Therme Vals Flat 421

An Aprés-ski or Aprés-Soak Studio

A mid-century inspired studio apartment on the grounds of Switzerland’s internationally acclaimed, heritage classified thermal baths at Vals, this designer pied à terre lets you don your swimsuit and walk to the curative waters, then drink in dramatic mountain views from its upper-level balcony. With its easy access to both thermal baths and snowy pistes, it's a great vacation home for rent in Vals at any time of year.

Situated next door to the famed, Swiss thermal spa by celebrated architect Peter Zumthor, this top-floor studio apartment offers unobstructed views over the rugged Alpine peaks and dramatic mountain valleys from its private, south-facing balcony. The studio makes a great base for experiencing the world-class thermal baths Vals is famed for, as well as enjoying the local resort’s impressive steeps.

Located inside a building designed by architect Rudolf Berger, the apartment has been newly renovated by an impressive team: Bergdorf AG as consultants, Reidun Grand as project architect, and architect and designer Charles Oluwole Job and his wife Manuela Peng Job as both clients and designers. 

The space has a distinct mid-century modern feel to it. Classic wood built-ins offer clever expandable options, a neat geometric sofa opens to create overflow sleeping, and a deeply set display niche transforms into a tidy workspace. The Jobs' playful touch is apparent in the apartment’s textiles, and the color palette features a subtle take on jewel tones, showcasing pops of unique color on walls and in upholstery. The kitchen is clean-lined and contemporary, a well-equipped spot for creating a meal to be enjoyed tête à tête on the panoramic balcony.

Read an interview with the owners about their sister property, Chalet Ariasana, here.

AROUND

The internationally acclaimed thermal baths at Vals were designed by award-winning architect Peter Zumthor, from more than 60,000 slabs of local quartzite. Zumthor reportedly created the space as a sensory destination with stone as his primary inspiration, and the baths are such a standout location that they were granted protected heritage status shortly after completion. Featuring naturally occurring, mineral-rich waters from the St. Peter spring, the baths maintain a constant 30 degrees Celsius. Created in 1996, Zumthor's baths are now incorporated into the more recently completed 7132 architectural project that includes multiple hotels and restaurants, making it a destination retreat for visitors to luxuriate in the stony embrace of the mountain world. 

Other notable experiences in Vals include skiing or snowboarding its 25 kilometers of slopes, best known for their vertical grade, some of the region’s steepest. The town of Vals still offers traditional Switzerland, a village where original Walser houses clad in quartzite line the main street, surrounded by rugged outcroppings and soaring peaks that give the town a sense of remoteness. 

Water made Vals. The dramatic valley was cut by millions of years of rushing ice and snow melt and driving rains, and today the area offers both thermal baths and scenic lakes as well as bottled mineral water sources. The town boasts three Alpine lakes nearby—Ampervreila, Selva, and Guraletsch, amazing hiking destinations in the warmer months. A hiking paradise, Vals is located on the Big Walser Trail through the Swiss Alps and features its own local paths into the Rhine Forest, Val Lumnezia, Safien Valley and others. An offbeat experience in the region is crystal hunting. The valley is recognized as a location with considerable mineral deposits, and guided searches for the magnificent stones are available.

LOCATION

Vals, Switzerland. Nearest airports: Altenrhein, Zurich, Bergamo

BEST TIME TO VISIT: This vacation home for rent in Vals is a year-round destination.

PHOTOGRAPHY: Martin Hemmi (interiors), Roland Imboden (exterior)