The Latest Project By Philippe Starck And A New Era For Zurich’s Grande Dame Hotel – Forbes

Eden au Lac first made its entrance in 1909, soon attracting an international clientele for being the only luxury hotel located right on the shores of Lake Zurich. Now this Neo-Baroque listed cultural monument has marked the beginning of an exciting new chapter having just opened under the La Réserve hotel brand following a two-year renovation by prolific architect Philippe Starck.

Designing everything from the furniture to the lighting, Starck came up with a concept inspired by the aesthetics of a modern lakeside yacht club drawing on the passion both he and Michel Reybier, the founder of La Réserve Group, have for sailing. The designer set about injecting contemporary art and creativity into the space, while simultaneously preserving the history of the building and its architecture. “There is a total osmosis between the building and the setting, the rumors and the stories,” he says.

The idea behind this redesign was to make the space minimal but not minimalist, with interiors that make the most the natural light. The original blue and white striped awnings, lion heads and sculptures now feature alongside newly uncovered brick walls, marble and solid wood floors found under layers of plaster, wallpaper and tapestries. Original structural elements combined with new design details such as blown-glass lighting, light marble cladding and fine glass partitions give these interiors a sense of timeless modernity, with the stained glass of artist Ara Starck—Philippe Starck’s daughter—casting colored light onto the historic staircase.

Thoughtfully curated objects and Philippe Starck designed furnishings then give these interiors new life as an imaginary yacht club by the water. See chiseled red wood reminiscent of the hull of a boat, nautical photographs and paintings, bronze gondola oar rests from Venice, a collection of half-hull boats set in resin and oars placed playfully around the space.

The hotel’s 40 rooms and suites across eight categories—the grandest of which is the sprawling Eden Suite—take up the property’s upper floors with views over Lake Zurich and décor taking cues from a sailor’s cabin integrating elements like a nautical chart of the lake, postcards of yachts and Panama hats for sunnier days.

A highlight of the hotel is the restaurant and bar, La Muña, on the sixth floor with two tree-lined rooftop terraces commanding 360-degree views over the lake and city. Bringing a culinary hotspot to Zurich’s food scene, La Muña pairs Starck’s harbor-master’s office inspired design with the Peruvian-Japanese cuisine of chef Tomoko Gunji Hangartner. Tuck into dishes such as kingfish carpaccio and highly recommended crispy maguro in a cozy wooden-beamed space filled with colorful woven rugs, maritime paintings and Starck-made tables and chairs, with boats hanging from the crown of the ceiling and a red-tiled open kitchen.

Eden Kitchen & Bar then has its place on the ground floor where the large bay windows face onto the waterfront. Pair drinks with small plates by the striking backlit mirrored bar or book a table at the main restaurant across the lobby where bare-brick walls, sheets of marble and log-stacked wall divides make up the stylish interiors. Match international and Swiss dishes like beef tartare with brioche toast, grilled lobster and veal La Réserve Zurich-style with wines from Michel Reybier’s vineyard estates across France and see your food cooked up by Italian chef Marco Ortolani and his team in the green-tiled open-kitchen.

As for the vibe: “Eden Kitchen & Bar evokes the memory of the yacht clubs where young people used to gather for regattas, canoe, skiff, kayak or sailing races,” Starck says. “Joyful places where everyone had a lot of fun, drinking and dancing around the large bar.”

The overall impression of this newly opened hotel is that the design throughout is impeccable, with every attention paid to detail. Philippe Starck is even said to have come in the day before the opening to curate the angle of every spotlight.

Whether you’re here in summer or winter, the lake is then a ubiquitous part of the experience, from swimming and boating in the summer months to walking along its shores in winter. Zurich’s old town is within easy walking distance and close proximity to ski resorts means you can easily combine the city and mountains.

The hotel concierge will arrange bespoke experiences such as going behind the scenes at the opera and as general manager Michael Stühler explains, combining La Réserve properties, such as Zurich and Geneva, is becoming increasingly popular. Having just opened, this is only the beginning for the hotel’s experiential offering with more plans to be announced in the coming months and in particular as we approach the warm summer days.