Projects AXOR

A Storied Hotel Looks to New Horizons

Sonne Seehotel, Eich, Switzerland

Schiltach, May 2023. Situated on a headland overlooking Lake Sempach in the heart of Switzerland, the Sonne Seehotel has been welcoming guests in a variety of constellations for 172 years. As part of an extensive renovation project in 2022, Swiss-based interior designer Ushi Tamborriello and her team were tasked with conceiving the lobby, restaurants, conference rooms and suites of the hotel. Following the owners’ wishes to “extend the hotel's eponymous sun within the context of the universe,” Tamborriello created open interiors in close harmony with the hotel’s history and surrounding lake, referencing the sun, moon, and stars. Guests can discover a sphere of luxury in each of the 16 new suites—a sense perfectly encapsulated by the sculptural AXOR One collection and AXOR Universal Accessories, finished in Brushed Bronze.

Symbiosis of Past and Present

The hotel’s interpretation of light and space invites guests to a journey of discovery. A playful outer facade of linear wooden slats, developed by architecture and project management firm A6 AG, resembles a bed of reeds through its vertical structure. Inside, this motif takes on a warmer semblance within the spacious lobby. The lobby acts as the hub of the hotel complex, connecting the newly constructed building with the structure of the original hotel. Upon entering, guests are immediately stunned by an exposed coffered ceiling of glazed concrete suspending a series of seemingly floating golden discs. Sourced from formerly used lamps and lights of the hotel, these discs are playful representations of the sun in tandem with other celestial bodies. Such intertwining of past and present can also be seen in the passageway connecting the new building with the pre-existing structure. Curved metal beams and a mirrored wall courtesy of Jörg Krewinkel's lighting design team create a dazzling illusory effect in this “tunnel of time.”

Celebrating Water with AXOR One

Water plays a starring role in each of the suites, whether as a bathtub on the terrace, a picturesque view of the lake, or in the AXOR One collection in the bathrooms. The AXOR One Overhead shower 280 2jet features a spray disc with a distinctive, graphic design that offers Rain and PowderRain spray types, which use the minimum amount of water to luxuriously immerse the user. The AXOR Universal Accessories have been finished in Brushed Bronze for a precise match, and the accessories’ universal forms resonate with the archetypal AXOR One products.

A Place of Balance and Contrast

For all its celestial references, the Sonne Seehotel remains deeply connected with its immediate surroundings. The hotel’s restaurant works with local fishermen and regional ingredients, and guests need only turn to Lake Sempach for celebrations in the “Sunlight” and “Sunshine” rooms, or for a cocktail in the “Moonlight Bar” to remind themselves of where they are.

About AXOR

AXOR conceives and manufactures iconic objects for luxurious bathrooms and kitchens. Developed in collaboration with world-renowned designers—Philippe Starck, Antonio Citterio, Jean-Marie Massaud and Barber Osgerby among them—AXOR products come in a variety of styles. All AXOR faucets, showers and accessories are produced to the highest standards of quality. With an expertise that extends far beyond the products themselves, AXOR inspires and enables architects, interior designers and the design-savvy public. Together with AXOR, they shape water-related spaces that reflect the unique personality of the user. Part of the Hansgrohe Group, AXOR is a forward-thinking brand dedicated to developing distinctive products, manufactured with excellence.

Contact

Astrid Bachmann
Deputy Lead Corporate Communications, Global PR AXOR