Cassel villa, Timber-framed villa on Riederalp, Switzerland
Cassel villa sits at 2081 meters elevation and displays Alpine architecture from the early 1900s built with traditional timber framing techniques. Today it operates as the Pro Natura Centre Aletsch, offering exhibitions and information about local natural environments and ecology.
English banker Ernest Cassel commissioned this mountain home in 1902, and it later served as a hotel for guests seeking alpine retreat. It transitioned to a nature conservation center in 1976, shifting its focus toward environmental education and protection.
The building now houses a visitor center where guests can explore the alpine ecosystem and learn about mountain life. The interior spaces serve as an educational hub that brings together local environmental knowledge and contemporary conservation practices.
The venue opens from June through October and provides guided nature walks and exhibitions about regional plants and wildlife. Visitors are advised to come during warmer months, as the high elevation means cold weather can persist throughout the year.
The renovated villa operates using a heat pump system that produces zero carbon emissions, blending modern environmental technology with historic building architecture. An Alpine garden on the grounds displays around 200 regional plant species in their natural mountain setting.
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