Foster + Partners architects redesigned the famous Dolder Grand Hotel

Foster and Partners, architects redesigned the historic Dolder Grand tower above Lake Zurich to create a luxury-class city resort/ hotel. It includes tennis courts, a golf course, pool area, ice rink and Sculpture Park in addition to a substantial new extension to the hotel; which doubles its lodging. Also the Dolderbahn cog railway station has been redesigned to enable local community to enjoy the site. The most significant development has been to create a linked suite of grand public rooms, including a new ballroom, and to restore the grand southern entrance so that the guests can enjoy wonderful views across Zurich and the Alps.

The two new wings frame historic Dolder, with the addition of a spa, the new ballroom and a gallery. The wings are fully glazed; and stencil-cut aluminum screens line the fronts to form barriers and provide shading. Though the new building provides double floor space, yet it consumes half the energy of the old or 75 per cent less energy per square meter. The geothermal heat pumps under spa add to the efficient energy strategy which is further enhanced by a high-performance envelope consisting of insulated triple-glazing and natural shading.