Nowhere

Nowhere
is this thinking more apparent than at Zero Real
Estate; the hotel without a roof or walls.

From £225 per night and with a 4,500 person waiting list, you’d
be forgiven for expecting all the frills of a five-star hotel. But
this one-of-a-kind lodging is challenging perceptions of “luxury”
by winnowing it down to the bare essentials; a bed, nightstand and
lamp. Beyond unrivalled views and infinite fresh air, however,
guests will also be in the company of The Modern Butler, there to
cater to your every whim. In a sense, s/he embodies what is
intangible – and perhaps this is the essence of true “luxury”.

The innovative concept is courtesy of acclaimed trio, Daniel
Charbonnier and brothers, Frank and Patrik Riklin, who have
partnered previously on similarly unusual lodgings such as Null
Stern, a converted nuclear bunker that was once a hotel and is
now a museum. Together with Toggenburg Tourism, the
creatives-cum-hoteliers have brought the hugely popular concept to
the idyllic mountainscapes of Toggenburg with three newly opened
suites scattered across the scenic peaks and gorges of the Alps.
Between 15 July and 2 September 2019, you can take your night cap
under a rising moon, fall asleep under a canopy of towering trees,
and wake up to the sound of tinkling cowbells from the surrounding
pastures.

A novelty, perhaps, but now more than ever people are seeking
unique (and Instagrammable) travel experiences that aren’t readily
available at the click of a button. Zero Real Estate meets that
need while also fulfilling the desire to disconnect and truly go
off-grid. In a recent discussion SUITCASE Magazine and Canada Goose
hosted on shelter, Daniel spoke of a shift in the market which has
seen people desiring the intangible qualities of travel where in
the past the focus has primarily been on what is tangible: “When
you take away the roof, the walls, the television and all the rest
of it, what’s left is only you and your experience and that’s what
people want now.” Considering that 34 nights of the 45 that Zero
Real Estate is open next year are already booked, he’s clearly onto
something.