NULL STERN HOTEL 

‘My own special hotel in the Alps with no walls or roof’
Introducing Swiss Null Stern Hotel, existing only for you.

‘Your very own hotel Null Stern in the middle of Alps,’
told by Crown Goose, selected to present a special day to you.

Interviewee
/
Frank Riklin

Null Stern Hotel
Conceptual artist of Null Stern

Please briefly introduce Null Stern Hotel.

Null Stern is the only hotel in the world located in the middle of the Alps (1970m above sea level).
The biggest characteristic of Null Stern Hotel is that there are no walls, roofs, or bathrooms and that all there is are one queen-sized bed, a pair of tables, and a lamp.

We heard that ‘Null Stern’ of Null Stern Hotel has a special meaning. Could you elaborate?

‘Null Stern’ means ‘zero stars’ in German. It means that ‘Our star is not the hotel but our customer, so we have removed the walls and left you and your experience.’ That’s why our slogan is ‘The only star is you.’

What was the motivation behind coming up with the idea for Null Stern Hotel?

It was 2008 when we first came up with the idea for Null Stern Hotel. We conceived of the idea at the ‘nuclear bunker’ located in the town of Seblen in Switzerland. As artists, we have always aspired for art within daily life. We plan the artistic integration at unexpected places, away from art business spaces like galleries or museums. And the result of further progressing this idea is Null Stern Hotel.

What is the biggest charm unique to Null Stern Hotel that differentiates it from other hotels?

The secret behind Null Stern Hotel’s popularity is that it is perfectly suited to enjoy an unobstructed view because there is no wall or ceiling. Isn’t is very appealing, to be able to fully see and feel the beautiful scenery of Switzerland? Null Stern is meaningful in that it is not a hotel with less service and cheaper price, but that it redefines the meaning of luxury. This is a new category incomparable to any other existing 5-, 6-, or 7-star hotels.

What was the reaction like when Null Stern Hotel, the only hotel in the world without any walls or roof, was introduced to the world?

I still can’t forget the moment Null Stern Hotel was introduced to the world for the first time. We operated the Null Stern project we personally planned as 24-hour installation art and unveiled it to the media, and it was scintillating as if a little bomb had exploded. In just 4-5 hours, the message of the ‘first zero-stars hotel in the world’ spread throughout the world; I can say that it was the best moment in my life.

We’re aware that two artists designed the hotel and one hotel expert manages it as partners. Is there any special reason for working together?

Daniel Charbonnier used to work at Four Seasons Hotel Beverly Hills and came to us personally after seeing us in the media. I still can’t forget that moment. He came to us recognizing our possibility. He told us that ‘zero stars hotel is the future of the hotel industry,’ and from that moment on, we further advanced the concept of the zero stars hotel as partners. That is how our very own special hotel, ‘Null Stern Hotel,’ was born.

What is the most precious thing you gained while planning Null Stern Hotel?

We think that by personally planning and creating Null Stern Hotel, we gained a very special experience unattainable anywhere else in the world. The reason is that Null Stern Hotel was created purely from our very own imagination. We are happy that it was materialized in reality.

How do customers use Null Stern Hotel?

Null Stern Hotel is operated only under reservation, from spring to late autumn. If the weather is not good on a particular day, the reservation can be canceled. As our slogan is ‘The only star is you,’ we consider customers’ active participation as very important, and our ultimate goal is to present customers of Null Stern Hotel with the best view of the Alps so that they can enjoy the artistic values that we pursue.

What are the values Null Stern Hotel is pursuing?

We pursue the value of freedom, and our goal is to create a hotel that is centered around the customer. We will present our visitors with a new kind of freedom, creating a space and art that can become a new experience just by visiting.