Last year we published our very first “Year in Review” and I promised we’d try to make it an annual tradition. So here I am, one year later, reflecting on this incredible year that seems to have flown by! It’s wild because I can still vividly remember writing the last post, and yet it feels like it was just a couple of months ago. This must be the magic of coliving—it creates a kind of time warp where months feel like mere weeks.
Alpiness 2024 in numbers
If you know me (Fabienne) you might know I LOVE numbers… so here are a few stats about this first full year at Alpiness.
Our first coliving winter season : Magic Valley lived up to its promises
Last January, we kicked off the year with our very first winter season at Alpiness, and oh my… it was perfect! It’s funny how the vibe in the house completely shifted. Everyone was in full ski and ski-touring mode, combined with work. Every day, people woke up early to hit the slopes and returned by lunchtime to start their workday. If you had asked me before opening a coliving space what my vision of an active and productive house would look like, I couldn’t have described it more accurately.
Evenings, on the other hand, were much quieter compared to the summer or autumn seasons. People were either working or catching up on sleep to recover from their action-packed days. That said, we also had some of the most fun nights during the carnival season (which, let’s not forget, lasts for two whole months in our valley). It’s not every day you get to dance next to some smelly beasts shaking their butts on a bar counter. 😉
Another fascinating aspect of the winter season was the longer average stay duration. Many guests decided to stay for the full three months, and most others stayed at least one month. This created an incredible sense of group cohesion and led to some amazing friendships.
Honestly, I am so excited for the upcoming winter season. We already have close to 80% returning guests! Just imagine: in February, we’ll have a full house, yet not a single check-in or check-out. How amazing is that?
Renovations round 2 for Alpiness
Mid-April we decided to close our doors again for a month to undertake some renovations in our basement and add the bouldering wall as well as a gym. I say close our doors, but in reality, they stayed wide open and as it was the case for the first renovations, we again had the most amazing team of volunteers by our side to make all these projects come true. Fun fact, do you know how renovations tend to always take more time than anticipated? Well with our turbo gang we were actually almost done “early” and we enjoyed a couple way more relaxed days towards the end. To see all the things we did, you can take a look at this blog post.
Summer vibes at the coliving
As soon as we wrapped up our renovations, we shifted seamlessly from winter mode into BBQ and hiking season! It’s crazy to think about it—back in 2024, Ben and Louis were still out ski touring in early May, yet we managed to have our first BBQ on the terrace that same week. Talk about an incredible transition! Personally, I was so excited for summer to finally arrive. In 2023, we had already moved to the valley, but because we were knee-deep in renovations, we didn’t fully experience all it had to offer. This year, though, we made up for it in the best way possible, soaking in every bit of the magic our valley has to offer.
And wow, did we make the most of it! From beautiful hikes to amazing bivouacs under the stars (with some fondue of course), we were constantly on the move. We got more and more into outdoor climbing, ran along scenic trails, and even tackled multi-day hikes that left us feeling both exhausted and exhilarated. Of course, the BBQs became a staple—whether it was on our sunny terrace or down by the river, they brought everyone together for unforgettable evenings.
The summer wasn’t just about nature, though. It was also packed with lots of local events that made the season even more special. We grooved to live music at outdoor festivals, village parties, 1st of August celebrations, attended our region’s traditional Yodel Fest, the cow fights and sipped our way through vineyards on wine hikes. It felt like every week brought a new adventure or a reason to celebrate life outdoors.
Autmn Gang was back in the house for the stunning colors
September 2024 marked the one-year anniversary of Alpiness, and we couldn’t have dreamed of a better gift than welcoming back most of last year’s incredible crew to celebrate the most colorful time of the year in our valley. Just like in 2023, we were blessed with amazing weather—it felt like nature was celebrating alongside us!
Living in the mountains comes with so many perks, but one of my absolute favorites is how we often stay above the clouds. While the valley might be wrapped in a moody, gray blanket, we’re soaking in the sunshine and endless blue skies, surrounded by peaks that start to be covered in snow. It’s such a magical feeling to look out and see a sea of clouds below, knowing we’re in our own little paradise.
This year, we made the most of autumn’s golden days. We hiked through the orange larch trees for weeks, enjoying in the crisp mountain air and the incredible colors until the first snowfall arrived in November. On sunnier days, we headed down to Sion for wine hikes through the orange vineyards. 🍂🍷
As the weather shifted, so did our activities. Trail running gave way to the year’s first snowshoe treks and ski touring outings. There’s nothing quite like the thrill of carving the first tracks in fresh snow—those moments remind us of why we love this mountain lifestyle so much.
