Founded in 1681, Basel’s Grand Hotel Les Trois Rois is among Europe’s oldest urban hotels. Its architectural character is anchored by the 1844 main building designed by Basel architect Amadeus Merian. Between 2004 and 2006, the hotel was modernized by Christian Lang. During this phase, the adjacent 1903 former bank building was integrated, ensuring continuity in form and materiality. In 2023, Herzog & de Meuron reimagined the head building, redefining the former bank as a contemporary counterpart with an independent identity and new spatial experiences, including The Council. Their architectural intervention, completed in 2025, comprises distinctive rooms and suites, the Seijaku wellbeing area, adaptable event spaces, and the restaurant Banks. With the creation of the new staff lounge and workspace, GRUNER&FRIENDS adds an essential space to the ensemble. It places at its center what defines the quality of the Grand Hotel Les Trois Rois: the approximately 200 employees whose excellence shapes the hotel every day.

The staff lounge is designed with a strong focus on employee well-being. The aim was to create an environment that supports relaxation, exchange, and professional development in equal measures. Continuing the architectural language of the Grand Hotel Les Trois Rois, the round-arch motif that appears in the historic building is carried into our design, linking the new staff spaces to the larger architectural ensemble. Embedded in the terrain descending toward the Rhine, the staff lounge unfolds across two levels. The ground floor offers generous lounge platforms, a flexible kitchen and dining area, and a central red cube where freshly prepared meals are served. Custom-made full-height sliding doors allow for spatial flexibility. The lower level accommodates training rooms, office spaces, and adaptable meeting areas. Carefully selected furnishings and adaptable meeting rooms support both focused work and efficient collaboration.

Selected decorative elements and a coordinated color palette extend the hotel’s spatial vocabulary into an atmosphere that is warm, calm, and dignified, thereby reflecting the high value placed on the employees. With the completion of the renovation, the staff lounge provides a balanced work environment that enhances employee well-being while supporting productivity.