A permanent fixture in the Swiss mountain landscape: the farmstead. There are about 200,000 of the charming Alpine chalets throughout Switzerland. Once used for agriculture, many of these huts are now empty or in disrepair.

Olivier shows that things can be done differently. In deserted Val d’Hérens, he has converted seven farmsteads into stylish accommodation, where today’s visitors can relax in untamed natural surroundings. What makes the experience so special? From every window you can catch a glimpse of untouched nature, wrapped in the powerful embrace of the mountains, where the only sound is the chirping of birds. What more could you need to really switch off?

The idea for Anako Lodge came about thanks to Olivier’s vivid childhood memories and his early fascination with the art of repurposing and upgrading existing buildings. In this painstaking project, he focused as much on the history of the buildings as on sustainable implementation: the farmsteads were renovated and upgraded with recycled materials and remained virtually unchanged from the outside.

“In my transformation projects, the property itself dictates what I make from it. Not the other way around.” In the case of Anako Lodge, Olivier created a unique place from dilapidated farm buildings where you can feel at ease, whether alone or in company, and connect with nature. All of this is achieved in a modern architectural environment.

Growing up in the medieval village of Saillon in the canton of Valais, Olivier trained as a draughtsman. Together with some of his friends, he decided to continue his studies and graduated from the School of Architecture in Fribourg. Not long after graduation, he became fascinated with sustainability and the art of repurposing existing objects. This is how Anako Lodge came into being – seven unique farmsteads in the heart of the Valais mountains, which remind Olivier of his childhood in the Alps.

Olivier places great importance on sustainability in both his personal life and his work. At the same time, he promotes tourism in his projects. He believes this makes it all the more important that travellers really think about where they want to go, as well as how they get around.

To reduce his carbon footprint, for example, he uses public transport as much as possible and has avoided air travel altogether for several years. When choosing accommodation, he likes to use agritourism or environmentally responsible hotels. He has also planted many trees in his garden – always with the idea of continuously reducing his footprint and making the best possible personal contribution to climate protection. 

The urge to commune with nature has become greater throughout Switzerland in recent years. Olivier tends to prefer sights that are a little more difficult to reach or not too well known yet. He has shared some of these secret places with us.