Architect Tilla Theus transformed the Widder Hotel into one of the most popular hotel addresses in Zurich. Now she has added an eating bar to the hotel.

Three decades ago, architect Tilla Theus began transforming the Widder Hotel into one of the most popular hotel addresses in Zurich in her unmistakable style. Now she and her team have added an eating bar to the hotel.

Catholic or Protestant, that is not generally the question in architecture. Not even in Zurich: according to the latest survey by the city’s presidential department, the proportion of Roman Catholics was 28.7 percent and that of Protestants 22.4 percent. If you don’t want to be holier than the Pope, you could say that the ratio is even.

However, the Swiss architect and journalist Benedikt Loderer comes to a different conclusion: “Architects, at least in this country, have a penchant for Protestantism. They love the sharp-edged, the unambiguous, the simple. The fewer means they use, the more convinced they are of their works. Less is more. There are currently few baroque architects in Switzerland who should be taken seriously. One of them is the architect Tilla Theus, who is responsible for the Widder. She and her peers have found out with Venturi: Less is a bore.”

New spatial structure

His enthusiasm for the Hotel Widder, that “Catholic conglomerate”, can be read in the Swiss magazine “Hochparterre” (4/1995). At the time, Tilla Theus had just completed the ten-year transformation of eight medieval townhouses, which master butcher Niedermann had sold to the Union Bank of Switzerland, into the elegant five-star hotel in the heart of Zurich’s old town.

The architect only gutted one interior for the central elevator made of glass and chrome and the surrounding staircase; from the rest, Theus developed a spatial structure on five basement floors, the first floor and six upper floors that looks as if the different houses had suffered from their separation for centuries.

Each room is unique

49 rooms were created in the rooms on the alley and courtyard sides, with bathrooms and corridors in areas where alcoves, corridors and kitchens used to be. The result is one of the first design hotels: each room is unique, full of history and stories, furnished with classics by Le Corbusier, Eames and Eileen Gray, surrounded by wood, leather and heavy fabrics as well as art by Robert Rauschenberg, Max Bill and Andy Warhol.

Extension “Widder Bar & Kitchen”

All the rooms were refurbished in 2012 and 2013, and the “AuGust” restaurant opened in 2014, whose chic charm plays on the hotel’s history as a butcher’s shop – hungry Zurich residents and hotel guests gather here at long tables for breakfast.

A few months ago, the office redesigned the “Widder Bar & Kitchen”: since then, a wall of folded aluminum full of messages and scribbles leads from the bar into a spacious room with a show kitchen, dining counter and the so-called center table, a combination of regulars’ table and beer dispenser.

The food here is excellent, while the adjoining Turmstübli and Erkerstübli are worth a visit for the painted wooden wallpaper alone. And no one is left alone either: in addition to the entrance from the hotel, Zurich residents have a separate entrance to the bar from Widder-Gasse 6 to thank for the renovation. So there’s no question about it: the Widder is still strictly Catholic and anything but boring. A high mass, not a liturgy of the word. Although it is about nothing other than stories, for 23 years, always new.

from 470 Swiss francs incl. breakfast

Address

Widder Hotel
Rennweg 7
Zurich
www.widderhotel.com

Photos: Widder-Hotel

Visitors were able to enjoy two trade fairs in one weekend: denkmal, the leading European trade fair for the preservation, restoration and renovation of historic buildings, and MUTEC, the international trade fair for museum and exhibition technology, took place at the Congress Center Leipzig from November 7 to 9, 2024. Thanks to the successful combination of an extensive specialist program with lively presentations and an impressive variety of exhibitors presenting new products and leading brands, the trade fairs were also convincing on an international level. […]

Visitors were able to enjoy two trade fairs in one weekend: denkmal, the leading European trade fair for the preservation, restoration and renovation of historic buildings, and MUTEC, the international trade fair for museum and exhibition technology, took place at the Congress Center Leipzig from November 7 to 9, 2024. Thanks to the successful combination of an extensive specialist program with lively presentations and an impressive variety of exhibitors presenting new products and leading brands, the trade fairs also impressed at an international level.

With 377 exhibitors from 16 countries and over 12,800 visitors, denkmal 2024 celebrated its 30th anniversary. Experts from authorities and trade businesses as well as restoration and architecture professionals and owners of historic buildings were able to take full advantage of the wide range of products and services on offer relating to the preservation and renovation of historic buildings. Markus Geisenberger, Managing Director of Leipziger Messe, was particularly enthusiastic: “30 years of denkmal – even in its anniversary year, the leading European trade fair has its finger on the pulse of the times and has exceeded our expectations. This is where the heart of cultural heritage beats.” The special highlight of the event was the guest of honor Morocco, which presented the North African building tradition in an inspiring way with an impressive joint stand and numerous contributions.

