Drei Berge Hotel: Ramdane Touhami Filters Swiss Vernacular Through a Graphic Designer's Kaleidoscopic Lens | Yatzer (2024)

Painted in a vibrant pine green and adorned with traditional red-and-white-chevron shutters, the building’s picturesque exterior belies a treasure trove of uniquely designed spaces whose cinematic ambience taps into Touhami’s whirlwind mindset. Intricately patterned wall paneling and bespoke wooden furniture channel traditional Swiss woodwork with a twist, custom-made carpets and rugs, including one inspired by the iconic 'Welcome to Twin Peaks' sign hanging in the lobby, introduce graphic patterns, as does a plethora of custom-designed mountain flags, while mid-century furniture from designers such as Charlotte Perriand, Carlo Mollino and Toni Zuccheri, mixed with antiques add layers of complexity. Vintage Swiss travel posters and hand-crafted masks inspired by the Tschäggättä witches, mysterious characters from Swiss mythology that are celebrated with wooden masks during the Lötschental carnival, further enhance the scheme’s quirky eclecticism.

The whimsical scenography in the public areas extends to Drei Berge’s uniquely designed 19 rooms, each one named after a famous mountain from around the world. Luxury amenities such as monogrammed bed linens, ultra-soft towels and bespoke bathroom products based on the hotel’s signature fragrance ensure that creative freedom and absolute comfort can co-exist perfectly when done just right.

Touhami’s unconventional approach to the hotel’s interior design extends to its culinary offerings with Ryutaro Kobayashi, Touhami’s personal chef for many years, putting a lighter spin on the typically heavy Alpine cuisine in Drei Berge’s restaurant, Jungfrau. Fusing Swiss, Japanese and Italian inspirations, Kobayashi’s dishes aim to satiate tired skiers and hikers’ appetites with generous yet balanced meals. Hand-printed menus by Société Helvétique d’Impression Typographique (aka sh*t), Touhami’s cheekily christened printing press, and custom-designed tableware and glassware by Touhami’s Parisian studio, which guests can buy in the hotel’s shop along with other decorative items adorning the premises, further underscore the uniqueness of the dining experience.

With its very own coffee shop housed in a cabin next door, offering hot drinks in the winter and cool refreshments in the summer to guests and other visitors on their way to the ski slopes, trails, or any other seasonal activity, which range from paragliding, to tennis and yoga, Drei Berge’s hospitality succeeds in elevating the overall mountain experience with gusto as much as convenience.