Housed in a building that is part medieval fortress, part 19th-century château, the Dolder Grand is one of Switzerland’s best-known hotels. Working with a multi-headed design team with complex overlapping responsibilities, Speirs + Major’s role was to provide visual cohesion across a wide range of areas: the exterior, entrance, reception lobbies, lounges, restaurants, meeting rooms, bar, ballroom, grand suites and a spa.

The main task was to heighten the ambience of five-star luxury, while retaining a uniquely Swiss sensibility. There were a number of competing interests to balance. Besides respecting the demands of local conservationists and neighbouring residents, the design had to respond to both the history and the contemporary nature of the architecture.

Balancing the old with the new was complicated by the fact that parts of the original architecture had to be conserved, including hand-painted ceilings which could not be penetrated or fixed to. A further challenge was integrating artificial light with highly variable daylight conditions.

The double-height space of the bar is reached from the upper level. An installation of more than 80 custom-made Swarovski ‘floating’ candles stands out dramatically against a black curtain backdrop. The curved, metal-bead curtain is also carefully lit to bring focus to the rear of the bar, while acting as a screen as guests descend the grand staircase. A bar to see and be seen in.

The spa was a major project in its own right. The magnificent pool area has commanding views out to the lake and surrounding mountains. The heavily textured stone wall wraps from the exterior through to the interior and is washed with light from a ceiling slot to accentuate its textural quality. The stone walls narrow and spiral to a meditation space, passing by reception and café environments. The artificial lighting smoothly changes from cool daylight to warm ‘candlelight’ as dusk arrives.