The thoughtful redesign of Schloss Schauenstein

Nestled in the heart of the Swiss Alps, Schloss Schauenstein has long been a destination for culinary excellence under the vision of three-star Michelin chef Andreas Caminada. Now, in celebration of the restaurant’s 20th anniversary, guests are invited to savour not only Caminada’s celebrated cuisine but also the sensory experience of the castle itself.

Image credit: Joachim Wichmann

Schloss Schauenstein’s ivy-clad stone façade rises from the mountains of Fürstenau, Switzerland, steeped in centuries of history. As guests arrive, they are greeted by crisp alpine air, scented with pine and woodsmoke, which sets the tone for the journey that unfolds within. Crossing the threshold, visitors step into a world where ancient stone walls, timber beams, and winding staircases have been thoughtfully balanced with soft, natural materials, including oak, stone, wool, and linen.

The lobby serves as an introduction to Space Copenhagen’s restrained and elegant aesthetic: timeless furniture pieces by Studio Oliver Gustav, including a stone side table by Maverick Lee and a brass table lamp by Michael Verheyden, engage in quiet dialogue with the castle’s original architecture, providing a sense of both intimacy and grandeur.

The dining room, at the heart of Schloss Schauenstein, is an intimate and evocative space, softly illuminated to create shadows that dance across textured walls. The atmosphere exudes a sense of calm anticipation, allowing guests to fully immerse themselves in Caminada’s culinary vision. The tableware, cutlery, and bespoke furniture, crafted by local artisans from wood and stone, demonstrate the same attention to detail and dedication to craftsmanship. Custom Sela dining chairs from De La Espada, upholstered in a distinctive blend of wood, leather, and textile, are designed to complement the refined yet grounded setting.

Image credit: Joachim Wichmann

In the Chimney Room Bar, warm rust tones create a cocooning atmosphere, complemented by Space Copenhagen’s Loafer sofas for &Tradition, the Stay Chair for Gubi, and Frama’s Sintra Stone Lounge Tables. Throughout the interiors, vintage pieces salvaged from the castle have been upcycled and reupholstered, seamlessly integrating with more contemporary designs to create a layered, cohesive narrative.

The redesign of Schloss Schauenstein is a testament to the collaborative vision between Caminada and Space Copenhagen – a shared commitment to honouring the spirit of place while creating a timeless, sensory experience.

“Having worked with Space Copenhagen for our boutique hotel and restaurant Mammertsberg, it was clear to me that they were the perfect people to bring the castle into its next era,” commented Caminada. “My wife Sarah and I wanted to create the perfect harmony between tradition and modernity, blending timeless design classics into the fabric of the castle.”

Image credit: Joachim Wichmann

He continued: “To me, experiencing the castle’s spirit and feeling its history has been crucial in planning the renovations for our 20th anniversary. Guests should feel at home in every corner and enjoy both the culinary journey and the castle with all their senses.”

The redesigned guest rooms provide a sense of stillness and retreat. Each room is distinct, yet all exude an understated elegance. Original stone and timber-clad walls anchor the spaces in their medieval heritage, while natural materials – oak, soft wool, and linen – introduce a contemporary warmth. Earthy tones reflect the surrounding alpine landscape: soft greys, burnt orange, forest greens, and warm neutrals.

Image credit: Joachim Wichmann

Furniture has been carefully curated and crafted: vintage pieces from the castle restored alongside iconic designs from B&B Italia, Cassina, and Bonacina, as well as bespoke additions by Space Copenhagen. The lighting is soft and atmospheric, changing with the time of day to cast shadows across the textured walls. Large windows frame views of the valley and the cobbled village below, blurring the boundaries between inside and out. Bathrooms, finished in stone with minimalist fixtures, invite quiet reflection, featuring rainfall showers and deep soaking tubs that enhance the sense of calm.

Signe Bindslev Henriksen, co-founder of Space Copenhagen, commented, “Each room is a study in understated elegance, deliberately stripped of excess to let the architecture, and the guest’s own experience, breathe. No two rooms are the same; each offers its own sense of place.”

Image credit: Joachim Wichmann

Peter Bundgaard Rützou, co-founder of Space Copenhagen, added, “There’s a rare stillness to the rooms. They offer different forms of respite, but all share a sense of comfort, privacy, and connection to the landscape. We hope guests feel less like they’re checking into a hotel and more like they’re being welcomed into a thoughtfully curated retreat.”

At Schloss Schauenstein, Space Copenhagen’s sensitive design approach invites guests to experience the castle as a living, breathing place – where the past is honoured, the present is savoured, and the future is thoughtfully imagined. Every detail, from the softly worn stone floors to the carefully curated furniture, demonstrates a deep respect for craft, materiality, and context. This is more than a renovation; it represents a reawakening of a historic space, shaped by a quiet dialogue between architecture, design, and gastronomy. Together, Andreas Caminada and Space Copenhagen have created an experience that feels timeless yet deeply personal – an immersive journey where heritage and hospitality, nourishment and nature, memory and modernity seamlessly converge.

Main image credit: Joachim Wichmann