A historic patrician house is being transformed into a boutique hotel: Monoplan is overseeing the conversion of Villa Florhof in Zurich

Villa Florhof, one of the most historic buildings in Zurich’s Old Town, has undergone a comprehensive transformation and reopened as the city’s first Lalique Boutique Hotel. Under the leadership of Josep Ribes and Alexandra Verburg, Monoplan took charge of the architectural design and implementation of this ambitious project and coordinated its execution from December 2023 until the opening on 1 August 2026.

The building looks back on a history spanning more than 600 years and has been documented since 1447. Villa Florhof has been used as a hotel since the early 20th century. Since 1973, key parts of the complex have been listed as historic monuments, including the north, west and south façades, the historic entrance portal and numerous interior features such as oak doors, the stucco ceiling in a room on the second floor and the striking blue-and-white tower stove in the reception area. Over the decades, the Florhof has been a retreat for numerous artists, writers, actors and musicians. Guests have included, amongst others, Günter Grass, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Eugène Ionesco, Michael Ende, Bruno Ganz and Christopher Lee.

As part of the transformation, the building was fully adapted, both technically and functionally, to meet the requirements of a modern boutique hotel. At the same time, distinctive listed features were preserved and restored. Today, Villa Florhof comprises 13 individually designed rooms and suites, a bar-brasserie, a wine cellar in the vaulted cellar with a tasting area, the Davidoff Salon and three terraces. The spacious main terrace, which was already regarded as a popular retreat in the heart of Zurich’s Old Town before the refurbishment, remains a defining feature of the hotel. The opening of the signature restaurant is scheduled for late autumn 2026.

Key tasks included the reorganisation of the building’s interior, the integration of the building services, and the creation of a column-free restaurant area. At the same time, the challenge was to adapt the design concept, characterised by Lalique, to the spatial conditions of the historic townhouse. Monoplan coordinated all parties involved in the planning process and the specialist trades, ensuring that the architecture, structural engineering and building services worked together seamlessly.

“Villa Florhof is not a large-scale hotel project, but that is precisely why every detail was crucial. The listed building required a particularly careful approach. Our aim was to preserve the character of the building whilst at the same time meeting the requirements of a modern hotel operation. This can only be achieved through close collaboration between all those involved,” says Josep Ribes, project manager at Monoplan. Alexandra Verburg, team leader at Monoplan and overall project manager, adds: “Villa Florhof demonstrates what really matters in hospitality projects: we always plan from the guest’s perspective. The guest experience begins the moment they step into the hotel and runs like a common thread through their entire stay – from the public areas and the dining facilities right through to the individually designed rooms.”

The interior design is by Green & Mingarelli Design and draws inspiration from Lalique’s design language. Architectural glass and crystal elements, as well as the characteristic silk butterfly motif – developed exclusively for the project by the Lalique Design Studio – define the hotel’s public areas. The 13 rooms take up this concept and are dedicated to iconic creations by René Lalique.

Villa Florhof is situated at Florhofgasse 4 in the heart of Zurich’s Old Town. Nestled between the Kunsthaus, the University and the River Limmat, this boutique hotel combines the tranquillity and intimacy of a historic townhouse with close proximity to the city’s cultural attractions.