A cluster of energy-efficient wooden chalets has popped up in the sloping landscape of Monthey, located close to 15 miles of hiking routes through the Swiss Alps.

The timber cabins were designed by Swiss-American practice Montalba Architects as part of the Whitepod eco-hotel, which also includes a series of geodesic pods. Each chalet is prefabricated from locally sourced larch and powered by a nearby hydroelectric turbine. Chalet interiors are lined with oriented strand board (OSB) and two layers of insulation to keep them warm during winter.

It’s a contemporary take on the traditional wooden cabin, with poured concrete floors running throughout.

Breakfast croissants – made using local ingredients and delivered via an e-food truck – can be munched on the front porch, before guests head off for an aromatherapy massage or a hike. Mountain guides are available to explore the surrounding mountain trails, and during winter Whitepod operates its own slopes for skiing, snowboarding and snowshoeing. Cabins start at 850CHF per night.

Les Giettes, Des Cerniers, 1871 Monthey, Switzerland

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