The opening of HUUS QUELL in the village of Gonten, Appenzell, Switzerland, is a significant development in sustainable luxury hospitality. As the country’s first carbon-storing luxury resort, this new wellness destination combines high-end comfort with an ambitious environmental mission. Tucked into a scenic hillside within a region known for cheese-making, traditional yodeling and local specialties like Biberfladen gingerbread, HUUS QUELL features 30 suites and operates on a zero-net-energy model. The resort was built entirely from biodynamically harvested Swiss “moon wood,” assembled using interlocking beams without nails or screws.
“Moon wood” refers to timber cut during a waning moon, a practice rooted in regional cultural traditions. Local woodcutting lore in Switzerland, Austria and Germany suggests that trees felled during specific lunar phases produce denser, drier wood that can be easier to work with and more durable over time. In this case, untreated biodynamic larch harvested during the waning moon contributes to the resort’s structural longevity while also acting as a carbon sink. The timber in HUUS QUELL’s construction stores an estimated 3,000 tons of CO₂.
Designed by Rüssli Architects, the firm behind projects such as Bürgenstock Resort and the Swiss Embassy in Washington, D.C., HUUS QUELL is part of the APPENZELLER HUUS wellness portfolio. The property emphasizes restoration, regeneration and a deep connection to nature. Its sustainability features include geothermal wells, solar arrays, lime-based plaster, insulation made from recycled Swiss wool and a natural cooling system using spring water. These systems work together to minimize the resort’s environmental footprint while maintaining high standards of comfort and design.
Luxury touches complement the resort’s green credentials. Custom textiles by Jakob Schlaepfer, a globally inspired menu built from locally sourced ingredients under Executive Chef Carsten Kypke, and a tranquil spa all contribute to an elevated guest experience. The combination of refined hospitality and ecological responsibility positions HUUS QUELL as a model for future sustainable resorts.
© Courtesy of APPENZELLER HUUS
The spa at HUUS QUELL draws on alpine healing traditions and contemporary longevity science to offer restorative therapies and evidence-informed treatments. Central to the resort’s approach is the award-winning L3 Long Lasting Lifestyle Circle wellness program, a structured sequence of therapies designed to promote measurable regeneration. Guests follow a guided progression of treatments intended to enhance energy, clarity and long-term wellbeing.
“The L3 Circle is more than a wellness experience — it’s a scientifically guided system for measurable regeneration,” said Natascha Saar, spa manager, HUUS QUELL. “Our goal is to help guests feel an immediate shift in energy, focus and vitality that lasts well beyond their stay.”
The L3 wellness circuit starts in the MCS Infrared Cabin, which features ionized oxygen, color-frequency stimulation and vibration technology to support initial detoxification and relaxation. From there, guests may continue with whole-body cryotherapy and hyperbaric oxygen therapy, both aimed at accelerating recovery and cellular repair. The FLOW Compression system offers lymphatic stimulation to improve circulation and support detox processes. The sequence concludes with Precision Diagnostics using a SCANECA Body Scanner and InBody 970, delivering personalized metabolic and body-composition data that inform follow-up recommendations and help measure outcomes.
HUUS QUELL’s fusion of sustainable construction, renewable energy systems, locally sourced cuisine and advanced wellness therapies presents a holistic model for modern resort development. By combining traditional materials and practices with contemporary design and medical-grade wellness technology, the property offers guests an experience that is both restorative and environmentally responsible.