Waldhotel by Bürgenstock

High above Lake Lucerne, on the sunlit southern slope of the Bürgenberg mountain, stands Waldhotel by Bürgenstock, a retreat where architecture is more than design, wellness is more than ritual, and sustainability is woven into the very fabric of the building. Belonging to the Bürgenstock Resort Lake Lucerne and conceived by world-renowned architect Matteo Thun, the hotel is a rare example of hospitality shaped by a deep respect for nature, place and the healing power of landscape.

For Thun, whose Milan- and Munich-based studio is known globally for its responsible, holistic and site-specific philosophy, the guiding principle was clear: the hotel must grow from the mountain, not sit on it. 

Inspired by the simplicity and intelligence of Walser traditions, Thun designed it as a terraced structure that steps gently down the slope, fully south-facing to capture light and energy. Using local larch wood, natural stone and gabions filled with excavated material, the building is visually and physically anchored to its surroundings. Over time, the façades will continue to green and evolve naturally, allowing the hotel to blend even more deeply into the Alpine landscape.

Inside, the boundary between exterior and interior dissolves. Every room, suite and spa space opens onto generous terraces with sweeping views of an untouched valley, creating a constant dialogue between guests and the environment. The design, with its emphasis on natural materials, light and subtle colour palettes, aims to support vitality, grounding and a sense of holistic wellbeing.

The architecture is inseparable from the wellness experience. Here, wellness unfolds as a journey shaped by air, light and landscape, including panoramic spa pools and quiet terraces that encourage stillness and reconnection.

The hotel continues a legacy that began on the Bürgenberg mountain in the 1870s,  when it became known as a place of cure with the Grand Hotel, the very first hotel of the resort. Far from being an add-on, sustainability is the structural backbone of Waldhotel by Bürgenstock. The building itself is an ecological achievement: 165,000 cubic metres of excavated material was reused in construction, avoiding 18,000 lorry journeys and preserving the natural slope. Green roofs, natural insulation and south-facing orientations significantly improve energy efficiency. Gabions and planted façades create habitats for flora and fauna, while the surrounding landscape has been enriched with new woodland and vineyard.

The resort benefits from its ground-breaking lake-water energy system, which covers 100% of cooling and 80% of heating needs using water pumped from Lake Lucerne. This nearly CO₂-neutral cycle also supplies irrigation, spa pools, refrigeration and even electricity through a turbine as the water returns to the lake. Adding to this system is the Waldhotel by Bürgenstock’s high-altitude photovoltaic installation, designed to take advantage of the Alpine climate. With an installed capacity of 212.85 kWp, it produces enough to cover nearly half of its primary energy needs and roughly a quarter of its overall energy consumption. 

Through the Bürgenstock Resort’s pioneering environmental systems, the property becomes more than a place to stay. It becomes a hotel where architecture, ecology and wellness meet in perfect equilibrium.