The denkmal trade fair was based on five thematic pillars with current challenges and opportunities for the industry: building in existing buildings, monument mediation, building culture education, climate protection and sustainability, digitalization and the protection of cultural heritage in emergency situations. In addition to traditional topics, denkmal also highlighted more modern approaches such as sustainable refurbishment strategies and the integration of digital technologies. In the words of Dr. Ulrike Wendland, Managing Director of the German National Committee for Monument Protection: “Seeing so many young people at the trade fair shows that monument education works.” This was particularly evident in the lively exchange between experts and young professionals. The event also impressed with its successful combination of theory and practice: in addition to specialist presentations, the exhibition offered haptic experiences – from fragrant wood to traditional building materials. Andreas Bugiel from Bennert GmbH sums up: ” Sustainable renovation was a trending topic this year. We received a lot of inquiries about specific projects. It is definitely the right strategy to exhibit at this trade fair. We want and need to show ourselves here.”

For 14 years, denkmal has awarded ten gold medals for special achievements in the preservation, restoration and renovation of historic buildings. Three outstanding winners were: the Fundación Real Fábrica de Tapices, the Federal Association of German Stonemasons (BIV) and the joint stand Morocco: Patrimony Experts Morocco (PEM). The sustainable and artisanal restoration services of the innovative Fundación Real Fábrica de Tapices come from Spain. The BIV was also particularly impressive with its impressive presentation of traditional craftsmanship. Frank Schuster was delighted: “The medal has a very high value and will be given a place of honor.” The PEM joint stand received an award for its lively presentation of Moroccan cultural heritage and the tradition of clay construction.

During MUTEC 2024, industry enthusiasts were able to discuss innovative technical solutions at almost 50 events. The trade fair set important accents with modern topics such as sustainability and inclusion. In addition to its program, MUTEC also shone with a new structure: with a new concept that moved the trade fair into its own hall and reduced it to two compact days, the wishes of exhibitors and visitors for a focused format were fulfilled. The implementation of sustainability strategies in particular met with great interest among the 148 exhibitors and numerous top decision-makers – a topic that is increasingly occupying museums and exhibitions. “Giving MUTEC its own hall for the first time and focusing it on two days was the right decision. The international trade fair has developed into the central meeting place for museum and exhibition technology,” summarized Markus Geisenberger.

Once again this year, MUTEC was able to inspire visitors with a large number of exhibitors, pioneering products and services. Among the special exhibitors was SEVA d.o.o. from Serbia, a leading manufacturer of display cabinets and picture frames. After the successful trade fair appearance, where the team impressed with inspiring product presentations on the exhibition area, they are already looking forward to their next visit in 2026. The team particularly appreciated the direct discussions with customers and the opportunity to further expand their presence on the European market. As a first-time participant at MUTEC, Ma Fabrique will be presenting its Preservarium® climate control platform. This platform can be used to measure and regulate temperature and humidity. This innovative and ecologically valuable solution has already been implemented in the Louvre and the Musée de la Grande Guerre.

One of the highlights of this year’s MUTEC trade fair is the MUTEC Award. Staged for the first time, the award recognizes outstanding achievements that can be considered sustainable, innovative or pioneering in museum and exhibition design. After examining the 20 applications, three projects were selected as winners by a jury of experts. The “Museum Roter Haubarg” exhibition, designed by the scenography agency TAUCHER, was commissioned by the North Friesland Foundation. With “Immanuel Kant and the Open Questions”, the Bundeskunsthalle Bonn presented an exhibition that was realized in collaboration with Sunder-Plassman & Werner-Szenografie. Most recently, the jury was impressed by the interactive exhibition “Kiel, you are in demand”, designed by gwf exhibitions, which shed light on the future of the Kiel City and Maritime Museum and was shown at the Warleberger Hof City Museum.

denkmal and MUTEC proved successful this year with numerous innovative impulses for the industry. For all monument enthusiasts, the trade fairs remain an unmissable event, because with over 100 project inquiries at the stands and a growing focus on sustainability, they provide decisive incentives in the industry.

In 2026, the trade fairs will once again take place at the same time:

MUTEC trade fair, from November 5 to 6, 2026

denkmal trade fair from November 5 to 7, 2026

Read on for more impressions of denkmal and MUTEC 2024 and information about the 2026 trade fair days.