2011-08-01 11:36:36 - Constructions with straw bales have been made for over one hundred years. This is the first time a hotel is built entirely with straw bales. Situated on 1300 meters above sea level in the Swiss Alps it will hardly need any heating. Construction works will begin this autumn.

The Maya Guesthouse will be built this year in Nax, in the Swiss region of Valais.
It is a completely new, future-oriented concept of accommodation. It meets the demands of modern tourism.

The “New Eco Life Style” is the central element of the corporate philosophy, reflected above all else in the construction of the buildings.
The guesthouse is a load-carrying straw bale construction with clay plaster for the interior and lime mortar for the exterior. Its energy efficiency exceeds the requirements of passive house standards.

Mainly natural materials such as wood, straw, stone, clay and lime will be used. Solar thermal and photovoltaic systems for heat and electricity will be installed in order to render the Maya Guesthouse energy self-sufficient.

Environmental sustainability also plays

a central role in the operational concept. The own vegetable garden will provide fresh vegetables for the meals. Products such as bread, jam, yoghurt, etc. will be freshly prepared. Priority will be given to regional products and craftsmanship.

This project perfectly fits into the philosophy of sustainable tourism, propagated by the Nature Park of Val d'Herens.

The Maya Guest House will be run as a Guesthouse with nine rooms. This way the owners keep the structure small and informal. The principle of the “table d’hôte” is planned for the restaurant, where they’ll prepare one menu of regional specialities for their guests.

The two buildings will be constructed on a 2600 m² parcel of land at the edge of the village of Nax.

Ideal guests are families, individual travellers, and participants in various courses, as well as people who look for nature, tranquility, alpine sports, or simply something special.

The Maya Guesthouse with its concept – individually furnished rooms, private bathrooms, guest packages and above all the ecological construction - will be a unique selling proposition (USP). It will be the first hotel in Europe, and possibly in the world, that will be entirely built with straw bales.


Nax

Nax is a village with 420 inhabitants in the Swiss Valais. Immediately at the entrance of the Val
Val d’Hèrens Nature Park, it is situated on a plateau at 1300 meters, overlooking the Rhône Valley.
The Vallon de Réchy and the Val d’Annniviers are in its direct neighbourhood.
With the Télé Mont-Noble it has its own ski station, a swimming pool, and offers various sports activities in summer and winter.
The activity park Espace Mont-Noble (Fondation Tsebetta) with its Swingolf, tennis courts and other activities is around 100 meters away from the Maya Guesthouse.


The Situation

The Maya Guesthouse will be built in Nax, a community of Mont-Noble, at the entrance of the Val d‘Hèrens on a plot of 2600 m².
The living space will be around 378 m², of which 260 m² will be the guesthouse and 120 m² will be private.
It will be surrounded by meadow and forest overlooking the Rhône Valley and the Bernese Alps.



The Construction


A straw bale construction has been chosen as the building method.
The outside walls will be 80 cm thick straw bales with clay plaster on the inside and a lime mortar for the exterior. The architect is Werner Schmidt in Trun (atelierwernerschmidt.ch).
The advantage of this method is a better, cozier and healthier living atmosphere and of course the important savings in heating costs as this construction requires no (or almost no) heating.
From an ecological point of view, the straw bale house binds tons of CO2 in the walls.



Product/Services


The project

The owners want to run a guesthouse that integrates the family and fits perfectly into its environment.
The communities of the Val d’Hérens and the Canton of Valais, try to achieve the label “Parc Naturel Régional du Val d'Hérens”, in order to promote soft tourism.
The goal is to respect nature and promote local business.

They want to:

- construct buildings with natural materials (if possible coming from the nearby surroundings). No energy will be spent for heating.
- the Maya Guesthouse will be energy self-sufficient.
- Create our own vegetable garden and plant fruit trees in order to have fresh products for our kitchen.
- offer local specialties (meat, dairy products, wines, honey…) from local producers.
- Give preferences to regional businesses and suppliers.


The Services


To emphasize the family aspect, they have chosen to run the Maya Guesthouse as a guesthouse with a guest table (table d'hôtes). Guests will enjoy a family atmosphere without giving up their privacy and independence. Two buildings will be built. One will host the guest rooms and the other the dining room, the kitchen and the private space.


The Rooms

The nine rooms are 21m² each with shower/WC. The furniture will be made individually by hand from a local cabinet maker. Each room will have its own theme, its own entrance and its own private terrace/balcony.

The Restaurant

In the morning the guests will enjoy the rich breakfast buffet with local as well as own products such as jams, yogurt, etc. and freshly baked bread from a wood oven.
Every evening a three-course dinner will be served with regional and international specialties. The fact that Lisa and Louis have Swiss, Italian, German and Greek roots will also be beneficial to our guests. Furthermore, we plan to engage local women (people) from time to time to prepare their favorite local dish for our guests, the one they serve at family gatherings.

A wood oven placed inside the dining room will be built. Bread will be freshly baked for the guests and once a week a pizza evening will be held during which non-resident customers will be able to order pizza for take-out.

Lunch- (or Picnic) packages will be freshly prepared for excursions or for the trip back home.

Guests will be able to enjoy the sunsets on the terrace. In the winter with a warm blanket and a hot wine or tea, or in the summer with a cocktail and classical music.

Between the seasons non-residents would be able to reserve space at the table d‘hôte.


Sports materials

Sports equipment will be provided, like mountain bikes, ski, snowshoes and others in limited numbers.


Wellness

A recognized therapist for natural healing therapies will offer reflexology, massages and other therapies.


Workshops

Especially in the off-season local artists, therapists and others can give courses and seminars. Weekend or weekly packages combined with the course/seminar, accommodation and board will be offered.


Own Production

The vegetable garden with a greenhouse and various fruit trees will cover much of the need for fruit and vegetables. Guests will have the opportunity to take home the various products that will be planted (dried tomatoes, dried herbs, oils, herbs, etc.)

For more informations visit the blog www.mayaguesthouse.wordpress.com