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Six Top Eco Chic Hotels Set The Pace
Wednesday, 06 Mar, 2010
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Whitepod
Treehugger chose their six top Eco Chic Hotels – do you know more?
Whitepod, Aigle, Switzerland
Can igloos actually be comfy and cozy? They can at Whitepod, and they even have access to a ski slopes with private lifts and views of Lake Geneva. Set high in the breathtaking Swiss Alps, Whitepod may draw repeat offenders. The chic, 15 geodesic-dome pods surround a central chalet and are designed to be in harmony with the surrounding environment while resembling boutique hotel rooms inside. Designed to blend with nature, the pods are green-colored in the summer and covered with white canvas in the winter for maximum energy-efficiency. Additionally, they are built on platforms that won’t leave a trace on the land.
Each pod is equipped with a terrace to soak in the view, a wood-burning stove, and solar and rechargeable energy that heats and powers them. Be prepared to take in the fresh air, because the zero-impact dome camps are accessible only on skis or snowshoes.
ALT Hotels, Quebec and Montreal, Canada
Known for their hip and chic hotels, Le Germain Group recently opened two new locations in Canada, both called the ALT Hotel. The concept is simple: a refreshing alternative experience that combines innovative design and a modern personality, without charging top-tier rates.
According to their Web site, ALT is the first Canadian hotel chain designed to follow the principles of ecological architecture. The one element that they are most proud of is their use of geothermal heating and cooling, which also includes radiant floor heating in the lobby. The hotel’s green heating system will reduce CO2 emissions by approximately 430 tons/year, which is an average of 2.7 tons/day or 7 kg/day for each room. Additionally, as we noted prior to the hotel opening, features also include heat recovery from exhaust air, heat recovery from laundry water, energy efficient lighting, and digital controls of ventilation, cooling and heating.
Le Germain believes that attention to energy conservation will become the new standard in the hotel industry. So as a company, being "ALTernative" means caring about the environment and being "eco-proactive."
The Scarlet, Cornwall, England
The Scarlet had a challenge that the owners found to be a significant one. They wanted their hotel to be luxurious and a fantastic place to stay, but designed without harming the planet. So they set out to build a new hotel to prove that sumptuous didn’t necessarily mean unsustainable. From the building materials, to the interiors, to the high levels of insulation, air tightness, and the utilization of solar energy and natural cooling, every aspect of the design was addressed to provide a sound base for an eco-hotel.
Utilizing the fantastic cliff-top location, all of the rooms are focused around the view, but with varying spaces such as intimate gardens, shell-like viewing pods and wrap around terraces. The design works around clever use of levels, revealing function and glimpses of views, with a central ‘wall’ to physically anchor the building to the cliff side. The front of the building is stunning, with an organic facade, a sea thrift roof and reclaimed groynes. The coastal landscape is the center of attention and "blurs the boundaries between the indoors and out."
Vigilius Mountain Resort, South Tyrol, Italy
Located on Vigiljoch Mountain, the Vigilus Mountain Resort is said to be a "wooden house of modernity." The architect designed the building to resemble a fallen tree lying in the woods — the wooden lattice facade represents the bark of the fallen tree.
From the nature-based construction methods to the sustainable use of local resources, the Vigilus’ commitment to an ecological approach was apparent from the very beginning. And perhaps the most surprising element is that the resort is located in a car-free altitude — it can only be reached by foot or by cable car. This means there is no traffic or noise, and one hears merely the occasional whisper of the winds that break the silence of the mountains.
With warm colors and materials such as clay, glass, stone, and linen, each room is intimate with vast views as far as the eye can see. The panoramic windows bring the outdoors closer with dramatic views of the woods and mountains. There are no obstructions and with the scent of wood in each room, it almost feels like a tree house.
968 Park Hotel, Lake Tahoe, California
968 Park Hotel stands as Lake Tahoe’s new and only green hotel. The former structure of the hotel was taken down and 968 was rebuilt with every possible opportunity to use eco-friendly, sustainable materials and green processes. In keeping with the rustic theme of Lake Tahoe, the hotel walls and structural elements are built from reclaimed, aged Douglas Fir lumber, finished with natural patinas, and the exterior features recycled metal siding, designed to be easily removable for maintenance.
What’s cool about 968 Park Hotel is all of the thoughtful little design elements, such as: insulation is made from blue jeans, trim and baseboards are made from recycled wood, lobby furniture is made from material recycled from an old pool fence, trash cans are made from 100% recycled material, fencing is made from recycled wood, and headboards, vanity, and bedside tables are constructed of recycled wood. A full listing of 968 Park Hotel’s eco-initiatives can be found on their Web site: We’re quite impressed.
Frégate Island Private, Seychelles, Africa
Seeing Frégate Island from a birds-eye view, you wouldn’t even know structures existed — a true sign of designing for the environment. Located in the middle of the Indian Ocean just below the equator, Frégate is an example of how man and nature can successfully coexist. It’s one of the most important sanctuaries for rare endemic and indigenous animals, setting an inspiring example for others to follow with conservation projects. With tons of conservation projects, Frégate Island has been said to be the Seychelles’ leading eco-retreat.
With just 17 villas, Frégate Island is a natural, private paradise. Each is built of native mahogany and clad in rich African Chamfuta Teak wood, meant to blend harmoniously into its natural surroundings. The interior architectural design of the villas is simple yet elegant, accented with African Chamfuta Teak skirting boards that edge cream Botticino marble floors, while vaulted roofs and Merbou timber framework faithfully reflect a diverse colonial architectural heritage.
Source: Treehugger & Kara diCamillo
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