Naturhotel Chesa Valisa

The Naturhotel Chesa Valisa, Rhaeto-Romanic for “Walser people house”, tells the striking story of Sieglinde and Klaus Kessler and their clear-cut business philosophy: intact nature, healthy living, conscious eating, healthy vitality and a love of culture.

Over 4 generations, the old Walser people inn with its stables has been turned into a leading business in the Kleinwalsertal holiday region. The entrepreneurial family joined forces with renowned Vorarlberg architect Hermann Kaufmann and responded to developments in tourism and economic challenges across multiple construction phases. The Chesa Valisa became Vorarlberg’s first organic hotel in 2007 and has also been operating on a carbon neutral basis since 2019.

All construction phases since 2002 have had the same design vocabulary. They have brought together the various parts of the tourist operation to create a hotel complex of around 100 beds – spread over several buildings – using a consistently minimal approach. Ecological building materials were used extensively throughout the entire build.

The last renovation, completed in 2019, also marks the transfer of ownership to the next generation. After more than 30 years, Sieglinde and Klaus Kessler have handed over the reins to their children, Magdalena and David. And these two have continued building with architect Kaufmann. No extensions, though, as they want to develop the interior of the business. Operations have been optimised with construction work to the cellar, kitchen and buffet area, mainly out of sight of the guests. Rooms in the old building and existing rooms, plus a new dining area named “Kessler´s Walsereck” for restaurant visitors have been redesigned.

Architecture: Hermann Kaufmann Architekten, Schwarzach/Vorarlberg