Words by Allegra Salvadori | Photographs by Matthieu Salvaing
Zurich Lake House, designed by Miriam Frowein Interiors, reimagines a summer cottage into a Japanese-inspired family retreat. Settled on a rare lakeside plot with sweeping views of the Alps, the area is both a sanctuary and a statement — a three-year journey in which art, architecture, and nature converge.
Spanning approximately 450 sqm, the project was developed in collaboration with Zurich-based firm Arndt Geiger Herrmann AG as architects, with Miriam Frowein responsible for the complete interior design.
Commissioned by a young expat couple — an entrepreneur and his American wife, parents of four — the residence reflects cosmopolitan lives lived across continents and a longing for balance and calm. Having spent extensive time in Asia, the couple envisioned a home infused with Zen sensibilities: sculptural yet soulful, open to nature yet deeply warm.
“The spaces are very open and glazed, allowing the view to be fully admired,” explains Miriam Frowein. “It was therefore important to find a way to make the house feel warm while reflecting the Zen atmosphere desired by the owners, passionate travellers in Asia. Everything is structured and sculptural, yet infused with a low-key and soulful dimension.”
A Dialogue of Art, Architecture, and Nature
Spread across three levels, the house comprises five bedrooms, five bathrooms, a cinema, and a gym. Each space balances artistry with function: the entrance hall welcomes with a dramatic green wall and silk pendants; the living room is anchored by a custom bronze fireplace; a sculptural staircase spirals upward to a dining area framed by artisanal textiles and lighting.
The living room, offering panoramic views of Lake Zurich, features a sofa upholstered in Toyine Sellers fabric and a pair of armchairs designed by Humbert & Poyet, resting on a Manufacture Cogolin rug. A Rio coffee table by Charlotte Perriand for Cassina anchors the seating, while luminous sculptures by Matt Gagnon, an Apparatus floor lamp, and a side table by Ado Chale complete the composition.
The master suite and children’s rooms unfold as intimate retreats, their bespoke joinery and refined wallpapers balanced by playful notes. Bathrooms clad in natural stone and bronze reinforce the tactile, timeless quality of the interiors.
Even the powder room, located opposite the cinema, carries a playful yet refined identity: an orange Kast concrete sink paired with Dornbracht taps, Japanese tiles from Raven, and Cole & Son’s Protea Garden wallpaper. A Gio Ponti wall mirror and Tynell 9464 sconces in gold by Gubi add sculptural accents.
Sustainability and Local Craft
Respect for nature guided every design decision. A single oak tree provided veneer for the entire house, and local craftsmanship is present throughout. These gestures, combined with the use of natural stone and bronze, root this lake house firmly in its context, even as it draws inspiration from Japan.
In the kitchen, bespoke cabinetry designed by Miriam Frowein Interiors is complemented by barstools from Twenty Twenty One and Pina chairs by Objekti. Everyday objects — from the clients’ own collection of bowls to a yellow Le Creuset cooking pot — bring personal warmth to the space, with a Grohe tap providing functional precision.
Art as Architecture
Art is not decoration here but an architectural language. In the living spaces, luminous sculptures by Matt Gagnon are integrated into the architecture itself, while bespoke furniture and finishes sourced from ateliers across Europe elevate the interiors. Photographed by Matthieu Salvaing, the residence is captured as more than a home — it is a cultural landscape where East meets West, family life meets memory, and serenity is always in view of the lake.
