The Dolder Grand

Perched high on Adlisberg hill, The Dolder Grand was built in 1899 as a "Curhaus" (a health spa) for the European elite. Architect Jacques Gros designed it as a whimsical wooden structure inspired by the "Swiss National Style." Its history took a dramatic turn in 2008 when Norman Foster led a radical transformation, wrapping the historic center in two futuristic wings. It is now as much a gallery as a hotel, housing a world-class collection of modern art that contrasts sharply with its 19th-century turreted silhouette and Alpine backdrop.