Dayna Lee reinvents Hotel Zoo




Design Hotels has announced the reinvention of Hotel Zoo, its fifth member hotel in Berlin.

Located at 25 Kurfürstendamm, the hotel is an iconic piece of Berlin history poised for a grand comeback. It includes 145 guestrooms and suites between 18 and 145m2, a rooftop terrace, a light-flooded ‘Living Room’, a winter garden, and Grace Bar.

The building was first constructed in 1891 as a private residence, then reincarnated as a hotel in 1911, and it was the official VIP hotel of the Berlin International Film Festival from the 50’s to the 70’s. Designer Dayna Lee comments: “It isn’t often such a legendary and iconic residence comes our way to design… on the storied Kurfürstendamm, in the magnetic city of Berlin.” In developing the aesthetic concept, Lee imagined the families that once lived in the house: “The design is inspired by our fictional tale of the current generation who would now inhabit this stately residence.”

A portal of natural stone welcomes guests onto a jade coloured carpet, with black and white crouching leopards woven into it. The 22 metre catwalk runs the length of the entrance and leads guests to a floating reception, bridging the entrance to the ‘Living Room’, the heart and soul of the hotel. Vibrant hues, opulent carpet, crimson sofas and violet wingchairs soften the masculine edge of dark wood and leather club chairs grouped fireside. Floor to ceiling seven metre high industrial windows flood the room with natural light, illuminating Lee’s deliberate play on scale.

With the seamless integration of the historical building and the new additions, each guestroom bears its own trademark. The seven room and suite categories feature king, queen or twin size beds, LCD TVs with Apple TV, Nespresso coffee machines, rain showers, and freestanding bathtubs. To strike the right balance of townhouse comfort and refined elegance, Lee assembled a peaceful palette complemented by strong colour accents. Harmonious contrasts are created by custom-made walnut wood cabinetry and rich hardwood floors, offset with oyster-hued armchairs and matching button-back headboards, while ivory-coloured lampshades either hang or stand bedside. Guestroom details are both indulgent and incorporate local elements, with bathroom amenities created by Berlin-based perfumer Tanja Bochnig, and Berlin cosmetics company, Uslu Airlines creating its own nail polish for the hotel.

The Grace Bar is inspired by the speakeasy atmosphere of yesteryear’s Hotel Zoo, once the meeting point of legendary movie stars and intellectual elite, with cocktail classics from the 1920s to the 1950s. A lacquered wood bar in dark aubergine features an under-lit amethyst countertop, providing an intriguing focal point in the intimate space. The menu is presented in newspaper format, featuring details of the hotel, portraits of the bar team as well as stories of Berlin. The bar is run in partnership with the Berlin-based events agency Tehrani & Brandts (the crew responsible for the Butterfly Effect parties and the Club Avenue).

Image courtesy of Design Hotels

www.hotelzoo.de

www.designhotels.com