Locke expands into Zurich, Switzerland
Lifestyle aparthotel brand Locke has announced its expansion into Zurich, Switzerland with the opening of its fifteenth property, Locke am Platz.
Located in Enge, the aparthotel is spread across six floors, comprising 80 units ranging from rooms, studios and suites – including 40 hotel-style accommodations for short stays – alongside social spaces such as a restaurant and bar.
In keeping with Locke’s locally-focused ethos, London-based design studio Sella Concept – led by Tatjana von Stein – took inspiration from the city, reflecting the cultural identity of Zurich through a distinctive and sophisticated design language.
Apartment interiors have been curated as a series of boudoir rooms, using colourful tones, plush materials and Modernist patterns with a nod to riviera aesthetics and the nearby Lake Zurich. The apartments also feature bespoke decorative curtains that line the walls and frame the bed. In line with Locke’s other properties, all studios feature a living area and fully fitted kitchen.
Locke am Platz’s communal areas feature floor-to-ceiling windows, creating a light-filled environment that juxtaposes stainless steel and rich upholstery to create a distinctive balance between hard and soft materials. A central bar sits between the Choupette restaurant and a lounge connecting the two spaces.
Taking inspiration from the geometric shapes of the Modernist era, the front of the bar is wrapped with bespoke, decorative timber panels. The lounge meanwhile sits on a raised, carpeted platform overlooking the wider social space, with velvet lined curtains creating an intimate atmosphere. The area also provides views through to the restaurant, an elegant space inspired by the Swiss Riviera.
Elsewhere, bespoke furniture pieces designed by Sella Concept and manufactured by Parla line the windows and the wider lounge and restaurant spaces, while terracotta, green and yellow velvet finishes by Yarn Collective are mixed with stainless steel, microcement and high gloss paints. Enhancing the highly charged, multifunctional quality of the space, the lounge and restaurant have been designed for a seamless day-to-night transition, with an evening DJ booth doubling up as a high table during the day. The restaurant culminates in a handpainted mural by decorative painter Magdalena Julia Gordon.
Led by Head Chef Jaco Redelinghuys, Choupette is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Having worked as Head Chef at some of the best restaurants in Cape Town, Redelinghuys and his wife then founded their own with Yoco Eatery in South Africa and Hotel & Restaurant Taverna in Fribourg. He has also worked at the Michelin-starred Maison Manesse in Zurich. For Choupette, his creative food concept offers guests elements of a modern Brasserie. The restaurant takes classic styles from the French Brasserie and combines them with modern Nordic touches such as preserving, pickling and even Japanese fermenting techniques. Together with his business partner, Dino Schön, an extensive wine list has been crafted to offer everything from traditional and natural to biodynamic wines.
A private dining area, connected to the restaurant that sits apart from the rest of the space, can be rented for functions or family gatherings. With nods to the traditional riviera style, the design features classic mural wallpaper that stretch up onto the ceiling, while a Villa Borsani-inspired rug takes centre stage, and Gio Ponti Bilia lamps are complemented by Sella-designed metal wall lights.
