Walk through the centre of Gstaad this summer and you will notice that some of the village's most prominent addresses are changing shape. Within a radius of just a few hundred metres, cranes, construction fences and architects' drawings are transforming corners of the village that have looked much the same for decades.

From a new educational hub for Institut Le Rosey beside the railway station, to the ambitious redevelopment of the St. Josef Catholic Church grounds and the expansion of Le Grand Bellevue, these projects represent significant investments in the future of Gstaad. Each has its own purpose and character, yet together they illustrate how the village continues to evolve while balancing growth with its Alpine identity.

In this new GstaadLife series, "Under the Hard Hat", we take a closer look at some of the region's most important construction projects. We will explore not only what is being built, but also why, who is behind the developments, and what they may mean for residents, visitors and future generations.
For our first instalment, we begin in the heart of Gstaad, where three major projects are already reshaping the village landscape, and a fourth waits in the wings.

Le Rosey Campus Village
Arriving by train, the first visible project is undoubtedly Institut Le Rosey's planned Campus Village beside Gstaad railway station. Designed by local firm Jaggi Architektur in collaboration with internationally renowned architects Snøhetta, the predominantly timber-built campus will bring classrooms, a library, sports facilities, arts spaces and communal areas together under one roof. With accomodation of up to 550 pupils, the project ref lects the school's long-standing connection with Gstaad and aims to strengthen the village's educational life while creating facilities that can also be used outside the winter school season.

St. Josef Rectory and Parish centre
Just a short stroll away, the Catholic parish is undergoing a substantial redevelopment of the St. Josef church grounds. The ageing rectory will be replaced by a new chalet-style building, while new parish facilities, meeting rooms and community spaces are planned beneath the site. A landscaped park opening towards the promenade will create a more welcoming entrance and give fresh prominence to the historic church itself.

Le Grand Bellevue expansion
Close by, Le Grand Bellevue has broken ground on a long-awaited expansion. Two new chalet buildings will add suites, new dining concepts and a dedicated health and diagnostics centre to the hotel complex. The project has been carefully revised from earlier plans, reducing the number of buildings and preserving the open character of the Bellevue lawn. The aim is not only to expand capacity but also to strengthen Gstaad's yearround appeal through wellness, gastronomy and international guestchef collaborations.

Ebnitmatte: the project still on the drawing board

Not every project has reached the construction phase. On the outskirts of the village, the Ebnitmatte cooperative housing development continues to work its way through financing and planning hurdles. The proposal would create 63 affordable apartments across seven buildings, addressing one of the region's most pressing challenges: housing for local residents and workers. Recent support from federal housing funds has brought the project a significant step closer to reality, but objections and remaining financing requirements mean construction is still some way off. If all goes according to plan, building could begin in 2027.

In the coming issues of GstaadLife, we will step behind the construction fences and meet the architects, developers, project leaders and visionaries shaping these developments. Stay tuned as we follow the progress of some of the region's most talked-about projects.

JEANETTE WICHMANN