Hotel Redesign: The Future of Luxury Stays

If one architectural firm has become inextricably linked to Basel, it is Herzog & de Meuron (H&dM). Born and raised in the city, the Pritzker Prize-winning duo has left an indelible mark on Basel’s skyline from the iconic Signal Box (1995) to the towering Roche Towers (2015, 2022), Switzerland’s tallest buildings. Now, with their radical redesign of the Grand Hôtel Les Trois Rois, H&dM has reimagined a historic landmark while preserving its soul.

A Riverside Icon with Centuries of History

Dating back to 1681, the Grand Hôtel Les Trois Rois occupies a prime riverside location opposite Basel’s 500-year-old Rathaus. The current Neoclassical structure, designed by Amadeus Merian in 1844, became a symbol of luxury under its French rebranding (Drei Könige). Purchased by dental magnate Thomas Straumann in 2004, the hotel underwent a quiet Second Empire-style refurbishment before reopening as Basel’s only five-star establishment. Straumann later expanded it into the adjacent Basler Kantonalbank building, converting its banking hall into a ballroom and adding a presidential suite.

By 2020, however, the hotel needed reinvention: the ballroom was underused, the presidential suite felt oppressive, and the lack of a spa was glaring. Straumann turned to his friend Jacques Herzog for a bold solution.

A Radical Reimagining: From Bank to Luxury Haven

H&dM’s $30,000 sq ft redesign transformed the 1903 Neo-Baroque annex into a multi-sensory experience:

The former banking hall became Brasserie Les Trois Rois, a vibrant restaurant with inverted ceilings and surrealist chandeliers.
A new ballroom (divisible for events) replaced office spaces.
The presidential suite relocated to the third floor, now bathed in light and expanded to 2,500 sq ft.
Four junior suites occupied the fourth floor, while a Japanese-inspired spa took over the attic.
A moody smoking lounge, lined with handcrafted ceramic tiles and bronze oak floors, channels “Hugo by the morning after.”

Design Philosophy: Layers of Contrast

Herzog describes the approach as “radical hotel engineering”:

“Each floor is a different world acoustically, olfactorily, materially. Every surface is an invention.”

Smoking Lounge: Burnt timber walls, cherry-varnished furniture, and crimson velvet evoke a Lynchian dream.

Brasserie: A riot of pink and purple, with fabric-draped lighting nodding to Méret Oppenheim.

Suites: A mix of Art Deco opulence and clinical precision, with curtains doubling as room dividers.

Spa: Charred cedar panels and compressed clay walls mimic the simplicity of Japanese cuisine.

Critique: Excess or Innovation?

While H&dM’s hyper-detailed surfaces and cinematic references dazzle, some may question the project’s indulgence. Could a tighter budget have reined in the surrealist flourishes? Yet for others, the hotel’s audacity makes it fit for kings—literally.

✦ ArchUp Editorial Insight

Herzog & de Meuron’s renovation of Les Trois Rois is a masterclass in layered storytelling, where each space whispers a distinct narrative through texture, light, and scent. The design’s bold contrasts from the smoky, Lynchian lounge to the spa’s Zen minimalism challenge conventional hospitality aesthetics. However, the project’s unabashed extravagance risks alienating purists who favor restraint over theatricality. That said, its fearless embrace of dissonance ultimately elevates it beyond mere luxury into the realm of architectural art a fitting tribute to Basel’s creative spirit.

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