[New] Mandarin Oriental Palace

Lucerne

Swiss firm Iwan Bühler Architekten and London-based interior designers Jestico + Whiles bring about a new chapter in the life of a century-old lakeside palace.

Words: Mary Lussiana • Photography: © George Apostolidis (unless otherwise stated)

Iused to come here as a child to visit my grandfather,” says Marco-Antonio Diemer, Director of Marketing at Mandarin Oriental Palace, Lucerne as we tuck into scones and a pot of Lapansi Antlers white tea at the newly opened property in Switzerland. On the other side of the windows, at the edge of Lake Lucerne, people stroll down the avenue of chestnut trees, leaves already golden in the autumn sun, as the water glistens beyond. Just as it would have when Hotel Palace, as it was then, first opened in 1906. And again when Diemer came to visit.

History and heritage have been central to the renovation of this lakeside palace. That and its promise of excellence, built on a reputation of a century and more, all of which have resulted in a continuity across the generations as families grow up and return, keen to add another layer of memories to the rich mix. It was exactly what Swiss entrepreneur Franz Josef Bucher, who built the Belle Époque hotel, dreamt of when he said upon its completion: “Now I want people to experience what I have done.”

And Bucher has not been forgotten in this renovation, with local architects Iwan Bühler Architekten and London-based interior designers Jestico + Whiles –responsible for Hotel Villa Honegg just across the lake – both respecting his original vision in the five years it took them to bring about a new chapter in the life of the palace. The iconic chequerboard terrazzo marble flooring, the scagliola columns and the stuccoadorned walls have all been carefully restored, as has the hotel’s original colour palette of terracotta, rich greens and chalk whites, inspired by Bucher’s journeys around the Mediterranean. It is a fitting homage to this legendary man, who brought both hotels and the railway to Lucerne.

But it is not just the presence of Bucher found in the details here, for under the curation of Visto, many of the 74 modern art pieces lend weight to the sense of place. It may be in the pattern of the rugs in many of the rooms by Swiss company Tisca, which has created an abstract interpretation of light and colour rippling across the water. Or the hand-tufted rug by Tai Ping in the Presidential Suite, which resembles the pattern of densely packed feathers on the wing of a swan – the logo of Lucerne. Or perhaps the sculpture of thinly sliced mica by Christina Watka, cascading across the wall behind the reception area to create reflections of light. The slices echo the shapes of the dappled light as it moves across Lake Lucerne, with the form of the whole installation mimicking that of the lake it overlooks. And just to emphasise the point, across the room in one of the many historical paintings is a rendition in oil paint of the same glistening lake.

In the 136 bedrooms, small brass crosses in the

In the guestrooms, crosses on the joints of bespoke wooden furniture nod to the Chinese art of cabinetry – representing Mandarin Oriental’s roots – as well as the Swiss cross joints of bespoke wooden furniture nod to the Chinese art of cabinetry – to represent Mandarin Oriental’s roots – as well as the Swiss cross. Carrying the attention to detail right across the board are a selection of local apples grown in the sunny hills close to Lucerne. Guests can gaze out from their balcony whilst munching on the fruit as they soak up vistas of the lake and Mount Pilatus beyond, a view which many rooms are blessed with. The colours of the natural world outside are also reflected in the interiors, from the oak parquet floor to the palette of muted pistachio and dusky coral. And throughout, a mix of old and new ranges from restored heritage window frames to contemporary furniture produced by family-run Italian brand Molteni&C.

“The whole design was a matter of marrying elegance with longevity,” explains Jennifer de Vere-Hopkins, Associate Director at Jestico + Whiles. “Thinking about how this hotel would continue to stand the test of time, we used materials that would last, like granite rather than marble. Every single detail was considered, with quality being paramount. We felt as though we were custodians of the building, respectfully breathing new life into the faded palace to ensure she flourished for the next century.”

The design brief evolved for Jestico + Whiles once Mandarin Oriental became involved, necessitating an adherence to brand standards while still leaving room for the group’s trademark touch of slight irreverence. Unlike so many designers whose work is immediately recognisable, Jestico + Whiles revels in shapeshifting across its deliberately diverse range of projects. This ensures, as the firm reacts to the specific context of each, that it brings a freshness and authenticity to every piece of work it undertakes, rather than imposing a tried and tested format.

The biggest change that Jestico + Whiles oversaw at the property, which impacts on arrival, was the relocation of the main door. The previous entrance, which led into the centre of the hotel from the town, has gone. Now, the entrance is at one end of the palace, meaning guests arrive in by the reception and benefit from the impressively long vista of gleaming marble and rust-red columns in front of them, around which swirl the hotel’s bespoke scent of edelweiss, lavender, citrus and bergamot.

Edelweiss is also the hero of the Bellefontaine spa, where the steam room comes clad in handcut Tuscan Cipollino marble, white Carrara marble and grey granite. Here, treatments use Swiss-made Bellefontaine, whose anti-ageing approach and research into the fight against free radicals is persuasive. Drawing on pure water from Alpine glaciers and extract from the edelweiss flower, the brand has created a range of treatments befitting of this location.

And finally, there are the restaurants. No self-respecting Mandarin Oriental would offer anything less than excellence in its restaurants, renowned as they are for the number of Michelin stars they have garnered globally. In Lucerne, four are promised under the patronage of Executive Chef Gilad Peled. The gourmet

Colonnade restaurant will offer modern French haute cuisine, while the intimate six seats at Minamo will deliver a Japanese omakase experience. Both are opening in Spring 2023. Outside on the terrace meanwhile, Quai 10 is all about lakeside views and al fresco dining with Mediterranean cuisine at its heart. The recently opened MOzern Bar & Brasserie was buzzing at the time of review; waiters navigating the original burnt umber scagliola columns beneath a vast chandelier, which throws light onto the central circular bar and rich walnut and wicker furniture. With its high ceilings, brass accents and moss green walls, Belle Époque charm radiates from the space. Asian accented all-day dining includes sharing dishes of steamed bao buns, crispy duck rolls and raclette cheeseburgers of Swiss beef, but save room for the MOzern noodles. Neither Chow Mein nor Pad Thai, according to the menu, rather something seriously good created in Lucerne with a nod to the Far East. A bit like Mandarin Oriental Palace itself.

EXPRESS CHECK-OUT

Owner / Developer: First Swiss Hotel Collection

Operator: Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group

Architecture: Iwan Bühler Architekten

Interior Design: Jestico + Whiles

Lighting Design: Lichtteam

Art Consultant: Visto

Procurement: Invita

Landscaping: SKK

Project Manager: Itten+Brechbühl www.mandarinoriental.com