Meili & Peter & Gunther Vogt - Park Hyatt Hotel, Zurich 2008. A series of large, marble blocks sit in a grid like formation that references the building facade. Subtle convex and concave shifts in the surface of each individual piece ensures that the frequent rain-water evaporates in specific ways, creating a constantly changing hue and reflective pattern in the courtyard. An adjacent courtyard accomplishes a similar effect with plantings. Via, photos (C) Georg Aerni.
Durrer Linggi Architekten - Reconstruction of the Stockalperturm Hotel, a 17th century building badly damaged during a 2000 landslide, Gondo 2006. Via, 2, photos (C) Tom Bisig.
Buol & Zünd Architekten - Au Violon, conversion of a former prison to a hotel, Basel 1999. While subtle details allude to the building’s past, they also ensure there is a warmth to the renovation appropriate for a hospitality project. Photos (C) Georg Aerni.
Atelier Kempe Thill - Social housing for recovering addicts, Amsterdam 2012. Via, photos (C) Ulrich Schwarz.
Oskar Leo Kaufmann & Albert Rüf - The prefabricated Ammerwald Alpenhotel, Tyrol 2011. Via, 2, photos (C) Adolf Bereuter
Designed by Marcel Meili and Markus Peter after winning an invited competition, the renovation and expansion of a historic guest house to a new conference center in Rüschlikon, completed in 2000, features the talents of an incredibly well curated collaboration of Swiss and Austrian architects, furniture designers, artists, and landscape designers to navigate the large and complex project.
With participation from Adolf Krischanitz, Hermann Czech, Kienast Vogt, Gilbert Bretterbauer, and Günther Förg, the group is representative of a specific school of thought that manifests itself in the design. Elements including the integration of the new buildings to the existing structure, the subtle, yet stunning engineering that allows for large cantilevers and column free spaces, the stoic but complimentary landscaping, and an impeccable detailing and juxtaposition of materials show a clearly articulated concept executed across all scales.
The final image above, depicting a small grab detail on the edge of a sofa, is an amazing moment in which one can see the relationship between the color pallet of the conference room, the contrast of the concrete and painted wall adjacent water feature, or polish of a brass door next to dark stone, etc and the totality of this stunningly well coordinated project is evident. All photos via Margherita Spiluttini.
