Considered the birthplace of Alpine tourism, St Moritz, host of two Winter Olympics and haunt of the rich and famous, packs in both chocolate-box charm and red-carpet luxury — as does this new penthouse apartment.
Coming onto the market in February, the Grace St Moritz penthouse, along with 16 other apartments, is housed in a restored boutique hotel, formerly the historic La Margna in Switzerland. The hotel is privately owned by the Schweizer-Pitsch family, which has now passed on its guardianship to the Grace luxury-hotel group, itself a family-owned business.
Swiss architect Nikolaus Hartmann’s steep saddle roof, belle-epoque period features and art nouveau vaults and arches from 1906 have been supplemented with modern accents by award-winning architecture firm Divercity and boutique design house Fifth Element. The local tuff stone base has been extended to include generous windows, larger living spaces and terrace areas, and lighting inspired by the “cracks and breaks of the Alps”. Homeowners will have access to the hotel’s state-of-the-art spa and gym, swimming pool, business centre, private parking, concierge and babysitting facilities, plus three restaurants.
When not in residence, owners can rent out their apartments on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. Daily housekeeping and long-term maintenance are part of the package, as are private lockable areas for year-round storage of personal effects.
At 10 million Swiss francs (Dh36 million), the four-bedroom penthouse on the fourth floor of the new annex comes with its own terrace and 4,100 square feet of living space. The other residences comprise one- to four-bedroom apartments, with a starting price of 740,000 francs (Dh2.6 million).
Boasting Lake St Moritz and Engadin valley views, the property’s winter-sport facilities are being upgraded to the highest standards, with a ski shop and fully equipped ski room in the works. St Moritz is famed for being a year-round destination, with winter activities encompassing not only skiing, but also snowboarding, the famous Cresta Run toboggan track, ice skating and ice hockey, while mountain biking, hiking, windsurfing, golf, tennis and sailing are popular summertime pursuits. The town also boasts a vibrant arts and music scene. Michelin-starred restaurants and streets full of luxury shopping brands are all within walking distance of the centrally located, freehold Grace community, making this a picturesque and practical second-home option.
Read this and more stories in Luxury magazine, out with The National on Thursday, February 2.
