Voices of Select Green Hotels: Conversations with the people shaping sustainable hospitality.
At the foot of Lac du Pêcher, in the French region of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Instants d’Absolu Ecolodge & Spa sits at 1,100 meters above sea level, nestled in a landscape of peat bogs and volcanic peaks where the volcanoes have long fallen silent. Here, in the heart of the Cantal massif — one of the largest volcanic formations in Europe — rounded ridges, deep valleys, and wind-swept plateaus create a world still largely untouched by major tourist flows.
What greets you upon arrival is not so much the spectacular geology as the silence. A vast, almost physical silence that sets the tone for everything this ecolodge stands for. We spoke to Laurence Costa, co-owner of Instants d’Absolu, about building a place where nature, slowness, and sustainability are not amenities — they are the very foundation.
“Sustainability has never been a layer to be added afterwards; it is part of the foundation of the Ecolodge.”
1. Daniel and you are described as passionate travelers who were inspired by African lodges — the idea of a comfortable, authentic habitat set in the middle of nowhere, where space itself is the luxury. How did you discover the site by Lac du Pêcher, and what made you feel that this was the place?
We discovered the lake by chance or maybe out of destiny. At that time, we were not searching at all for any property, but I was kind of daydreaming about a lodge like the ones we had experienced in Kenya or in South Africa. A place where silence would have a presence, where space could be experienced rather than just occupied and when we first arrived here, there was nothing spectacular in the obvious sense. There was a form of density in the air, in the way the light moved in the landscape and there was probably something volcanic I had already touched in Iceland, and I think volcanism and fire are part of it and of the story. We immediately felt that this was not a place to transform, but a place to listen to. That made the real connection.
2. The rooms at Instants d’Absolu are named after and decorated with local plants and natural dyes — wormwood, birch, juniper… How did the concept of “biophilic design” shape the way you imagined the interiors?
Contrary to many hotels that show designers and famous architects (Philippe Starck, Sybille de Margerie, Jacques Garcia…), at Instants d’Absolu the rooms have been designed by nature. Biophilic design did not come as a concept, it came as evidence. When the pandemic hit the world, I felt that we would need to reconnect sensorially to the living world. My encounter with Virginie from Atelier Peregreen opened a door to this invisible dimension of plants, their pigments, their energy, and their subtle presence. We first began exploring and experiencing together. It was just years later when she developed her natural paints that she came back to me and told me “Now I’m making paintings out of plants. How could we integrate this into your rooms?” And I said, okay, so you’re asking me to renovate all my rooms. And I said, okay, let’s go. So, Instants d’Absolu first became her lab-oratory. Now it’s her showroom, because each space is kind of inhabited by a vegetal atmosphere, it’s much more than just colors. It’s the energy of the plants. And I wanted guests to feel it, not as a decoration, but as a form of alignment.
3. You have built a philosophy around the concept of “Wild-to-Table” — a kitchen that honors every cycle of the living world, from the vegetable garden and greenhouse to local producers. How does that translate into what guests actually eat on a given evening?
Our approach to food has always been rooted in the respect for the living. We eat meat, we eat fish, but always with respect. It became more literal recently when Daniel became our cook on site. He loves working with deer and pheasants from the surrounding forest. And he works with the whole animal. He always says that it’s nice to cook and prepare the novel cuts, but everything has to be eaten. From bones, for the ossobuco for instance, to broth with slow cooked preparations that keep the nutrition and the vitality of the food, and to textures that also require time and attention. If you spend a week with us, you won’t eat the same dish twice. Every day is a surprise dinner. Guests are not invited just to eat a dish, but to enter a cycle, a cycle of something that was alive, that has been prepared with care and that in the end continues through them. The cuisine is also inspired by nature and the volcanic lake and forest landscape surrounding us.
4. What are some sustainability actions you have recently implemented, or are planning to implement?
Sustainability has never been a layer to be added afterwards; it is part of the foundation. It’s part of the reconstruction from the very beginning. For instance, we implemented wood chip heating and natural cellulose insulation. Now, with this approach, we continue through the reconstruction of a traditional buron, an old shepherd hut made of lava stone. It’s 40 minutes’ walk away from the Ecolodge, in the forest. There, we will use solar energy. We’re working with natural spring water but trying to find a gravity system to avoid pumping. And when it’s done, it will be a spiritual retreat place to exchange with our guests. When I’m talking about spirituality, I’m talking about sustainability. I’m almost always talking the same language. It’s a daily attention, a way of relating to the living world with respect, with coherence, with joy. To me, this is the same path, more or less.
5. You invite guests to participate in wildlife inventories and waste collection from the forest and plateau. How did the idea of actively involving guests in the conservation of this landscape come about?
Once, I was walking and, while walking, I picked up any rubbish. In doing so, I realized that it was not a constraint. It was even a way to better breathe and to feel connected to nature. Offering this same possibility to our guests became obvious, an invitation to participate in the care of a place that for a while becomes their place, too. It’s just a daily connection. And the more we are connected to nature, the more natural we are.
6. If a guest had only one full day at Instants d’Absolu, how would you suggest they experience the place and the landscape?
Start early because in the very early morning there’s mist rising from the lake and it’s so beautiful. After breakfast, walk without a fixed destination, letting the landscape set the rhythm. Make a break for a picnic, like a lunchbox we can provide, and take a nap under a tree. In the afternoon, take a longer walk through the forest to be one with the forest and nature and enjoy the moment. In the evening, spend time at the spa and enjoy how the lights fade slowly. What matters in the end, at Instants d’Absolu, is not to have a to-do list. There is no such to-do list. What matters is not what you do, but how present you are to whatever you do.
7. The Cantal massif is one of the largest volcanic formations in Europe, and Instants d’Absolu Ecolodge & Spa sits right in the heart of this region. When we met, you wanted to tell me about the Cantal Effect. What is it about?
It’s a form of inner clearing. These volcanic highlands where we are located have a way of stripping away noise just by presence. French actors like Jean Dujardin or Pierre Niney shared their deep transformational experience after visiting the Cantal massif; They said they travel through the world but here they lived something they had never lived anywhere. So, the “Cantal effect” will soon be part of a series of films with those actors, and more. Here at the Ecolodge, we can feel that most of the time our guests arrive with a sort of tension. Even after one single day, they change in a way they get peaceful and anchored. The Fire under these dormant volcanoes is really something very strong, that has a laser effect that transforms, even if it’s invisible.
Instants d’Absolu Ecolodge & Spa – In Short
8. Your favorite spot in or around the ecolodge?
Definitely the Frau de Collange. It’s an ancient peatland. It’s something really almost surreal which makes me feel at the same time in Canada and at Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe, with trees emerging from the water. It creates a landscape that feels fragile and powerful at the same time. It’s about an hour’s walk from the Ecolodge.
9. A detail most guests overlook, but you care about deeply
The subtle changes in light and sound according to the seasons. These transitions are often invisible, and it takes time for guests to notice them. You have to be very present to notice this. And these transitional changes are probably our ultimate luxury.
10. Your favorite hour of the day to spend by the lake, and why?
At nighttime, when the sky is completely clear, no artificial light at all, you can see the Milky Way with millions of stars that reflect in the lake. I suggest our guests step outside after dinner and take a look.