And let’s not forget the cozy, delicious part of autumn! During these months, we were lucky to have our most talented baking team in the house—Hélène, Léa, Brendan, Lucie, Nassim, Annabelle, and Chris turned the kitchen into a dessert paradise. 🍪🥐 From cookies and cakes to cinnamon rolls that made the house smell like heaven, there was almost never a day without something fresh and mouthwatering on the counter. Everything was so good that I couldn’t resist (or even wanted to), and I happily gained 3kg in just two months!
Looking back on this season fills me with so much gratitude and excitement for what’s to come.
Winter season start and first Christmas at Alpiness Coliving
Starting from mid-November, winter settled in and made itself at home! The village transformed into a snowy wonderland, turning white overnight—and it has stayed that way ever since. By early December, Arolla opened its first lifts on weekends, and we couldn’t resist hitting the slopes for a few early-season ski days. Some colivers got so hooked on skiing that they couldn’t wait for the lifts to open again—they were back on the slopes during weekdays, either hiking up the bunny slope with their skis in tow or ski touring all the way to the top of the lifts. Talk about dedication!
Late November brought a special kind of magic to the house. We had a wonderful group of people from the US staying with us, and they joined forces to create the most incredible Thanksgiving dinner for everyone. The house was filled with delicious smells, hearty laughter, and a sense of togetherness that made the evening unforgettable.
Around the same time, we were thrilled to welcome Rohan, a talented videographer who quickly became an integral part of the Alpiness story. Rohan captured the spirit of these early winter weeks through his lens, creating some truly stunning videos for us. We can’t wait to share more of them with you soon! In the meantime, let us give you a sneak peek with a video where he beautifully summed up his stay in under four minutes—it’s the perfect glimpse into how amazing and vibrant these first winter weeks have been. To see more of Rohan’s work, click here
In 2023, we decided to close the coliving over the holidays, but this year we chose to stay open—and what a decision that turned out to be! Celebrating Christmas and New Year’s with a full house brought an entirely new energy to Alpiness. I won’t lie, the past few weeks have been intense, with every corner of the house buzzing with activity. But they were also absolutely stunning and filled with so much laughter and joy. From festive feasts to unforgettable moments in the snow, it’s been a holiday season to remember.
As we step into the heart of winter, we’re filled with gratitude for the incredible people who make Alpiness what it is. Here’s to many more snowy adventures, shared meals, and memories that will last a lifetime!
Opening TRAVA : a public coworking space in a tiny remote village
In December, we proudly opened TRAVA—a brand-new coworking space located in the former village school. The municipality generously agreed to let us use the space to create another working environment for the community. From the very beginning of our coliving journey, one of our main goals has been to “break the bubble.” When staying at a coliving space—especially a remote one like ours—it can sometimes be tricky to truly connect with the locals (though, to be fair, Tinder and our local bar have already provided plenty of opportunities for some residents to mingle 😉).
TRAVA is a separate nonprofit organization we’ve set up outside of Alpiness, operating as an entirely independent entity—though, of course, it’s still run by the same team (that’s us!).
Over the past few months, we’ve received numerous messages from people in the valley—both locals and visitors on holiday—asking if they could use our house’s workspaces. However, this was never really feasible since we’ve been fully booked most of the year, and we didn’t want our residents’ workspaces occupied by outside visitors. TRAVA now solves that issue perfectly. It also provides an alternative workspace for our residents, particularly those who like the feeling of “going to work.” Even a short 150-meter walk from the house to TRAVA can create that mental separation that some people appreciate.
Although TRAVA has only been open for a few weeks, we’re already envisioning how it could grow. In the long run, we’d love to host events, conferences, skill-sharing sessions, or even craft nights that bring together both colivers and locals. For now, though, we’re just thrilled to have this new space up and running.
Importantly, TRAVA doesn’t replace anything in the house. Our two workspaces and call room remain exactly as they are—TRAVA is purely an addition. Only time will tell how much it gets used, but we’re confident it will become a favorite spot for many of our residents. We’re excited to see where this new adventure takes us. 😊
Our year on a more personal note
Grateful! That’s the first word that comes to my mind when I look back at the previous year.
