Mandarin Oriental recently unveiled its second hotel in Switzerland within a historic Belle Époque landmark. Located on the banks of Lake Lucerne, the Mandarin Oriental Palace, Luzern features a redesign by local firm Iwan Bühler Architekten and London-based interiors studio Jestico + Whiles that evokes the bucolic splendor of the surrounding landscapes. The renovation also nods to entrepreneur Franz Josef Bucher, who originally constructed the retreat in 1906.
“Our design ambition was to sensitively reimagine the vision of the hotel’s founder, eccentric Swiss hotelier Franz Josef Bucher,” says Jestico + Whiles associate director Jennifer de Vere-Hopkins. “By remixing faded Art Deco grandeur with fresh and spirited interior design elements, the venerable palace is ushered into a new era as a Mandarin Oriental. We wanted to guest to feel immersed in a dialogue between old and new, welcoming them into a fresh new chapter in the palace’s long history.”
Traditional elements are refreshed through a contemporary lens across the property. A Mediterranean-inspired color palette infuses tones of terracotta, rich green, and chalk white into the atmosphere alongside motifs of palms and lilies that recall stylized botanicals of the Art Deco era. A vaulted axial corridor heralds guests upon arrival, forming an internal arcade that leads from a tree-lined promenade into a spacious lobby lined with timber arches and crisp terrazzo floors. Curvaceous sculptural seating and walnut joinery serve as key focal points as well.
Among the hotel’s four onsite eateries is all-day Asian concept MOzern Bar & Brasserie and alfresco Mediterranean option Quai 10, which overlooks the lake. Modern French restaurant Colonnade and intimate Japanese dining room Minamo will join the lineup in 2023.
Outfitted in handcarved Tuscan marble, a spa rounds out the onsite amenities with a sauna, steam bath, experiential shower, fitness salon, and treatment rooms. Cipollino marble, cool Carrara, and dark gray granite sourced in Italy further complement the tranquil environment’s materiality of polished plaster, cast glass, and bronze.
Landscapes are again reinforced across each of the 136 guestrooms with notes of muted pistachio, natural oak, and dusty coral. Oak parquet floors are topped with ombré rugs that infuse warmth and texture. Heritage details are juxtaposed with sleek furnishings, like minimalist brass orb chandeliers that accent traditional ceiling moldings and wall panels. “Rather than attempting to recreate the past, we wanted to create an atmosphere of understated opulence for a modern age,” adds Jestico + Whiles director James Dilley. “Our contemporary approach is a counterpoint to the palace’s ornate flourishes, creating a new reinterpretation of luxury for a modern traveler.”
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