Page 246 - Livre Beau Rivage Palace
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Fig. 1                                                                                                                                         Fig. 2                                                  Fig. 3

                THE INTERIORS OF THE PALACE IN 1908:                                                                                                     the Montreux hotels, comprise neo-Baroque elements with a   was the work of the marble company Rusconi. The tiling (some
                                                                                                                                                             In general terms the interiors of the Palace, like those of  1901. The marble facing for the steps of the staircase, meanwhile,
                                      A HYMN TO ABUNDANCE                                                                                                sprinkling of Art Nouveau. The decorations in the dining room   of which has now been lost) was installed by Pedroli, a specialist
                                                                                                                                                         are conceived as a hymn to the abundance of earthly delights, to   tiling and mosaic craftsman based in Tour-de-Peilz, Lausanne and
                                                                                                                                                         life’s pleasures, perfectly capturing the essence of Baudelaire’s lines:   Montreux. A vast and beautiful floor mosaic, which survives in the
                                                                                                                                                        ‘Là, tout n’est qu’ordre et beauté / Luxe, calme et volupté’. (‘There, all is   shopping precinct of the Beau-Rivage Palace, below the external
                                                                                                                                                         order and beauty / Luxury, calm and pleasure’.)         colonnade, was definitely the work of this craftsman (fig. 3). The
                                                                                                                                                                                                                 stained glass was produced by Pierre Chiara of Lausanne. Just next
                                                                                                                                                         THE PASSAGE BETWEEN THE TWO HOTELS                      to the stairwell, the first lift – made by Schindler – with its cabin of
                                                                                                                                                             In 1906 a passageway was built ‘through the old dining room to   inlaid wood was installed for the sum of 21,552 fr. In 1965  it was
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                                                                                                                                                         create a direct connection between the two buildings’.  Wide, spacious   replaced by a large lift placed in the central space of the staircase
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                                                                                                                                                         and designed with meticulous care, it connects the formal rooms  – making the area a great deal darker as a result. Fortunately, this
                                                         Catherine SCHMUTZ
                                                                                                                                                         which passers-by can admire from outside (through arcades or   lift was removed during the recent restoration work, returning to
              In its edition of 20 June 1908, the Lausanne newspaper Feuille   served at small tables, for 250 diners. The five upper storeys – accessed either   glazed doors) and from which they, in turn, can be observed (figs   the stairwell its original spacious, airy luminosity. The panelling
          d’Avis de Lausanne gave a report on the opening of the hotel that   by lifts or by a monumental staircase with white marble steps – are reserved   1 and 2). With its theatrical quality, this passageway functions as a   and  the  doors were produced by  carpentry company Held of
          is both laudatory and informative: ‘In this magnificent palace, which   for the private apartments […]. The brickwork of this superb edifice is   prelude or overture to the opulence of the building as a whole.   Montreux, which specialised in fitting out hotels, rental properties,
          is admirably situated, everything works together, everything is integrated. It   entirely of white stone and granite and is the work of L. Chessex-Krieg                                               villas and shops.  This company was responsible for the joinery in
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          is perfectly comfortable; the setting is luxurious; the layout of the interior   et fils, builders of Lausanne; the plasterwork and paintwork were carried   THE PALACE’S STAIRWELL                    the basement, the ground floor and the first floor, while the upper
          spaces is admirably well judged. Everything combines to make this an   out  by  Mr  Henri Abrezol;  Mr  Louis  Zwahlen,  metalworker, supplied     Located on the north facade, the stairwell brings together   storeys were allocated to other companies.
