Null Stern Hotel in Zurich, Switzerland by Atelier für Sonderaufgaben

Article source: Atelier für Sonderaufgaben

The hotel room without walls and roof, which caused international media fury worldwide during the summer of 2016 is set to re-open. Following lengthy negotiations with more than 20 tourism destinations in Switzerland, the Null Stern bed will be showcased in Appenzellerland against the silhouette of the Alpstein mountains. The special feature: this year, the new double room is a suite situated on the Göbsi summit (1,200 metres above sea level) in Gönten (AI), Switzerland. The Swiss conceptual artists Frank and Patrik Riklin and Daniel Charbonnier, co-founders of the brand “Null Stern – the only star is you”, will open the new version of their art installation on Friday, 9th June, 2017 in cooperation with both tourism organisations from Appenzellerland. The “Null Stern” suite with its safe and an analogue television is available for reservations. Negotiations for the next location in 2018 are already ongoing.

Image Courtesy © Null Stern

• Architects: Atelier für Sonderaufgaben
• Project: Null Stern Hotel
• Location: Zurich, Switzerland
• Photography: Claudio Baeggli

Image Courtesy © Claudio Baeggli

Created in 2008 in a nuclear bunker in the municipality Sevelen, St Gallen (SG) with the headline “World’s first Zero Star Hotel”, further developed in 2009 in Teufen (AR) with the brand “Null Stern – the only star is you”, and following much success in 2016 in the Safien valley in Grisons (GR), the hotel is now returning to Appenzellerland. This year, the “Null Stern” suite is located on the Göbsi summit directly on the border of the two cantons Appenzell Innerrhoden (AI) and Appenzell Ausserrhoden (AR). An overnight stay in the suite is CHF 295.

The population serves as hotelier

There is no hotelier in the classical sense in the concept “Null Stern – the only star is you” : the local community is the hotelier. The main idea of the “Null Stern” suite without walls and roof is that it is operated by the local residents who are the “Null Stern” Modern Butlers and promote a culture of hosting, sharing and experience.

Image Courtesy © Null Stern

Image Courtesy © Claudio Baeggli

For 2017, the head of the Modern Butlers is a farmer and owner of the land where the suite is located. Uniformed in a white shirt, a black bow tie and white gloves, “the Modern Butler is one of the links between the traditional hospitality world and the concept Null Stern – the only star is you. He encapsulates the essence of the concept which is to place people at the centre of the experience”, says Daniel Charbonnier, co-founder of the brand “Null Stern – the only star is you”.

“Null Stern“ Modern Butler trainings assure the quality of services in the outdoor nature: for example carrying a serving tray in steep slopes, climbing over a fence while holding two cups of coffee or transporting the mattresses up to the summit. Examples of the Modern Butler responsibilities include: welcoming guests upon arrival (Gönten train station), check-in, escorting guests to the suite, attending to guest needs about the area and serving breakfast of coffee, bread, cheese and Pantli (local sausage) bed-side.

Image Courtesy © Claudio Baeggli

Image Courtesy © Claudio Baeggli

New: analogue television

This year sees the introduction of “TV-Direct”. Without remote control and only one exclusive channel where the Modern Butler delivers the day’s news headlines, weather forecast and local anecdotes face-to-face through the frame of a re-cycled TV.

Image Courtesy © Null Stern

Image Courtesy © Claudio Baeggli

Rain, toilet and emergency pyjamas

The “Null Stern” suite is only active in dry weather conditions. If it rains, the bed covered by an agricultural protective tarp and the Modern Butler assists guests move to a Swiss Alpine hut (with toilet) located approximately 100 metres away. Guests can also call the Modern Butler during the night if it start raining and he will arrive promptly to assist them. The Modern Butler also has a stock of amenities such as extra pyjamas if guests forget their own. A safe to store guest valuables is also available bed-side.

More than 1,300 reservation requests

The land version of the “Null Stern Hotel” has again generated worldwide media interest which resulted in overwhelming requests from guest to experience a night in the “Null Stern suite with and to meet the Modern Butler. To date, more than 1,300 reservation requests have been received for the “Null Stern” bed. The “Null Stern” suite might soon be fully booked for 2017 and a reservations waiting will be open for 2018.

Image Courtesy © Claudio Baeggli

Image Courtesy © Claudio Baeggli

“Zero real estate” – a vision for Swiss regions

With the motto of ”zero real estate“, the Artonomists declare the country of Switzerland as the backdrop to the “Null Stern” suite where the hills, mountains and the sky provide the architectural elements. The construction of the suite is in essence its “transplantation” into the landscape – with resources from recycled 4-star hotel furnishings from the 70s.

The vision of the Riklin brothers and Daniel Charbonnier is to anchor the “Null Stern” history in Switzerland by creating a hotel room in every tourist region as temporary installations in the middle of natural surroundings. “Switzerland becomes the hotel and the walls are the landscape”, explains hospitality professional, Daniel Charbonnier. The objective is to use the concept “Null Stern – the only star is you” to highlight and introduce different regions of Switzerland to the world with cooperation from partners and tourism associations while connecting the local residents with the guests.

Background for quick readers

The brand “Null Stern – the only star is you” and the first hotel in an old Swiss bunker in Teufen AR gained international recognition “The digit zero (Null) is not something bad, without service or comfort. On the contrary, it means freedom to redefine the boundaries of luxury”, explains Daniel Charbonnier, co-founder of the brand “Null Stern – the only star is you”.

Image Courtesy © Claudio Baeggli

Image Courtesy © Null Stern

Image Courtesy © Null Stern

Tags: Switzerland, Zurich

Category: Hotel

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