Lady’s First, hotel and Wellness in Zurich by Barbara Kingstone
The original idea for this establishment conceived by busy working women, was met with great enthusiasm. But then the economical downturn delayed the start-up. The first million Swiss Francs which had been promised, didn’t work out. So it took a few extra years for the well connected persistent women to see their idea materialize…and at the end, to great success. Besides seeing the need for a ‘women’s only’ hotel for solo and business-oriented travellers, Frauen Hotel AG, (the parent company’s name) also wanted to create jobs for physically challenged people and for women seeking reintegration into the labour market.. By the time Lady’s First opened in 2001 ( Frauen Hotel AG., doesn’t own the property but have a long term lease), they had raised CHF 5 million and had a great looking, well run like a Swiss watch, property. Lady’s First Hotel and Wellness, as its name suggests, is for women travellers who wants privacy, safety and intimate surroundings. From the outside of this building, circa1890, on this quiet street with the grand facades, it’s a surprise to enter and see ultra modern décor. There was never any question for the founding group that Pia Schmid, a well known Swiss interior designer, would work on the interior. She is renowned for her mixing of colours and finishing of walls in a technique called Tadelakt. Long stemmed, perfectly straight lilies set in a large rough textured grey
cylindrical vase which sits on a low round glass modern stainless steel pedestal
table surrounded by two small unusually designed, burnt reddish coloured leather
curved chairs, are the first of all the ‘eye candies’ in the reception
area. The reception desk’s front paneling-or so I thought- is in fact,
a series of same sized muted coloured earth tone, handmade tapestries squares
under plastic held together by large matte silver decorator nail heads. Another
head swiveler is the black modern steel and glass fireplace which separates
this area from a neatly designed seating space and leads to a tiny perfect garden.
The highly polished floors, devoid throughout the building of any carpeting,
is a pathway to a decently sized ‘dining zone’ with modern black
chairs and green sage cabinets, a colour that’s repeated as covers on
the black slightly patterned wood pedestal tables. Naturally, there are the
various espresso machines and other kitchen equipment, all very hi-tech overseen
by a staffer who prepares breakfast and daytime snacks.. This is an after-a-day’s-work
meeting place for the female guest. A single glass elevator, juxtaposed to the original concrete stairs and grey
wrought iron railing, lead to the 28 rooms on four floors. It’s a quiet
place since most guests are out early, either for work or sightseeing. Pia Schmid, known for putting unusual colors and textures has decorated every
room door with a different hue which leads into the room’s palette, usually
in several shades. Room #104 has a red door which opens into a single burgundy
painted wall while the other walls are soft and creamy. The use of grey concrete
in the bathroom as a structure to hold the white matte molded sink and mirror,
is in itself, a sculpture. Each room has identical bathrooms with frosted milk
glass doors creating a sense of lightness and space. There are sufficient working
surfaces and needless to say, the design of the desks fit right in with the
savvy styling. Who comes? The old cliché of between 40 and death would be right on.. There were several clients in the twenty-ish bracket and an elegant women of a certain age sipping coffee. As the guests rush by, eager to start their day, it was easy to see they were of diverse backgrounds. The commonality is that these women are on the go. And with their portfolios in hand, they didn’t linger, except to make late day appointments at the spa. Although the smart, helpful and youngish staff seem completely stress-free and calm, the guests could have used a bit of Valium popped into their morning juice. One doesn’t need to look further than the fifth floor to be able to get
all the treatments from body to facials, make-up, waxing, manicures and pedicures,
Ayurvedic, Hawaiian , classic massages and foot reflexology.. There are also
the more exotica like Craniosacral balancing, a rhythmical massage that activates
the inner movements of the pulse system, brain and spinal fluids, Tuina massage
which in Chinese means “press, shift, grip” combining manual massage
therapies based on theoretical and traditional Chinese medicine. Rates Entry fee to the spa for external guests is CHF 35 and for hotel guests CHF 20. This includes use of steam bath, Finnish sauna, natural sauna, power showers, relaxation room, rooftop terrace, bathrobe and towels. Mainaustrasse 24 /CH 8008 Zurich
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It’s
just about 7.30AM and already the streets of Zurich Switzerland are busy. Although
the shops don’t open for another few hours, business people start early.
Traffic is endemic in any large commercial city and in so-called staid Zurich,
cars surprisingly honk and jockey to get into the correct lane. No one dares
to jay walk. Zurich is a business centre with so many banks that they could
equal the Porsches, Mercedes, BMWs and other seriously expensive cars that zoom
by and make me realize that even though the Swiss love their privacy, they also
adore luxury. 
Room #205, that of the blue door persuasion, has a darker blue interior and
lightened up with blondish original square patterned wooden floors. Fluffy duvets,
topped with soft wool colour- coordinated throws are on the purest, virgin-whitest,
multi thread count sheets and pillow cases. Included are all the electronic
needs of a busy person.