palace was presented to guests as the new Riders Hotel.
With the new design, the creators play with the contrasts of nature, culture and urbanity. The interior design has been reduced to a minimum. The new motto is simplicity, naturalness and functionality. 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.
The new concept also picks up on trends such as 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 performing at the club at the end of December. The capacity has been reduced from 1,000 to 600 people, but this still offers more than enough space for extensive party nights.
From Snowpark designer to hotel manager
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 also no stranger to the scene: Roger Heid was Snowpark Manager in LAAX for many years and was also one of the people responsible for building the world’s largest halfpipe.
Now Roger Heid and his team want to start the 2017/18 winter season with the new concept. However, the hotel doesn’t just welcome freestylers: the Riders Hotel also offers a temporary home to families, musicians and music lovers, artists, sportspeople of all kinds, gourmets and connoisseurs. They should all feel the unique vibe and the combination of 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 rennovated rooms
- “Open office” rooms
- Studios for all creative people, musicians and athletes
- Lobby with bar to chill out
- Weekly live concerts
- Reconstruction according to our Greenstyle guidelines
