The hotel has been designed to reflect the juxtaposition of influences that spring from its setting.
LONDON – Reviving the glamour exuded when the hotel debuted in 1972 and quickly became en vogue with celebrities and tastemakers, The Gallery HBA has made Hotel Atlantis by Giardino once again be the place to see and be seen. The era of the 1970s, celebrated as a time of cultural confidence and liberalisation, provided the interior designers with an abundance of fun, retro-style inspiration for the renovation of this hotel located just outside of Zurich.
Nature vs. nurture: a study in contrasts
Just a ten minute drive outside of Zurich near Uetliberg mountain, the hotel has been designed to reflect the juxtaposition of influences that spring from its setting: city and countryside, urban sophistication and rural calm, angular forms and flowing shapes, the old and the new. Nature is ever-present in the superb views and interior design.
Seventies attitude, contemporary style
Whilst the boldness of the Seventies design influences has been softened with a refined, modern-day elegance, the spaces subtly suggest their earlier personality. Original details have been reimagined to restore the hotel’s spirit, with wood and marble fixtures replaced by the same materials in updated styles. Some aspects have been renewed, for example the lobby’s pure white terrazzo circulation staircase, an original listed item.
“A number of dramatic features have been crafted with exquisite stones, unusual textures and beautiful graining to become stunning focal points that heighten the sense of anticipation and excitement in guests,” explains Inge Moore, Principal and Creative Director at The Gallery HBA.
The lobby dazzles with a reception desk whose irregularly textured solid walnut facade has been waxed to expose the natural grain, recalling the petrified timber found in the area’s craggy landscape. A screen of organic crystal “icicles” snakes behind and around the desk, providing an appealing counterpoint to the angled, geometrically shaped columns as well as the floor tiles arranged as an asymmetrical “patchwork” of stone fragments. The black and white marble steps of the adjacent, dramatically curved staircase twist upwards against a backdrop of beautifully veined, multidimensional stone “puzzle” pieces cladding the wall.
In centre of the lounge, a fireplace with a three-sided glazed hearth opens up views of the gardens and offers glimpses of the action on the other side whilst retaining a sense of intimate cosiness. Seating shares design similarities with the hotel’s original Seventies chairs yet also reflects modern-day tastes. Setting a tone of exclusivity are stunning materials, lushly textured fabrics and the finest of designer furnishings from ateliers like Armani Casa, Emmanuel Ungaro and Donghia, along with a bespoke version of Budri’s inlaid Italian marble Origami cocktail table.
The hotel bar
As places to enjoy the finer things in life, the restaurants and bars within the Hotel Atlantis are destinations in their own right. On the first floor, the stunning lobby bar alludes to Zurich’s status as a leading European financial centre, with the wall behind its counter fabulously designed to resemble a bank vault filled with safety deposit boxes. A bijou cigar lounge feels intimate and relaxed with a custom designed humidor, tangerine leather club chairs, dark timber walls accented with matte brass trim, and feature panels made from bevelled mirrors that cleverly conceal a door to the BOH.
For fine dining, Ecco, which boasts a two-star Michelin-trained chef, radiates understated sophistication with a retro touch in its main space and private room. Ribbed and curved plaster walls and a muted palette establish simplicity of style that allows the exquisite gastronomy to take centre stage. Walls are inset with silvered eglomise glass framed by smooth-edged black and antique brass trim, while leather and tweed dining chairs, rounded ivory leather banquettes, a stunning white marble bar display and a chandelier of crystal “ice blocks” together form a polished intimacy suggestive of an elite members’ club.
Hide & Seek, the all-day dining restaurant, enjoys a pared-back style that works well morning to night. White-on-white “faux” library bookcase dividers offer a crisp contrast to the dark walnut tables and the warm avocado and heather-grey wool upholstery, resulting in a restrained, casual chic. The space’s beautiful new marble floors are unusual with a stylised black “Y” pattern inset amongst the white stone, a reflection of the architectural shape of the building footprint. A large outdoor terrace with a large fire pit has been renewed as an additional entry point so that, just as before, guests are encouraged to wander in after a refreshing walk in the countryside, thereby further enhancing the seamless flow of the interiors with the beauty of nature outside.
Mixing business with pleasure
In the ballroom, a vertical louvered wall exaggerates the style of the timber panelling installed in the original public areas. Crafted with high quality mahogany veneer, it transforms the panelling typical of the Seventies into something quite spectacular. As a nod to the popular colour palettes of the time, warm blue-hued faux suede contrasts with dark timber panelling in the boardroom.
Spa
The spa is layered with sensuous forms and surfaces that appear to have developed naturally over thousands of years. Undulating corridor walls are treated with three hues of polished plaster to emulate the softened shapes of rocks smoothed by nearby flowing streams. Clever lighting makes these walls appear to float between the ceiling and floor.
Celebrating the spa’s large basement location, the pool area is a calm and relaxing escape that seems to have been carved from the mountainous surrounds with richly textured stone cladding and, outside the glazed wall, a backlit waterfall rock feature. Penetrating the water surface at one end of the pool are craggy chunks of Valsner stone sourced from the nearby town of Vals, while the adjacent relaxation area displays massive, staggered slabs of intricately veined solid stonewood that further heighten the utter beauty of the spa. In the changing room showers, floors made from concentric circles of black and white marble retain the 70s vibe.
Designed for comfort
From their terraces, the 95 guestrooms afford captivating views of the charming surrounds, with some looking onto the cityscape and others onto the neighbouring forest and farm. Dark parquet floors, warm bronze finishes, smooth-lined furnishings and striated polished marble bathrooms form a graceful and refined look punctuated by the lively energy from the contemporary art. Indirect lighting emanating from the ceiling soffits adds to the cosy feel. The presidential suite, just nearing completion, will boast sumptuous fabrics, leather and an all-marble bathroom.
“Bringing the Hotel Atlantis back to life was rewarding”, explains Inge. “The Seventies were filled with so many distinct designs, shapes and materials that helped define the look of that era. It was wonderful to reimagine these style icons so that the spirit of the times continues to subtly inhabit the hotel through a polished and elegant contemporary guise.”
Tatiana is the news coordinator for TravelDailyNews Media Network (traveldailynews.gr, traveldailynews.com and traveldailynews.asia). Her role includes monitoring the hundreds of news sources of TravelDailyNews Media Network and skimming the most important according to our strategy.
She holds a Bachelor's degree in Communication & Mass Media from Panteion University of Political & Social Studies of Athens and she has been editor and editor-in-chief in various economic magazines and newspapers.
