The latest of Patricia Urquiola’s ventures unfolds far from cities and coastlines, set high in the mountains of Andermatt. Quietly, the destination is emerging as an in-the-know design hub. Patricia Urquiola, who founded Studio Urquiola in 2001 with her partner Alberto Zontone, continues to shape projects across product design, architecture, art direction, and strategy—spanning hotels, retail spaces, residences, and installations.
Though born in Spain, Patricia Urquiola now works from Milan, where she has built longstanding relationships with leading Italian design houses. Her work has been exhibited globally, including at the MoMA, the Victoria and Albert Museum, and the Vitra Design Museum—a reflection of a practice grounded in material research and spatial sensitivity.
A Quiet Shift in Andermatt
Courtesy of Maya Andermatt.
Courtesy of Maya Andermatt.
Set in the Swiss Alps, Andermatt has quietly shifted from a former military base to a year-round destination. Located within Central Switzerland’s largest ski region, it draws visitors well beyond winter—hiking, cycling, and golf shape the warmer months. Its proximity to Zurich and Milan makes it accessible, but its atmosphere remains contained, almost deliberately under the radar.
Within this context, Maya Residences introduces a more design-forward way of inhabiting the landscape. It’s less about retreating from the world and more about recalibrating within it—through space, light, and material.
A Language of Light and Material by Patricia Urquiola
Courtesy of Maya Andermatt.
Courtesy of Maya Andermatt.
Maya comprises 17 residences and penthouses defined by openness and continuity. Interiors are expansive and light-filled, with curved, floor-to-ceiling glass loggias framing the surrounding mountains. The architecture allows the landscape to shift constantly—snow, greenery, and light moving through the space rather than sitting outside it.
The buildings themselves predate their integration into Maya’s portfolio, but Urquiola’s intervention is careful. Rather than impose, she refines—preserving the architectural structure while elevating the interiors into something more considered and tactile.
Inside, the design moves away from the darker, heavier language often associated with Alpine spaces. Light oak herringbone floors and green Salvan stone fireplaces set the tone, creating warmth without density. The palette feels lifted, almost softened, allowing the materials to carry the space rather than dominate it.
Bespoke furniture appears throughout, functioning as sculptural elements rather than purely utilitarian pieces. Clean lines and curved forms repeat subtly, creating a rhythm that feels cohesive but not rigid. Urquiola’s approach balances comfort and precision; spaces that are lived in, but never casual.
Between Interior and Landscape
Courtesy of Maya Andermatt.
Courtesy of Maya Andermatt.
The residences—14 two-bedroom homes and 3 penthouses—extend outward through private loggias and expansive glazing. These transitional spaces create an indoor-outdoor flow that shifts with the seasons: open and airy in summer, enclosed and reflective in winter.
It’s here that Urquiola’s sensibility becomes most apparent. Her work doesn’t isolate the interior from its surroundings; instead, it creates continuity. The mountain becomes part of the room, and the room, in turn, adapts to it.
A Year-Round Rhythm
Courtesy of Maya Andermatt.
A dedicated wellness space anchors the shared amenities. Furnished with pieces like Palissade chaise lounges and Tip Tap stools, the area is designed with the same attention to material and light. A gym with floor-to-ceiling windows opens directly to the landscape, while a sauna offers a more enclosed, restorative contrast. Residents also have access to IGNIV Andermatt, Andreas Caminada’s two Michelin-starred, sharing-style restaurant, adding a culinary dimension to the experience.
These elements don’t feel separate from the residences but rather an extension of them, spaces designed for recovery, movement, and pause after time spent outdoors.
Maya ultimately sits at the intersection of architecture, design, and Alpine lifestyle. It resists seasonal limitation, offering a setting that evolves throughout the year, from snow-covered stillness to long, sunlit evenings.
Through this project, Patricia Urquiola reframes the Alpine retreat. Not as something heavy or traditional, but as a lighter, more tactile environment—one that prioritizes clarity, material, and the experience of living within the landscape.
Courtesy of Maya Andermatt.
Courtesy of Maya Andermatt.
