Architecture

Architecture / City planning

The parcel of land is characterized by the fantastic clear visibility over the lake of Zurich to the Alps of Glarus in the South and the city of Zurich and the «Uetliberg» mountain far up to the North. The eyes wander easily along the «Pfannenstiel» hill on the opposite lake side. The good view of the lake is reinforced by the steep hillside on the lot and the large decline towards the East. The Linth glacier left strong imprints here 50’000 years ago. This friction, the displacement and the molding resonate in the project. Besides the orientation towards the view and the lake, the orientation in the opposite direction towards the evening sun is also an important factor in the design.

The architectural concept is based on the orientation of all rooms towards the lake and the clear view, as well as on experiencing a great panoramic vista upon arrival in the ground floor lobby. This floor forms a center where arrival, eating, drinking, lingering, enjoying and working meet on a generously laid out plane. At the same time this center connects the garden level with the guest room floors located above.

The dynamic shape of the roof is accentuated and the entry courtyard more strongly enclosed with the complimentary wings of the bar and wellness. The glacial power is being expressed: The breaking open and the displacement shall be recognizable by the individual parts, as with the rifts of a glacier, being in a dynamic relationship to each other.

Site Development

Arrival, squarely in the middle of the complex, provides an easy overview of the entrance-, gastro- and hall floor; it is an important consideration for the development of the site and at the same time guarantees short walks. The preparation of the site for cars takes place by way of the Säumerstrasse with a bold arch to the entry way and to the outdoor parking lot or directly to the underground garage. In the hotel all floors are accessible by disability adapted elevators.

Materialization

The garden floors form the massive base, with their exterior front consisting of structured concrete. Then the ground floor, as a light, transparent level of glass, forms the transition to the above situated flagstones with the guest rooms, facing in the direction of the lake with a continuous balcony. The closed parts consist of slender rear ventilated wood elements. Vertical wooden blades in front of the balconies define the outermost edge of the building.

The roof, separated into individual slates, is covered with a large rear ventilated matt «Zinkor» metal sheet, emphasizing the floating, light nature of the building over the massive foundation. Based on the open, inviting and wide ground floor is the idea of the continuous materialization from the inside to the outside, with the spatial elimination of the thermic boundary. In this way, the color of the asphalt of the driveway is carried on in the lobby.