Tourist model – designed for happy guests
Compact guest houses for Swiss tourism – in two sizes, tailored to your concept
The Tourist model is a small house designed from the outset for letting: as a guest house on a campsite, as extra rooms for a hotel or guesthouse, as a chalet in a holiday village or as a retreat on a farm. Compact in footprint, clear in layout and fitted out so that guests feel at home from the very first moment – in sustainable timber construction that blends into the landscape instead of dominating it.
Tourism operators need accommodation that can be delivered quickly, requires little maintenance and gives guests a memorable experience. That is exactly what we designed the Tourist model to provide: good design, high quality and a commercially viable concept.
Who the Tourist model is for
- Hotels and guesthouses looking to expand their accommodation with self-contained guest houses
- Campsites and holiday villages looking to offer a more comfortable overnight stay
- Farms and Alpine farms offering agritourism
- Landowners in tourism regions looking to use their plot for a small holiday-rental unit
- Municipalities and mountain-railway operators looking to create new accommodation
- Businesses committed to sustainable construction – with timber as a renewable material that stores carbon
Two sizes, one concept
The Tourist S is the compact guest-house version: one spacious room, a full bathroom and a covered terrace. It is ideal where meals are served in the main building – the room becomes a retreat and the terrace a private outdoor space with a view.
The Tourist M adds a kitchenette to the same core concept, giving guests greater independence: breakfast on the terrace, a glass of wine in the evening, or a few days entirely to themselves. The M version is suited to holiday villages, holiday-apartment concepts and operators offering self-catering stays.
Both versions share the same basic structure and can be combined – for example several S units around a communal building, or a mix of S and M to appeal to different guest segments.
Architecture and style
The Tourist model is intentionally understated: clean lines, a simple form and large areas of glazing that open the interior to the view. Its defining feature is the mono-pitch roof, which gives the house a distinctive modern silhouette, creates extra height and light on the higher side, and allows generous glazing towards the view. The covered terrace is integral to the design, extending the living space outdoors in both sun and rain. Timber shapes the interior and exterior, creating the warm, natural atmosphere guests look for in the mountains.
The design is modern but not showy. It works just as naturally in an Alpine setting as beside a lake or in a wine-growing region.
As individual as your business
No two tourism businesses are the same – and neither are two Tourist models. The basic structure is standardised, while everything visible can be customised:
- Exterior façade: timber cladding in a choice of finishes and tones – natural, pre-weathered or colour-treated – so the guest house blends harmoniously with your existing buildings.
- Interior design: choose wall and floor finishes, colour scheme and materials to match your brand – from a light Scandinavian look to a darker Alpine chalet style.
- Fit-out: bathroom, kitchenette, lighting, furniture and textiles are tailored to your concept and target guests. On request, the unit can be supplied fully furnished and turnkey.
The result is not an off-the-shelf house, but a guest house with your own distinctive character.
Fully finished at the factory
The Tourist model leaves the factory fully finished – insulated and clad, with windows plus electrical and plumbing installations – and is installed and connected on site within a few days. This dramatically shortens the build programme, minimises disruption to ongoing operations and ensures consistently high quality. Particularly in the off-season, a new accommodation offer can be completed this way before the next peak season begins.
Why the Tourist model makes sense in Switzerland
Demand for distinctive places to stay is growing: guests want closeness to nature, privacy and authenticity without sacrificing comfort. At the same time, building land and construction time are limited in tourism regions. The Tourist model addresses both challenges with a small footprint, short delivery time and an experience for which guests are willing to pay a premium. Additional units can be added in stages so the accommodation offer grows with demand.
Interested?
We will be happy to advise you on sizes, fit-out options and what is possible for your business or plot. Contact us for a no-obligation consultation.
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