Introverts may baulk at the new generation of hotels whose raison d’etre and design are specifically geared – from check-in and communal tables to food kiosks in the lobby – towards social interaction. That said, the new Düsseldorf outpost of the 25hours group is determined that its guests check-out are just that little more connected than when they first arrived.
Located in the city’s new Le Quarter Central, a sprawling 360,000 square metre mini-metropolis in the former freight railway station, the 198-room property is the work of Swedish studio Stylt Trampoli, whose idea of ‘German engineering and French artistic flair’ is expressed in black steel staircases, a kitchen styled like a French country-house, timber parquet floors and four-poster beds in the bedrooms, and a reception inspired by the city’s electropop group Kraftwerk.
The facilities are designed to pull guests out of their sun-lit, spacious rooms into the public areas. A flower shop stacked with age wooden crates stocks seasonal blooms; the gym is styled like a retro sports hall; and the mood of the 14th floor spa and sauna was apparently inspired by the Tour de France. Meanwhile, the neighbourhood is best explored on speedster bikes or a car, both rented through reception from Berlin-based bike specialists Schindelhauer and MINI.
ADDRESS
Louis-Pasteur-Platz 1
Düsseldorf
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
Daven Wu is the Singapore Editor at Wallpaper*. A former corporate lawyer, he has been covering Singapore and the neighbouring South-East Asian region since 1999, writing extensively about architecture, design, and travel for both the magazine and website. He is also the City Editor for the Phaidon Wallpaper* City Guide to Singapore.
-
Why are the most memorable watch designers increasingly from outside the industry?Many of the most striking and influential watches of the 21st century have been designed by those outside of the industry’s mainstream. Is it only through the hiring of external designers that watch aesthetics really move on?
-
This Fukasawa house is a contemporary take on the traditional wooden architecture of JapanDesigned by MIDW, a house nestled in the south-west Tokyo district features contrasting spaces united by the calming rhythm of structural timber beams
-
At last: a London hotel that’s great for groups and extended staysThe July London Victoria, a new aparthotel concept just steps away from one of the city's busiest rail stations, is perfect for weekends and long-term visits alike
-
Let’s go Deutsch – a date with Berlin’s new-wave dinersIn the German capital, the diner is being reinvented as a contemporary hub for cosmopolitan flavours, conviviality and near-Nora Ephron levels of delight
-
A luxurious new floating hotel redefines the European riverboat experienceQuietly cruising the Rhine, Main and Danube, new Hecker Guthrie-designed vessel Solara is the latest addition to the APT fleet
-
In the foothills of the Bavarian Alps, Chiemgauhof Lakeside Retreat elevates cabin-style charmArchitect Matteo Thun gives a masterclass in clean lines and traditional craftsmanship with this stylish German retreat in harmony with its surroundings
-
Hamburg’s new food court Le Big TamTam offers traditional flavours in an irreverent settingLe Big TamTam, designed by Studio Aisslinger, marks a new era in Hamburg’s hospitality-rich Hanse District
-
Inside MM:NT Berlin Lab, the new futuristic aparthotel captivating the tech-savvyWallpaper* spends two nights at the currently-on-trial MM:NT Berlin Lab, a digitally hosted escape for guests who value independence
-
Fire and salt fuel the new Beef Club eatery at Volkswagen’s AutostadtBeef Club, revamped by Ester Bruzkus Architekten, turns to fire and salt in its cooking as well as its interior inspiration
-
Hamburg’s Central Congress Bar is all about 1960s smoky boardroom glamourCentral Congress Bar in Hamburg offers an unconventional and retro respite from the working week
-
Rosewood Munich’s opulent elegance embraces its historic featuresRosewood Munich balances historic detailing with modern luxury to create a quiet German escape