The Heinz Julen Loft is a luxury vacation rental property in Zermatt, a resort town at the base of the Matterhorn in Switzerland's upper Valais. A departure from the traditional Swiss chalets dominating the area, this loft is pretty spectacular: all polished concrete, steel, and glass, with walls of windows showcasing the pristine mountain scenery. Heinz Julen is a local artist known for putting a contemporary spin on things, including the restaurant Heimberg, where he added a chandelier made of forks and wine glasses a few years back.
Somehow, despite all of those modern materials, the loft seems like a cozy place to hang out with a big group of friends or family. Numerous small lamps add a warm glow to the abundant natural light. The wide open first floor features a velvety couch and floor pillows strews across a huge fluffy rug. Knotty-pine wooden panels and cow-skin rugs lend a modern cabin vibe to other rooms. And eclectic artwork displayed around the loft makes it feel more like a home.
There are all kinds of attractive amenities to use during a stay as well, starting with the fireplace—the self-catered package also includes firewood, which is stacked to perfection in the living room. An elevator rises to the mezzanine level, where you'll find the kitchen and bar area. Naturally, there's a hot tub for apres-ski soaking. Unexpectedly, there's also a grand piano. The three bedrooms all have double beds and en-suite bathrooms, but everyone will be fighting over the master suite, which takes up the entire top floor.
Zermatt is a car-free town, but you can walk to the ski lifts within two to 10 minutes. The main drag, lined with restaurants, bars, and boutiques, is also walkable. For nights in, the loft has TVs with cable, a DVD player, and WiFi. You could also opt for a truly over-the-top catered package that includes afternoon tea and cake, wine pairings with dinner, and an open bar, to name a few perks. The rental starts at $687 per night. Get all the details in the listing on luxuryretreats.com.
