Sleeper - Issue 92

Page 94

La Réserve Eden au Lac ZURICH Philippe Starck pulls off an imaginary yacht club theme with aplomb at the newest addition to Michel Reybier’s La Réserve portfolio in Zurich. Words: Elly Earls • Photography: Courtesy of La Réserve Group (unless otherwise stated)

T

he two men behind the concept of La Réserve Eden au Lac Zurich – Michel Reybier and Philippe Starck – are sailors at heart and it’s a passion that shows; every

moment at the property is a delight, with a witty nautical touch to discover. The building, which has been a Zurich landmark since 1909, is located on the shore of the lake just beyond the opera house, with views directly onto the water. When Starck was approached to reimagine it as a modern hotel, without losing its historical essence, he felt there was no other option than a maritime theme. “Personally, I have always dreamt of creating a yacht club; I love the special and festive atmosphere of the regatta, the people are happy, elegant, and time is suspended,” he says. “Then we found traces of that past; the bricks eaten away by the sea breeze, the mahogany panels, the pictures of sailboats, oars and boat hulls. There was no longer any doubt. This hotel is the very spirit of Zurich.” Guests start their journey not at the grand entrance with its original Corinthian columns, but through a less dramatic side door. The cosy reception area is tucked into a nook on the left, the idea being that you immediately feel at home. Well, as close to home as it’s possible to feel in a Starckdesigned imaginary yacht club. Via ceiling-high wine display cases and exposed brick walls, the reception blends into what used to be the building’s main entrance hall but now connects the ground floor’s

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