Grateful for all the amazing people that walked through our doors, grateful for the most incredible team we’ve built with Austris, grateful for the most amazing volunteers that have given all their energy to make this house a true home for digital nomads.
I still remember when this whole coliving thing was only a project… With Ben we spent uncountable evenings chatting about how we would envision this adventure, what kind of people we would attract if we decided to settle in a remote mountain village… All those sleepless nights wondering if we were crazy to think a project like this could work (some banks and part of our family and friends cleary thought we had lost our minds investing all our savings into an old building located at the end of a fairly remote valley). 2024 has definetively been the year that made us come to peace with all those anxious questionnings… We’ve been full house for the entire year, our 2025 winter season got sold out in 17 minutes 🤯🤯🤯, we’ve built some of the most amazing friendships. Because yes, running a coliving is a business but it’s far from beeing only this! Community has been the heart and soul of this project from the very start and now, when we see names pop up in the booking calendar it clearly feels like friends are coming back home! I could not be more grateful for this!!! A big shoutout to our most regular colivers : Robert, Polina, Theo, Jorien, Val, James who are already hitting the 6 month coliving mark (considering we’ve been open for less than 18 months this is pretty crazy!). Thank you to Annabelle, Jack, Nassim, Chris, Nirel, Julian, Andre, Tom, Jess, Noelle, Emils, Karthik, Felix, Hélène, Xavier, Rémy, Thierry, Magali for coming back again and again 🙂
2025 : what are our plans for next year?
When we bought the place back in 2023, we knew some major renovations were on the horizon. Our plan: completely replace the roof and add extra insulation, upgrade all windows in the main building to triple glazing, and insulate all the facades from the outside. Given that our building dates back to the mid-19th century, it was clear that significant investments would be necessary to bring it up to 21st-century standards.
Initially, we had hoped to complete these renovations before opening, but the realities of construction permits and slow administrative processes quickly taught us that we’d have to postpone. We also realized we’d eventually need to close Alpiness temporarily to carry out these extensive upgrades. In hindsight, we’re so glad we had the chance to operate for almost two years before starting the renovations. During this time, we’ve learned so much about the building and the unique needs of a coliving space. This experience has helped us make smarter, more informed decisions for the upcoming changes.
So, what’s next for Alpiness? 2025 will be a shorter year for us, but it promises to be just as exciting. First, we’re kicking things off with a fantastic winter season. From now until March 31st, the house is fully booked with an amazing group of people—nearly 80% of them returning guests, which still blows our minds!
On April 1st, Alpiness will close its doors for 5 months, and scaffolding will go up around the building for at least four months. As of now, we’ve decided to pause bookings until August 31st, with plans to reopen in late summer (Bookings are open from September 1st onwards). We’re determined to ensure everything is perfect before welcoming you back to what we hope will feel like a brand-new home. And who knows—if all goes smoothly, we might surprise you with an earlier opening! But no promises; we all know how construction timelines tend to stretch. But there will still be some of the Alpiness fam’ in the village! A few colivers already decided to rent apartments in the valley and will join us in the public workspace and organize activities/hikes. If you feel like joining this very unofficial summer nomad camp in our beautiful valley, feel free to get in touch! We’d be happy to direct you to the right people for finding accomodation and we’ll take care of creating slack channels for all of you to be able to organize some outings (which we’ll join as well when our hands won’t be covered in paint or plaster). 😉
These renovations will be carried out by professionals (we’ve mastered furniture assembly and laying floors, but a roof renovation is a bit beyond our skill set). Will we take a break? Not quite! We’ll be staying onsite to coordinate the work, manage the inevitable dust and mess, and oversee every detail to make sure things run smoothly. In the meantime, we’re planning to tackle some smaller projects inside the house: a fresh coat of paint in certain areas, updates to one or two bathrooms, and addressing a long list of little improvements we’ve been postponing. While we’re slightly apprehensive about the process, we’re also thrilled to see the house transformed.
As we wrap up this reflection, we want to take a moment to thank each and every one of you for being part of our journey. Your support, energy, and enthusiasm have made Alpiness what it is today, and we can’t wait to see what 2025 will bring. We’re so excited to welcome you back later this year to experience the next chapter of Alpiness together. Here’s to an amazing year ahead or should I say “a MEGA-TURBO” one? 😉
Sending lots of love to the whole Alpiness family!
