A cool design duo redefines chalet style at the new Monti and Martin Göschel restaurants, a delicious blend of cozy details, contemporary lines, and handcrafted design.

Sprenger drew inspiration from the “raw, rugged beauty of the Swiss Alps and the deep cultural roots of Gstaad. The idea was to balance tradition with a clean contemporary sensibility by using warm wood tones, natural textures, and handcrafted details.” For Monti, in particular, he wanted to create something that felt “authentically Alpine, but not in a cliché or old-fashioned way.” As the designer of Aesop boutiques, Sprenger is adept at creating discerning, wood-centric spaces that feel utterly approachable. While Sprenger brings his architectural strength into the spatial design and flow, Crespi contributes her expertise in artistic direction and exceptional eye for detail, from the art on the walls to the heritage Puiforcat silverware. In the spirit of Alpine craftsmanship, everything is custom made. Sustainability is also an important ingredient, with pure wool carpets, regionally sourced wood, and furniture crafted within a 200-kilometre radius.

With hand-carved wooden legs which resemble skis of yesteryear, the chairs are blanketed in a nubby ivory fabric reminiscent of powdery snow. Equally luxurious and cozy, the banquettes are draped in Maharam mohair, “the most stunning on the market,” confirms Crespi. Even the room dividers elevate the art of concealing. Made of woven bronze sheets redolent of basket weaving, they separate the spaces in an elegant, discreet way. So beautiful you want to touch them, you can almost see the artisans deftly bending the metal into these exquisite screens. One of the most eye-catching features is the Tree of Life carpet, inspired by the Swiss decoupage papercutting technique, Scherenschnitt. Foxes, deer and other Gstaad fauna frolic among alpine herbs, twigs and flowers. Utterly unique, the menagerie unfurls across the entire floor, a textural allegory for The Alpina Gstaad’s signature style of comfortable luxe. The showstopper? A four-metre-long buffet table crafted from layered bronze and fibreglass, with curves that echo the flowing rivers and mountain ridges of the Swiss Alps. Like the multifaceted space, this stunning centrepiece plays many roles, topped with tempting homemade pastries at breakfast to being the stage for the sommelier’s station and local cheeses by night. A floor-to-ceiling window seamlessly connects Monti and Martin Göschel to The Alpina Terrace where the “incredible mountain views take centre stage,” says Sprenger. With the same understated elegance, diners relax on a curved banquette as they soak up the Alpine panoramas. The solid ivory quartzite bar has become an après-ski hotspot for all of Gstaad.

Two creatives can sometimes equate to too many cooks in the kitchen. The opposite was the case with Sprenger and Crespi’s collaboration. “It was an intuitive process. I shaped the space, set the rhythm and tone, and Antonia added emotional depth, layering in richness through details and storytelling,” shares Sprenger, continuing “she didn’t just decorate — we curated an experience together.” Crespi adds, “We really complemented each other, it was an organic flow when choosing fabrics and details or revising plans.” Though they had never previously worked together, the connection was immediate, as natural as their surroundings of the Swiss Alps. They became huge fans of each other, enthusing: “he is the talent, an incredible architect,” and “she has a gift for connecting design with feelings.” They even became close friends along the way, “a bond that brought even more warmth and meaning to the project,” says Sprenger.