Mama Shelter has announced the opening of its inaugural Swiss property, located in Zurich’s Oerlikon district. The launch represents the brand’s 19th location globally and introduces a fresh, lifestyle-oriented hospitality concept to the Swiss market.
Staying true to the brand’s philosophy, the property is billed as more than a conventional hotel, but rather a genuine living space that is open to everyone, locals and travellers alike.
Set to open in July 2025, Mama Shelter Zurich comprises 178 guestrooms, a restaurant, bar, banquet hall, co working spaces and a green rooftop with expansive views of Zurich. The hotel also has several recreational areas including pétanque and table tennis courts, pinball machines and a fully equipped gym.
For Mama Shelter Zurich, the design studio led by Benjamin El Doghaïli has created a joyful, welcoming interior filled with playful nods to Swiss culture. The concept draws inspiration from the Alpine landscapes as well as horology – the modernist spirit championed by Le Corbusier – and chocolate, a symbol of comfort and indulgence.
The lobby has been designed to immediately evoke the warmth of a mountain refuge, clad from floor to ceiling in cosy, tactile materials reminiscent of a chocolate box.
The lounge, both theatrical and dreamlike, pays tribute to Swiss precision and the passage of time, with a monumental clock as its centrepiece. The bar embraces a bolder, graphic identity, featuring a ceiling with geometric frescoes, a nod to the modernist compositions inspired by Le Corbusier. The restaurant celebrates a joyful take on brutalism, softened by Alpine peak-inspired curtains.
In the shared spaces, the colour palette flows between rich chocolate, caramel and cream tones, punctuated with textured wood finishes and vibrant primary colours.
Upstairs in the bedrooms, the atmosphere channels an urban chalet aesthetic: light wooden walls, hazelnut-coloured curtains, chocolate-inspired curved carpets and soft, tactile textures create a cosy, comforting cocoon. And, true to Mama Shelter’s DNA, bedside masks add a playful final touch.
“Imagining the décor of Mama Zurich was impossible without thinking of Switzerland, its culture, its identity, and its mountains” explains Benjamin El Doghaïli, Head of the Mama Shelter Design Studio. “The journey begins in a space shaped by contrasts, starting with a lobby infused with Alpine spirit and rich chocolate tones.
“Guests then cross into a lounge styled as a symbolist library, crowned by a giant, magical clock capable of slowing time, a playful nod to Swiss watchmaking. The bar follows, with a striking ceiling adorned with cubist frescoes inspired by the works of modernist icon Le Corbusier, who had Swiss roots.
“Finally, the restaurant appears, brutalist yet cheerful, framed by mountain-inspired curtains. At its far end, a giant table extends into the pizzeria, where the pizzaiolo serves pizzas directly to guests using a long wooden peel, straight onto their plates.
“The second floor esplanade will offer a suspended reinterpretation, in true Mama Shelter style, of a sociable garden inspired by open-air gathering places, which will eventually be transformed into a fully-fledged hanging orchard.”
Mama Shelter Zurich is situated at the heart of a thriving neighbourhood known for its concert venues, innovation hubs, startups and urban architecture.
Oerlikon’s built environment is deeply influenced by Brutalism, a style that Mama Shelter has reinterpreted with playfulness and personality. This juxtaposition of raw and graphic design is given colourful, quirky and joyous aesthetics creating a space that is as spirited and cosmopolitan as Zurich itself.
“Zurich, beyond its banks, is a natural destination for Mama Shelter thanks to its architecture, its lake, its nature, and excellent gastronomy,” comments Serge Trigano, co-founder of Mama Shelter alongside his sons Jérémie and Benjamin.
“Mama Shelter is proud to take over an iconic hotel in this city and completely transform it to fit our concept, making it the 19th in our growing family.”
Cédric Gobilliard, Chief Operating Officer of Mama Shelter, adds: “Zurich is a city in constant evolution, cosmopolitan, creative and forward-looking, sharing Mama Shelter’s values of openness, friendliness and freedom.
“With this new address, one of the first lifestyle and party spots in this revitalised neighbourhood, we want to offer locals and travellers alike a warm, lively, and accessible place designed for the joy of being together. A place to work, meet, share a meal or a drink or simply enjoy a convivial moment, from morning until night.”