          enchanting place to stay […]. On the ground floor are the public areas.  the ornamental ironwork. There are magnificent balustrades and grilles of   various elements of the original decor which are still well preserved
         These comprise firstly, the grand central hall [the current Rotonde], which   wrought iron. The electrical installations were carried out by the workshops   today, such as the stone facing on the walls, the columns of stucco  THE SANDOZ ROOM
          connects the two sections of the hotel, the old and the new. The Louis xvi-  of Oerlikon’s Lausanne office; the glazing, mirrors and stained glass were   marble (also called artificial marble) on the landings, the wrought-  The dining room is divided into three sections: the central
          style decor is magnificent. The sculptures and the paintings on the ceiling   produced by two companies – P. Chiara and Dieckmann [sic]; the joinery   iron banisters and the stained-glass panels illuminating this beautiful   section has three openings, with semicircular arches, while the
          and the medallions, by Mr Luigi Uberti of Lausanne, are remarkable and   was the work of Mr Held of Montreux and of Messrs Ch. Thévenaz and    communal area.                                          side sections have only one opening each with barrel vaulting
          do the greatest honour to this young artist. The fireplace of Italian red marble,  Ballenegger, and Mr Golay, cabinetmakers of Lausanne.’  1       The wrought-iron banister is attributed to the Lausanne   and lunettes. Work on the interiors of the dining room and the
          embellished with bronze decorations and statues, also by Uberti, is a work   La Gazette de Lausanne goes even further: ‘The hotel industry     metalworker and producer of  wrought iron Louis  Zwahlen   hall probably started at the end of the summer of 1907, following
          of art in the very finest taste. The furnishings, the carpets, the chandeliers   has produced nothing at once more beautiful and more practical either on   (1857-1919), who was phenomenally active in the late nineteenth   designs by the architects Jost and Schnell. Indeed, a watercolour
          by Thibaut of Paris; everything matches, everything is harmonious. Next   the banks of the Leman, or even in Switzerland or beyond. The public areas,   and early twentieth centuries  – his work is to be found in Lausanne,  design by Jost dating from around 1906 survives in the archives
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          door is a charming Louis  xv lounge in shades of white, grey, lilac and   the hall, the dining room and the lounges are truly marvellous – in their   Berne, Montreux, Evian, Divonne-les-Bains, Paris, Nice, Marseille   de la construction moderne (acm) at epfl (École Polytechnique
         yellow, with elegant grey and lilac furniture. The grand dining room [the   dimensions, decor and furnishing.’  2                               and even Cape Town. In 1894, he had a workforce of eighty to a   Fédérale de Lausanne), showing interior designs very similar to
          current Sandoz Room] is located opposite the central hall, opening onto   There is just one tiny note of discord in this concert of praise:    hundred people, according to the catalogue of the Yverdon Cantonal   those that were carried out (figs 4 and 5).
          it through three large arches. This room is absolutely wonderful, with its   the two articles disagree on the style of the grand central hall – one   Exhibition.  The Beau-Rivage archives note that the ‘covering of   Alongside the stained glass, what makes this room distinctive
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          blue-grey and pink colonnades, its highly tasteful paintings by the artist   says it is Louis xiv, the other Louis xvi. A typographical error? The   stucco, imitation stone and artificial marble for the stairwell’ was designed   is the ornamental stucco and staff work. Staff – plaster reinforced
         Haberer of Zurich – a specialist in the field who has already produced   reporters’ ignorance? Ultimately, the style is not very important;     by the company Taponnier & Matringe. This company, which   with fibres – is most frequently encountered as the material used
          many decorations in the hotel – its three enormous chandeliers and its wall   what counts here is the effect produced by the whole ensemble –   specialised in artificial materials, was based in Geneva and Lausanne   to make cornices designed to conceal the unsightly joins between
          lamps. Banquets for 400 guests can be held here. Meals will generally be   one that is palatial, luxurious.                                    and won a silver medal for its work at the Vaud Exhibition in Vevey,  walls and ceiling. In the Sandoz Room, staff is used lavishly and

          The rotunda, formerly the main foyer, seen from the corridor connecting                                                                        Ouchy-Lausanne. Beau-Rivage Palace. Foyer. Postcard, after 1909.  Mosaic in front of former shopping arcade under the arches,
          the Beau-Rivage with the Palace. Undated postcard.                                                                                             The lounge with fireplace surmounted by a medallion has since been   now the restaurant’s covered terrace.
                                                                                                                                                         removed to make way for a pantry.


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