From commercial building to design hotel
In the listed building, known as the «ABC Kino» in Zurich, the German hotel group Ruby will operate a new design hotel with 208 rooms after a complete renovation. Opening: end of 2021.
On Beatenplatz, not far from Zurich's main train station, a budget design hotel of the Munich hotel group Ruby with 208 rooms and a restaurant operated by Candrian Catering is being built in the listed former “Haus Du Pont” commercial building. For more than 100 years, the building housed the ABC cinema from 1913. Historically, the “Haus Du Pont” by Zurich architects Jakob Haller and Karl Schindler has been referred to as a palace-like building. Indeed: the comparison is appropriate.
Simple and representative appearance
Now a look into the future: In the course of the conversion, the largely listed building will be completely renovated. This includes its supporting structure, stairwells, facade and roof structures. In order to achieve an elegant, simple and at the same time representative appearance, classic means are used, emphasize the project managers. These include, for example, a surrounding wall frieze. That means a linear, horizontal style element. This narrow strip, delimits, divides and decorates parts of the building. There are also structured wall surfaces, a terrazzo floor and seating niches in the lobby. The philosophy of the hotel group is "Lean Luxury – luxury in a small area".
The Zurich architects Monoplan are responsible for the architecture, the interior design, the overall planning and the construction management. The owner and builder of the historic building is PSP Swiss Property, which is investing 45 million francs in the total renovation. If everything goes according to plan, the two-year construction work will be completed by the end of 2021. ■