Whitepod Zen Suite

Situated high in the Swiss Alps, the Zen Suite by Montalba Architects at Whitepod Eco-Luxury Resort immerses guests in the unique experience of the alpine landscape. The Pod borrows materials and forms of the natural world to achieve structural and spiritual harmony with the surrounding ecosystem. Its design was inspired by the concept of Zen as well as Wu Ting movement theory, which postulates that "everything is connected, everything is energy.” The 5 movements are each connected to an element; the translation to the earth, the exchange of energy to the water, the evolution of time to the wood, the inner energy to the metal, and finally the external energy to fire.

The interconnectivity and notion of ritual with the five natural elements informs both the Pods’ exterior and interior. A central circle that conceptually represents the cycle of time is shifted and duplicated to create a positioning of programmatic spaces. The wooden walls are curved to define these spaces and finished with precise details. The focal point of the primary space is a recessed bed surrounded by a tatami mat, and a raised tub echoes this positioning at the core of the circular bath. Human ritual lies at the heart of Pod construction and, in the midst of breathtaking mountain views, it has become a transformative experience.

From Zen, the project traced the 5 movements of energy, finding value in how to improve a guests' inner experience within the human-nature relationship by self-reflection as a process of being conscious of whatever is around, alive or not. The project then translated these 5 movements as spatial studies: layout generation, water zones, materials & finishes, primary spaces vs. concealed compartments, and re-programmed space. The discipline in which the project was designed resulted in a space that projects tranquility and immersion into surroundings. In an effort to minimize environmental impact, the Pod is raised up on a platform, leaving the landscape largely untouched. Additionally, the wood surround that contains the bathroom is prefabricated in a local carpenter’s workshop to minimize waste during production and transportation distances. The bath also uses an Ozone system to filter water, which allows the water to remain clean for several days without the use of harmful chemicals. In an era where technology has heightened a continual flow of stimulation, the Zen Suite gives guests a quiet reprieve.

The Pods themselves are elevated to not disturb the alpine landscape below, so we gave considerable attention to making sure sustainable elements were incorporated into the Zen Suite that would be a continuation of a traveler's experience with both the surrounding landscape and the environment as a whole. When you’re designing a project in such an undisturbed, untouched destination there becomes a sense of responsibility toward using sustainable elements and materials with local origins. Ultimately, the use of these materials and practices informed the design, and crafted an interconnected relationship between the suite and the Swiss Alps. Water zones were taken into account during early conceptual studies of the Wu Xing theory and its five moments of energy, which guided the layout of the project's program and organization to distribute and create different areas within the space. In this case, and from a user’s perspective, they became the bath area that overlooks the valley.

Montalba Architects