Haus Benedikta

These are spaces for being together, for spending time together. That is what this house is and has been all about, probably since it was built in 1836. Elisabeth, the host of Benedikta, has known it since her childhood days. Even when she was little, she would come up here to visit her grandmother, sit in the Stube, on the stove bench, or on the bench outside this beautiful Montafon house, and let her gaze wander – her back leaning against the warm, patient wood – into the herb garden or simply into the air. Summer vacation.

It is a peaceful place where time seems to pass more slowly. In Vandans, right in the heart of the beautiful Montafon. Surrounded by mountains and meadows in full bloom, just as it has always been. Elisabeth is actually a city girl by now, but she keeps coming back here. To let some things and thoughts fade maybe and to unwind. Either way, it still works.

She has managed to blend the past with the present in a way we’ve rarely seen. She has opened up rooms toward the ceiling and has boldly broken down old structures to let in a more, new and bright light. Now the old Stube – which has always been the heart of the house – and the cozy charm of the old floor beams shine in a whole new light. There is plenty of space for a family or a group of friends, a spacious open kitchen, and a sauna that overlooks the forest shower. 

Today we are allowed to put the key in the lock, step inside, and go barefoot. We stand on a fluffy white carpet, sinking into it as if on a cloud, and look around. A bouquet of peonies sits on the large, black wooden table in the familiar living room. Some things have changed since the last time we visited Benedikta. Could it be any more beautiful? Turns out yes, because Benedikta has picked up an unusual – but absolutely fitting – upgrade.

The Danish design studio Vipp has chosen Benedikta as one of just a few guesthouses in the world  – and we can guess why – to equip it with their iconic furniture. Shades of cream-colored, beige and brown that instantly soothe the eye. We feel right at home. Because amid all this coziness, our designer hearts are beating faster, too. Everything looks fresh, serene, and free of kitsch. A quality of the space worth kneeling down for – quite literally. And that is exactly what we do for a game of cards and a moment to settle in around the lounge table.

In the evening we cook, and gather around the gleaming Vipp kitchen – a kitchen we would love to take home with us if we could. Among other things because this kitchen brings the people together – those who cook, those who taste, and those who pull plates from the cupboards. It is this time together with others that matters to us. And Benedikta is the space that holds all of it well.