The Hamlet

Now this is the Switzerland that design fans want to see. The Hamlet isn’t quite a village, but a townhouse in Old Town Geneva, divided into 18 serviced apartments. It’s an appealing enough proposition, but what makes it truly unusual is its design. Owners Tara and Christoph first enlisted creative family members to reimagine the 18th-century space, and in partnership with Vitra, they’ve turned the Hamlet’s interiors into what’s practically a modernist design exhibition, furnished with pieces by the likes of Jean Prouvé, Jasper Morrison, and Charles and Ray Eames.

They’re also equipped with high-end details like Bang & Olufsen sound systems and Aesop bath products. All this could begin to feel overly staged, but these spaces are residential, highly functional, and profoundly calming — just as modernist living was always intended to be.

Anyone who’s inspired to take a bit of this atmosphere home with them will be pleased to note that the ground floor is home to its own Vitra furniture and accessories shop. But they’ll spare you the hard sell — this place is about living well at the heart of Geneva, and you’re perfectly placed to get out and enjoy the best of this charming, walkable neighborhood.