Natural Relic and Artificial Witness: A Tale of the Retreating Rhone Glacier And the Hotel Belvédère

The installation shows the current and the future state of the Rhone glacier and the Hotel Belvédère and aims to reveal the urgency of the fast-changing landscape and the potential impact on the built environment. The Rhone glacier, one of the oldest glaciers in the Swiss Alps, will disappear in 100 years due to climate change. The Hotel Belvédère, located at the tongue of the Rhone glacier, had been a famous destination for adventurers since 1882; however, it closed its doors in 2015 as the glacier receded. This duo is a clear example that shows the intertwined relationship between the natural and built environments. Disappearing in 100 years, the Rhone glacier will become a new type of relic in the Anthropocene era and the Hotel Belvédère will become a witness to the landscape change.