Business Weekly / A Unique Stay Merging with the Earth’s Surface

By ● You Hui-Ling

Switzerland: Alpine Camping in the Snow

Whitepod

Is camping in the snow always about gritting your teeth against the bitter cold? Whitepod, located 1,400 meters high in the Swiss Alps and overlooking Lake Geneva, offers a way to connect with nature through camping while still enjoying a luxurious and comfortable vacation experience.

Sofia de Meyer, who serves as both the designer and owner of Whitepod, grew up in this mountainous region and is all too familiar with the stunning alpine snowscapes. She wanted to find a way for people to ski here in an eco-friendly and comfortable manner. To achieve this, she spent nearly two years researching before developing this new type of environmentally conscious accommodation. On clear days, you can admire the magnificent sea of clouds rolling over the mountains, and at night, only the city lights at the foot of the mountain and the twinkling stars above.

During the day, there are thrilling ski runs stretching seven kilometers, or you can go on guided snow hikes. When you’re tired, the main building still offers spa and massage services, or you can reserve dinner at the restaurant and enjoy it quietly in your own tent.

Sri Lanka: A Dream Destination for Bird-Watching Tours

Heritance Kandalama Hotel

What kind of hotel would make you feel like you're living in a zoo? The Heritance Kandalama, an eco-hotel located in central Sri Lanka and situated in a prime bird-watching area, doesn't require long treks—its own surroundings are already quite fascinating.

Moreover, it's even more like a zoo. Zeng Meili, a tour guide who has led bird-watching trips in the area four times and stayed at the hotel four times, observed that during the hotel’s construction, the rock face was not forcibly removed. Large rocks were preserved in their original state along the hotel corridors, forming a natural landscape painting.

From a distance, Heritance Kandalama looks as if the entire hotel is embedded into the mountain cliff, built around exposed rock layers. The nearly kilometer-long main structure is covered in vegetation, and the roof is lush with greenery, reducing sun exposure and blending seamlessly with the environment. The hotel was built in 1993 with the philosophy of coexistence between architecture and ecological surroundings. Geoffrey Bawa, an architect from Sri Lanka, broke the boundary between architecture and environment, connecting the interior and exterior of the building, and is a pioneer of sustainable architecture.

USA: Majestic Sea Views Stretching for Hundreds of Miles

The Post Ranch Inn

Can you believe it? The architect of this hotel actually slept in every planned room location.

This is the Post Ranch Inn, a sustainable hotel in California’s Big Sur region designed by eco-architect Mickey Muennig. Its architecture blends harmoniously with the landscape and features a unique design. As mentioned in the book World’s LEED Hotels, “Mickey would spend the night in each intended room location to determine the optimal views and privacy for each unit, while avoiding cutting down any trees.” As a result, the hotel rooms vary in style according to terrain and scenery—some are triangular treehouses hidden among the woods, seemingly growing out of the trees, while others, like the coastal rooms, have grass-covered roofs built into the hillside, resembling part of the cliff.

The reward for this reverence for nature is breathtaking coastal views for guests. The hotel is situated along the Big Sur coast, which stretches 150 kilometers and features majestic cliffs, verdant mountains, blue seas, and soft, pristine sandy beaches. It has been hailed by National Geographic as one of the “50 Places of a Lifetime.” When you step into your room and gaze out the window, you might just be tempted to follow the architect’s lead and try sleeping in different rooms to see how each exclusive view differs.

[More Reports]

Seat Stop Starting Your Emails with “Dear”

Seat The Shocking Truth About America’s Premium Angus Beef Burgers

Seat The 22K Gold Debate Is a Non-Issue

Seat A 30-Year-Old Stock Market Landlord Gets a Monthly Pay Raise of NT$58,000

Seat Why Do Some People Have Big Bellies Even If They’re Not Overweight?

※For the full story, see Business Weekly.※ This article is authorized by Business Weekly. Reproduction without permission is prohibited.