Article published in Monocle in May 2026 issue.
In its 2026 awards, Monocle recognises Lombard Odier’s new global headquarters as one of the year’s most remarkable architectural achievements. Set on the shores of Lake Geneva, the Herzog & de Meuron-designed building shows how architecture can express a firm’s identity while rethinking the experience of clients and employees alike.
This Swiss bank’s striking new digs prove that, at its best, corporate architecture can reflect the values of a brand, while enhancing the quality of life of its employees and clients.
The arrival experience, for both staff and clients, feels more like pulling into the porte-cochere of a luxury hotel than entering the offices of one of Switzerland’s leading wealth- and asset-management firms.
It’s more than a building, it represents who we are today
adds Hubert Keller
An outstanding headquarters should make a statement – which is exactly what Lombard Odier’s new outpost on the shores of Lake Geneva does. “Is this what you think of when you picture a Swiss bank?” asks Hubert Keller. The senior managing partner poses the question while showing Monocle around his firm’s new digs. The arrival experience, for both staff and clients, feels more like pulling into the porte-cochere of a luxury hotel than entering the offices of one of Switzerland’s leading wealth- and asset-management firms. “It’s more than a building,” adds Keller. “It represents who we are today.”
Read more : 1Roof: Lombard Odier’s Sustainable Headquarters in Geneva
The company’s ambitions were reflected in its decision to consolidate the firm’s presence, uniting its more than 2,000-strong staff, who were previously scattered across six sites in Geneva. An international competition was launched and Pritzker Prize-winning firm Herzog & de Meuron won the commission. “It understood the DNA of the company,” says Fabio Mancone, Partner and Chief Branding Officer at Lombard Odier. “We stand for integrity, openness and sustainability. We needed a building that embodied that.”
Herzog & de Meuron understood the DNA of the company. We stand for integrity, openness and sustainability. We needed a building that embodied that
Fabio Mancone, Partner and Chief Branding Officer at Lombard Odier
The HQ’s façade is defined by thin, curved slabs and columns, making the most of the views. “It’s all about light and transparency,” says Herzog & de Meuron’s Louise Lemoine. Inside, Paris-based Rodolphe Parente has created client spaces with a palette of timber and natural stone. Client areas feature private dining and meeting rooms and terraces with striking landscape outlooks. Staff areas include double-height meeting and working spaces with terraces overlooking the lake and mountains, plus restaurants, a gym and a coffee shop. Equal priority has been given to both client and employee needs. “It has changed the way that I work,” says Keller. “And our teams too.”
Read more : Our new HQ through the FT lens | Lombard Odier
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