Kameha Grand Zurich

Posted in Projects on 13 August, 2015

Kameha Grand Zurich, , opened 1 March 2015, is Autograph Collection’s first property in Switzerland. It is a true collision of design and lifestyle, offering a plethora of awe-inducing interior design from world-renowned designer Marcel Wanders. Hamish Kilburn explains…

245 rooms, including six business suites and 11 separately designed themed suites carry Wanders’ stylistic signature in Kameha Grand Zurich. Highlighting stunning design and one of the focal areas of the hotel coincidently sits at the top of the property. The King Kameha Suite and an exclusive Space Suite are both Majestic, festive and feature unpredictable decors, which acts as a backdrop for a series of Swiss-inspired elements including Swiss-chocolate walls, ‘Swiss Vault’ minibars and a host of unique touches. This theme continues throughout the hotel in the form of the striking Shisha Lounge, classically contemporary Smoker’s Lounge and dramatic Kameha Dome. The inspirational interiors and design focus highlights the property as not just a hotel but a must see destination in Zurich.

The man behind the design

Dubbed by the New York Times as the “Lady Gaga of Design,” Amsterdam-based Marcel Wanders is a prolific interior designer and art director, with over 1700+ projects to his name.

His passion for the property is clear as he explains, “Others deliver an interior design, but we offer a reason for a visit, we create a destination. A hotel should entertain, inspire and stimulate. We want the guest to have a lifestyle experience, by creating a place full of surprises and beauty.”

Wanders’ chief concern is bringing the human touch back to design, guiding in what he calls design’s ‘new age;’ in which designer, craftsperson and user are reunited. In his process, Wanders’ defies design philosophy, preferring to focus on holistic solutions rather than the technocratic. According to him, the coldness of industrialism is replaced instead by the poetry, fantasy and romance of different ages, vividly brought to life in the contemporary moment.

Bedrooms & Suites

Each one of the 224 Premium and Deluxe bedrooms feature exclusive characteristics brought to life in a myriad of small ways. Chocolate has been well discovered in this hotel. As well as the Swiss chocolate-inspired walls, Toblerone-shaped sofas are found throughout the hotel. Kameha’s eye for detail can be seen in abundance throughout the two Executive Suites, six Business Suites and particularly the 11 Theme Suites, which have each been individually designed. Each suite has bespoke features to complement the theme for example roulette table and Kameha poker cards for the Poker Suite and yoga accessories and scented candles in the Serenity Suite.

Restaurants & Bars

Each space is carefully orchestrated featuring warming woods, a mix of custom-made furniture, tactile upholstery, iconic lamps and stylish sofas. The passion for detail plays an important role in the overall concept. Italian Restaurant L’UNICO and Japanese fine dining restaurant YU NIJYO both play on their traditional features with a stunning open plan live-cooking station and contemporary design with an Asian influence respectively. PUREGOLD BAR offers an elegant, monochromatic space with gold bullion studded walls, modern chandeliers and elegant textures. The two lounges at the property represent cultural extremes, the smoking lounge provides the classical intimate atmosphere of a traditional den, bedecked with deep leather armchairs to sink into. The Shisha Lounge showcases inspiration of a contemporary Arabic nature, with flavours of the orient obvious in the furnishings and wall designs sparking a smooth international aesthetic.

Meeting Spaces

The Kameha Dome is the striking centre piece of the property’s meetings space, this 701 square-metre event space features opulent red-draped ceilings, contrasted against the cool elegance of monochromatic black and white tiled flooring and the additional grandeur of stunning chandeliers. This diverse and fresh design creates an opulent event space offering an idyllic central location, flooded with natural light.