Zurich’s iconic luxury city resort, the Dolder Grand, has been honoured in the 2009 Design Awards by prestigious international travel and design magazine, Wallpaper.

The historic Zurich landmark transformed by world-renowned London architects Foster and Partners in a US$400 million facelift was voted ‘Best New or Renovated Hotel’.

Designed in 1899 by Jacques Gros, the Zürich’s Dolder Grand Hotel has a wonderful city location overlooking Lake Zürich and the Alps.

It now features 173 exceptionally luxurious rooms and suites within the historic Main Building and two entirely new extensions, the Golf and Spa Wings, which seamlessly embrace the historic hotel in a fusion of tradition and modernity.

The 173 rooms and suites are uniformly high-tech; curtains, flat-screen television and lighting are all operated from bedside zappers. Rooms in the new wings all have balconies, vast windows and a slick, contemporary décor.

Those in the main block have more traditional furniture and hand-painted wallpaper.

The four “top suites” range from the Rolling Stones-inspired Suite 100 (Sixties retro, in fuchsia and black) to the Karajan-inspired Maestro suite on two tiers, with grand piano, harp and roof terrace.

European and Japanese influences shape the unique ‘temple dedicated to well-being’ spa which features a black swimming pool with panoramic alpine views, state of the art gym, movement and mind-body studios, 19 treatment rooms, spa cafe and two spa suites for exclusive, private relaxation.

Doubles with a view of the forest are 850 Swiss francs, about $730 at 1.16 francs to the dollar. Doubles with a view of the city and the lake are 950 ($820); suites start at 1,100 ($950), which is pretty expensive.