/ 2016 — 2023
A HOME FOR YOU – ALEX LAKE ZURICH
At Alex Lake Zurich, VELVENOIR was invited to curate a permanent art collection that quietly answers this question — not through furniture or design, but through visual dialogue and cultural depth.
The result is A Home for You, a site-specific curatorial concept developed by Alexandra Schafer and Inês Valle, designed to create a sense of familiarity, belonging, and stillness across the property’s rooms and shared spaces.
Rooted in the emotional idea of home as a place of connection and restoration, the collection brings together a carefully selected group of international and Indigenous artists — each contributing works that hold personal, cultural, and geographic resonance.
From Zulu ceramic traditions in South Africa to contemporary visual practices from Italy, Serbia, Portugal, and the U.S., each piece carries the energy of a place and a story. Guests are invited to experience art not as decoration, but as presence — each work functioning as a quiet window into a wider world.
As part of this project, VELVENOIR initiated a collaboration with the Magwaza family of potters in the Tugela River Valley, South Africa — known for their traditional Zulu ceramics passed down from mother to daughter. By integrating these works into the hotel’s permanent collection, VELVENOIR continues its commitment to advocating for Indigenous artists and creating visibility for living artistic traditions within the hospitality industry.
This project is a model for how curated collections can enrich guest experience while supporting diverse artistic practices across the globe.
Beginning with the curatorial concept “A Home for You,” we led the project from the earliest research phase through to final installation. This included identifying and engaging a diverse group of international and Indigenous artists whose practices reflect themes of belonging, place, and expression.
Several bespoke works were commissioned specifically for the hotel, drawing inspiration from the lake, its light, and its surrounding landscape. We oversaw all aspects of production, framing, and logistics — ensuring that every piece was presented to museum-standard. Our work also involved facilitating cross-cultural partnerships, such as the inclusion of Zulu ceramics from South Africa’s Magwaza family, and weaving these voices into the wider narrative of the space. The result is a permanent collection that not only lives within the hotel — but speaks to those who pass through it.
