Designer Patricia Urquiola has created interiors for Maya, a 17-unit residential complex in Andermatt, Switzerland, that draws directly from the Alpine landscape surrounding the development. The project pairs Urquiola's interior design with architecture by Swiss-Czech architect Miroslav Šik, creating a cohesive approach to mountain living.
Urquiola's interiors employ natural materials, particularly wood and local stone, to establish what the project describes as "nest-like" spaces. This material palette creates a relaxed residential atmosphere that echoes the Alpine environment rather than fighting against it. The design philosophy treats each unit, which includes penthouses alongside standard residences, as intimate retreats that connect inhabitants to their geographical context.
The Maya development represents Urquiola's distinct design language applied to residential architecture at scale. Known for her work across furniture, interiors, and architectural projects, Urquiola has built a reputation for spaces that balance contemporary sensibility with organic forms and materials. Her approach here prioritizes the relationship between interior living spaces and exterior landscape.
Šik's building envelope provides the architectural framework for Urquiola's interiors, with the two designers working in concert to reinterpret what Alpine living means in a contemporary context. Rather than reproducing traditional chalet aesthetics, the project modernizes mountain residential design through material authenticity and spatial warmth.
The completion of Maya reflects broader trends in luxury residential development where location-responsive design has become a selling point. Andermatt has emerged as a destination for high-end residential and hospitality projects in recent years, attracting architects and designers interested in Alpine contexts. Urquiola's involvement signals the project's positioning as architecturally ambitious within this market segment.