New Opening: The Home Hotel Zürich Channels the Dada Spirit

The Home Hotel Zürich, a member of DESIGN HOTELS — Photo by The Home Hotel Zürich

Free-spirited, eccentric, and unabashedly creative. These words defined artists like Marcel Duchamp and Francis Picabia—as well as everyone else associated with the 20th-century avant-garde art movement Dada. Today, such words define the newly opened The Home Hotel Zürich, which channels the whimsicality of the Dada disposition into the reimagining of a former paper factory. Everything from the guestrooms to the lobby and lounge, neo-bistro, and collaborations with the local creative community invoke the spirits of the innovative Dadaists.

In the mid-1910s, a group of artists in Zurich revolted against the logic, reason, and aestheticism of the time. Amid the turmoil of World War I, they threw tradition away and embraced satirical, nonsensical creation in its stead. In 1916, one such creative, the writer Hugo Ball, founded a satirical nightclub and magazine: the former was called Cabaret Voltaire, and the latter Dada, giving a name to the artistic movement as a whole. Today, the Dada spirit is being reborn at The Home Hotel Zürich, a new home for culture, cuisine, nightlife, and eye-popping luxury in the heart of the city.

Like the Dadaists, The Home Hotel Zürich—located in a historically renovated former paper mill first built in 1836 along the Sihl River—embraces playfulness and whimsicality, offering a new gathering place for the vibrant souls of Zurich's contemporary creative scene as well as awe-seeking, open-minded travelers. During a resurgence of the Dada movement in the 1990s and early 2000s, the paper mill was used by artists and creative spirits, becoming a cultural center for parties, art exhibitions, and live performances. Honoring the location's history and structure while infusing it with echoes of the present, Erik Nissen Johansen of Stylt Trampoli has now transformed part of the disused factory into a Neo-Dada hotel. The historic façade remains as it was over 100 years ago, while inside, towering original concrete columns are artfully illuminated and adorned with greenery. Such historical features are augmented with warm hues, rich textures, and bespoke statement-making furniture. Surrounding a few columns is the Home Bar & Lounge, featuring glass-brick support structures and a lava-stone bar top as well as a mixture of ceramic and concrete tiles that take inspiration from the materials of the façade. The reception desk also stands out with its combination of stone, wood, ceramic tiles, glass bricks, and integrated greenery. Nearby, a cluster of low-rise sofas define a cozy space around a fireplace. Just as Dadaists experimented with the combinations of different artistic media, Johansen has layered materials and used bold color combinations to create a lively yet harmonious ambiance.

Designed to evoke a sense of joy and wonder, the property's common spaces and 132 guestrooms, including 32 rooms with fully equipped kitchens and six suites, feature a warm and earthy color palette infused with accent colors that create inspiring surprises throughout. Be it in a comfort room or junior suite, the building's historic window niches have been covered with warm walnut veneer, a material choice also reflected in the wood flooring. Elsewhere, custom Ogeborg carpeting blends seamlessly with old terrazzo floors. In some rooms, soft copper-colored velvet upholsters custom curved sofas. These design choices are complemented by wallpapers by London Art that play with nuance and optical illusions and large ceramic tiles by Florim that boast graphic patterns. Other details include Houtique wall lamps, Delius curtains, and textiles by Fabrics Casamance, Linwood, JAB, and elitis. Pops of playfulness even extend to the bathrooms, where 100% natural premium bath amenities by Soeder are housed in custom Dada-inspired glass bottles.

On the ground floor, the restaurant LouLou French Grill & Raw Bar Zürich combines French culinary traditions with global tastes while prioritizing local ingredients from France and Switzerland. Classic and innovative dishes include grilled meats, entrecôte, fresh fish, and sourdough pizzas topped with everything from oysters to black pudding. All of this and more is complemented by a selection of vegetarian and vegan options alongside an extensive wine list. As a gathering place for locals and visitors alike, LouLou also hosts kitchen parties, guest chefs, and cooking classes. At the adjacent Home Bar & Lounge, guests can indulge in a bold mix of classic cocktails, creative drinks, and fine wines.

Extending the spirit of Dada into every part of its operations, the hotel is frequently activated by visiting creatives and provides multiple options for intellectual stimulation and movement. Every Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday, DJs transform the lobby into a music-filled spot to kick off the weekend. Comedians, musicians, and writers also often stop by to host nights full of laughter, music, and readings—harkening back to Hugo Ball's original satirical nightclub. Beyond activated spaces inside, hotel guests also have complimentary access to Desiknio e-bikes to discover Zurich on two wheels, as well as to a fully equipped coworking space one tram stop away, and to Fitnesspark Sihlcity — an exclusive gym and spa accessible directly from the hotel. Whether visiting from afar or from the local neighborhood, The Home Hotel Zürich is a welcoming haven for Dadaists of the 21st century.

The Home Hotel Zürich is situated in Sihlcity, a new development on a unique 42,000-square-meter plot of land between the Sihl River and Zurich's city center. Beyond The Home Hotel Zürich, the former paper mill also houses an expansive complex of shops, restaurants, bars, cinemas, and nightlife options. Located southwest of the city center, it is near the Wollishofen district, which exudes a laid-back residential vibe backdropped by stunningly picturesque landscapes along Lake Zurich. The Home Hotel Zürich is a 12-minute tram ride from Zurich's central train station and a 30-minute train ride or drive from the airport.

Sustainability

The Home Hotel Zürich takes a holistic approach to sustainability, from front-facing operations to back-of-house and staff management. Products in guestrooms are plastic-free, non-toxic, and ecological, and the restaurant and bar source local products wherever possible. A robust recycling program is also in place for everything from paper and glass to electronic waste, chemicals, oils, and lamps. Both guests and staff alike have access to e-bikes free of charge, and charging stations for electric vehicles can also be found onsite. Behind the scenes, dining facilities provide healthy meal options for staff.

Hotel website