Grand Dolder

Overview

Over Lake Zurich, the iconic Dolder Grand has been transformed into a luxurious urban resort through an extensive renovation and expansion project. This ambitious design doubles the hotel’s accommodation capacity while seamlessly reconnecting it to the surrounding forest and resort environment. Impressively, despite the increase in size, the new structure consumes just half the energy of the original building—an energy efficiency improvement of 75 percent per square meter. The nearby Dolderbahn cog railway station has also been restored, inviting the local community to enjoy both the scenic grounds and a glimpse of the revamped hotel.

PROJECT NAME

Renovation and extension of The Dolder Grand

ARCHITECT

Foster & Partner

CLIENT

Dolder Hotel AG

TIME PERIOD

Planning 2004-2008

SERVICES

Summer and winter thermal insulation

Building acoustics

Room acoustics

The renovation respects the original design by Jacques Gros from 1899, with the external facade meticulously restored in its historic red and ochre colors. Inside, the layout has been entirely reimagined. Key improvements include the creation of interconnected grand public spaces, such as a newly added ballroom, and the reopening of the grand southern entrance, which now offers stunning views of Zurich and the Alps. Two contemporary wings have been added, framing the historic building and complementing new facilities like the spa and ballroom.

These new wings feature fully glazed facades adorned with perforated aluminum screens that double as balustrades and shading elements. The tree-inspired patterns of the screens reflect the surrounding forest, while the organic geometry of the new structures harmonizes with the historic architecture through a coordinated color scheme. Among the resort's standout features is the 4,000-square-meter spa. Its winding stone walls, which flow from the outdoor landscape into the interior, create a canyon-like setting for the pool. Perforations in the walls allow sunlight to filter through, producing a captivating interplay of light and shadow while ensuring complete privacy.

The energy-efficient design is further supported by geothermal heat pumps located beneath the spa, along with an advanced building envelope that incorporates triple-glazed windows and natural shading to optimize thermal performance.

Energy consulting  /   Project support  /  Thermal bridge analysis  /   Building protection  /  Building damage analysis  /  Noise protection  /  Sound insulation  /  Building acoustics  /  Room acoustics  /  Dynamic simulations  /  Thermal building simulations  /  Sustainability expertise  /  Sustainable design consultancy  /  Prediction of building performance  /  Sustainable urban planning