Hotel

Retreat with a view

So young and already an icon of architecture. The Elbphilharmonie, having overcome a few difficulties, has already become a world-class landmark. Its fascinating shape, the sophisticated wave design referring to the water around it, the union between the old Kaispeicher, a former warehouse building, with modern glass architecture make it as distinctive as its kindred spirits – the Eiffel Tower, the Sydney Opera...

The “big shifts” and the hotel industry

How do mega-trends in our society impact on hotel architecture, design and concepts? Why will hotel developers increasingly need to position themselves as guardians of a mobile lifestyle in future? An outlook by futurologist Oona Horx-Strathern.

A matter of contrast

Exciting colour highlights from the lobby to the bathroom? Gesa Hansen explains in this interview why it is fine for hoteliers to be bold in their use of colour and how colours in architecture and design influence the feeling of wellbeing for individuals and society as a whole.

Technology must not be allowed to dominate the feel-good environment

The Schani in Vienna is a self-declared “smart” hotel. Hotel boss Benedikt Komarek on technology designed to serve and pamper the guest. And why it should ideally be invisible.

The new serenity

The appeal of the new and serenity - two contradictory aspects reconciled in a hotel concept. Matt Turner from the magazine Sleeper explains how these two poles can determine the success of a city hotel.

Customisability is the secret

Flexibility in use, health cell, wellbeing: bathrooms of the future will need to perform ever more functions. Alexander Rieck from the Fraunhofer Institute explains what these functions will be and the role for architecture and design.