Occupying an outstanding position in Zermatt with breathtaking views of the Matterhorn, Nivalia is a true window on nature. A luxury managed hotel of 8 chalets and 1 apartment, it has wellbeing at its heart, with pool, gym, yoga room, and a private spa for each chalet. Architect-designed spaces mix tradition with the contemporary, reflecting the elements and drawing clients into an authentic, light-filled environment. Nivalia is something out of the ordinary: a bespoke experience that’s both investment and a place for discerning individuals to get close to life’s essentials.
When Silveroc came on board with the project, an architect’s concept already existed. Our task was to elevate it to the next level and get to the heart of what the client needed. Our other job was to encourage investors to follow through on their interest and become part of something that hadn’t been done before in Zermatt, in which they could be buyers as well as investors.
We conduct feasibility studies, both from a commercial standpoint and from architectural and local codes perspectives. We fine tune the developers brief with further details such as area schedules and room descriptions. We include detailed requirements relating to the required scope of works of future project team members, and prepare tender documents for the team procurement.
We assembled a team to put the vision into place. With the client wanting to move fast, we used mostly the same team as with The Ritz-Carlton Zermatt, their experience and expertise ideally suiting the requirements regarding design, materials and deadlines. We reduced the amount of engineering companies on the project, but assigned more disciplines to each one.
We conduct the tender for the entire project team, including architect, interior designer, landscape architect, lighting consultants, MEP engineers, structural and civil engineer, fire engineer, marketing agency, public relations manager, and all other team members that are needed. Once we’ve sent out the tender documents we hold meetings with the candidates to ensure they fully understand the project and scope of services. When we receive the tender returns we conduct detailed analysis and comparisons. We then shortlist 2–3 candidates for each category, and hold final negotiations. Finally, we put forward our recommendation to the client, prepare the contracts together with the project lawyers, and finalise the appointment of the team.
With a new architect, we developed the preliminary design language. This was kept deliberately broad and conceptual, but was definitive when it came to the principal elements, in order to achieve high-level sign-off early on. All the preliminary value engineering and technical co-ordination was set out, as were space sizes and materials to be used (while building specifications and costs, for example, were not included). In this way, we could move swiftly to the planning stage with the understanding that the overall design would not change further down the line.
The architect, interior designer and engineers develop the concept design documents. These include sketches, plans, computer-generated images, schematic drawings, specifications and budgets. We ensure that the design, specifications and budget are in line with the project brief, and help the client evaluate the design concepts and draft comments. We keep the project schedule up to date, provide regular reports, and review and approve professional fee invoices prior to payment by the client, to make sure they are in line with both contract terms and services and project progress.
The planning application comprised two elements. First, a connection tunnel. Being situated on sloping ground away from the valley floor, clients will be able to access Nivalia by means of a tunnel leading to the heart of the complex. Second, the chalets and related buildings. As part of this process, we entered into discussions with relevant parties – regulatory, political and administrative – to make it easier for the planning application to succeed.
The planning application is made. Depending on the project, this can be a simple application to the respective authorities or a more intricate process that involves various expert opinions and preliminary approvals from other authorities and political parties prior to application. In this phase we closely monitor all processes and communication between the project team, authorities, political parties and neighbours, and pay particular attention to the public relations and communication strategy.
