Chez Rose, a lakeside art house, Versoix

A Lakefront Art House on the Versoix Shore of Lake Geneva

Chez Rose sits on the lakefront in Versoix, a village on the northern shore of Lake Geneva. It sleeps up to eight guests in two double bedrooms and an open dormitory, and has three bathrooms. It opens onto a garden that falls away toward the water and has its own private lake access.

In 2024, the house was reworked by Swiss architect Youri Kravtchenko of YKRA studio, who opened up the volumes to the lake light. Inside, the art collection includes photography held in major museums, from Michael Kenna (MoMA, the V&A) to Rinko Kawauchi (SFMOMA, the Tokyo Photographic Art Museum), alongside works by living women artists. A canvas by Danielle Orchard takes pride of place in the living room, curtains Mathias Kiss designed for Pierre Frey bring a note of theater to the windows, and a bronze by the sculptor Volti stands out in the garden. Around them, the house is warm and built from natural materials, with vintage finds and bespoke pieces in the joyful, South-of-France color it takes from David Hockney.

Outside, the garden steps down toward Lake Geneva with the house's own access to the water, so a morning can begin with a swim off the shore and a walk along the lakeside path, or a boat from the Versoix pier out onto the lake. The lake shifts color through the day and is the view from nearly every room. The village beaches and the 22-hectare nature reserve are within walking distance, and Geneva is 17 minutes by train.

Layout

This vacation home for rent in Versoix sleeps up to eight guests. The 220-square-meter house is arranged over three levels: two double bedrooms and an open, studio-style dormitory of four single beds, served by three bathrooms, with the main living spaces and kitchen opening to the garden and the lake.

• Bedroom 1: Double

• Bedroom 2: Double

• Dormitory: four single beds (open, studio-style)

• Three bathrooms

Good to know

There are stairs between the sleeping and living areas, and there is no air conditioning (underfloor heating warms the cooler months). Parking is off-site and paid. An exterior camera covers the street side of the property, and the house sits under a Geneva Airport flight path, so aircraft pass overhead through the day. It doubles as a photo and film shoot location (on request) and has hosted artist residencies. Housekeeping is available at extra cost, the host greets you on arrival, and a Geneva visitor's tax (taxe de sejour) is settled on arrival.

Amenities & services

Private access to Lake Geneva, private garden and terrace, barbecue grill, sun loungers, fully equipped kitchen with dishwasher, washing machine and tumble dryer, high-speed wifi, dedicated workspace, TV with streaming services, sound system, indoor fireplace, underfloor heating, a library, selected toiletries, cot and board games, bed linen and towels.

Available on request: Housekeeping (at extra cost), personal welcome and bespoke arrival.

Around

Versoix is a quiet lakeside village on the northern edge of Geneva. It's also chocolate country. Favarger has made chocolate here for generations, and the village throws FestiChoc, Switzerland's largest chocolate festival, each spring. In addition to chocolate, the lake sets the pace, with beaches and a swimming spot, a lakeside path for walking and cycling, and a CGN pier where the paddle steamers call.

Behind the village, a 22-hectare nature reserve threads the Versoix river through woodland. For dinner, Susho, on the same lakeside road and in the Michelin Guide, does sushi and ramen made to order, and lakeside kitchens serve the local filets de perche. On Tuesday and Saturday mornings, there's a market at the Place de la Gare. Central Geneva, with its museums and old town, is 17 minutes away by train.