Who is responsible for maintaining the quality of the place?

In 2008, a couple from St. Gallen took over the ageing hotel on the Plazza Gronda in Lavin. They had previously established a public limited company with around 200 shareholders, which, together with a grant from the Schweizer Berghilfe and various loans, provided sufficient start-up capital. Step by step, they renovated and remodelled the hotel with the help of local experts and artists. In the spring of 2024, the management changed: now a young duo runs the hotel.

Does the place serve its purpose?

Although the Linard Lavin inn is not located in a spa town, ski resorts such as Scuol or Klosters are only 20 to 30 minutes away on the Rhaetian Railway. Since its rejuvenation in 2008, the hotel has been attracting guests who appreciate the individuality of the establishment and the uniqueness of Lavin, which, thanks to its atypical architecture, has been spared from excessive tourism. It’s a wonderful place to relax in Italian grandeur, peace and serenity.

Is the place distinguished by durable construction and little need for maintenance?

The palazzo was built on the ruins of a farmhouse after the village fire of 1869. Thus, today’s hotel is an ensemble of buildings that have coalesced over the course of more than 150 years, during which time the interior has been changed repeatedly, as evidenced by the different room heights and floor levels. In recent years, 23 rooms have been integrated into the historic building – some spacious and designed by artists, others small and unpretentious. The guest rooms and public spaces have been carefully integrated into the historic building fabric.

Will the place remain attractive in the long term for living, working, leisure and/or tourism?

Although the Vereina Tunnel has brought the Lower Engadine closer to the Central Plateau and has significantly shortened rail travel times, Lavin is still far from Switzerland’s economic centres. Everyone who lives in the village was born here or has made a conscious choice to live here. The Linard Lavin inn plays an important role in maintaining small businesses in the valley. It does so by serving organic products and wines from small producers in the region.

Does the place foster community?

At Linard Lavin, guests and locals meet in the bistro, for dinner or for a cultural event in the “Arvensaal”, a large wood-panelled hall. The village is important to the inn and the inn is important to the village. There is a regulars’ table in the usteria, which villagers can also use even when the hotel is closed. The men of the village have their own key to the restaurant; they draw their own beer, pay on the honour system and do their own washing up.

Was the place thoroughly analysed prior to the intervention?

When the hotel was acquired in 2008, there was a lot of work to be done on the historic building, and the investment backlog was huge. It was also clear that the hoteliers and their architect would not be able to proceed in a conventional way, since every nook and cranny called for a bespoke solution. This was time-consuming and costly, but ultimately resulted in a building full of surprises, confidently united under one roof. With limited financial resources, it took small, carefully considered steps for the project to grow into an integral whole.

Is the place notable for its distinctiveness?

Lavin is not a typical Engadine village. Instead of a Schellen-Ursli atmosphere, what prevails here is Italianità. After the village burned to the ground in 1869, master builders from northern Italy rebuilt Lavin from scratch in their own style, with flat, ventilated roofs, wider streets and squares, and larger windows than was usual in the Lower Engadine. Since its reconstruction, the village has held its place among its picturesque neighbours, practical but unfamiliar.

Does the place have an atmospheric impact on the beholder?

Situated right on the village square, the pink hotel is an instant eye-catcher in the small settlement. On warm days, guests and locals alike sit on the long terrace overlooking the square and watch the comings and goings. There is something quiet and relaxing about it all. Inside, the restaurant’s patrons – many of whom are regulars – are greeted by the high-ceilinged dining room with its elaborate Swiss pine panelling, stucco ceiling and chandelier by Lavin-based artists Madlaina Lys and Flurin Bischoff.