Herzog & de Meuron completes "surprising" renovation of historic Basel hotel

Architecture studio Herzog & de Meuron has remodelled parts of the Les Trois Rois hotel in Basel, Switzerland, introducing whimsical touches that contrast with the building's neoclassical architecture.

The Grand Hotel Les Trois Rois can trace its history back to 1681 and now occupies a building constructed in 1884, designed by architect Amadeus Merian.

Between 2004 and 2006, Christian Lang oversaw a modernisation that involved integrating the neighbouring building, a former bank dating back to 1903.

It was this Basler Kantonalbank building that Herzog & de Meuron was tasked with remodelling, to give it a fresh identity that distinguishes it from the original hotel.

The building, which overlooks the adjacent Schifflände harbour, was comprehensively refurbished to create a series of spaces with different atmospheres and personalities.

"Les Trois Rois is characterised by elegant, classical architecture and French flair," said architect Jacques Herzog.

"The completely reimagined building on Schifflände is inspired by this French classicism, but also incorporates new elements in a contemporary language: these include unusual combinations of materials, and surprising light and colour," he added.

"Each floor is a uniquely designed experiential world, offering space for public, urban life as well as places where the hotel guest can find a sense of calm, relaxation and intimacy."

The revamped spaces include the former ballroom, which now houses a restaurant arranged around a central bar. A canopy above the bar features an eye-catching installation by artist duo Gerda Steiner and Jörg Lenzlinger that evokes a surrealist garden.

Seating niches line the perimeter of the dining room, with those by the windows raised up slightly to provide a better view of the Rhine river and the surrounding cityscape.

Mirrored surfaces on the walls and ceilings reflect original architectural features such as the pillars, stucco, parquet flooring and chandeliers, while modern replicas of the existing chandeliers contribute to what the architects described as the room's "festive atmosphere".

The banquet hall on the first floor was reorganised by removing existing walls and suspended ceilings to create a large multipurpose space that can be configured using bespoke sliding partitions.

The brass and velvet wall panels feature patterned cutouts informed by elements in the existing building. Mirrored posts support a ceiling structure treated with white gloss lacquer that enhances the spacious feel.

"The idea was to make this room both elegant and festive, like an extension of the ballroom, and utterly unlike the functionalist, and often dry, atmosphere of conventional meeting rooms," the studio said.

Herzog & de Meuron also designed several suites at the hotel, including the Suite des Rois, which occupies the former bank director's private apartment.

The suite's rooms extend along the main facade, with a circular dining room and vestibule positioned at the centre. Custom furnishings, including partitioning elements and curtains, can be used to organise the spaces.

Four junior suites on the third floor are arranged as open-plan spaces, with curtains and cabinetry used to separate areas for sleeping, dressing and bathing.

The suites feature red-velour bedroom niches, mahogany-coloured furniture and glossy white ceilings, lending them a quirky feel that contrasts with the main building's classical interiors.

The attic space now accommodates a wellness area comprising a sauna, steam bath and relaxation zones, including a lounge with a central fireplace overlooking Schifflände.

The architects referenced the construction of Japanese onsen bathhouses when specifying the materiality of these spaces, which feature floors covered with tatami mats, wooden planks or simple flagstones.

A new space has been introduced to Les Trois Rois in the form of a smoking lounge called The Council, which features two fireplaces and red wraparound sofas.

The existing ceiling was removed to create a soaring space, with high-level windows and a mirrored ceiling adding to the sense of height.

Herzog & de Meuron has its headquarters in Basel, where it recently completed four blocky buildings that ascend in height as part of a campus designed for a pharmaceutical firm.

Elsewhere, the studio headed by Jacques Herzog and Pierre de Meuron has created a monochrome flagship store for a clothing brand in Beijing and designed a wood-clad care facility for a children's hospital in Zurich.

The photography is courtesy of Herzog & de Meuron.

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