Telegraphenamt lands in Berlin’s Mitte district
Telegraphenamt, a restored Berlin building that combines a hotel, restaurant, bar, event space and private members’ club, has arrived in the Mitte district between Oranienburger Strasse and the Bode Museum.
Constructed in 1910, the former telegraph office served as a communications hub in a century, with the basement housing one of the largest pneumatic mail tube systems in Europe. In recent years, the listed property has been extensively restored and modernised, but Telegraphenamt aims to retain its original DNA and charm.
Rather than a classic lobby, guests are greeted by an open-plan room with plants, comfortable benches and the original pneumatic mail tube system. From here, they can enjoy a drink at the adjacent bar or a snack from in-house Japanese bakery and sushi bar.
Upstairs, the 97 rooms and maisonettes – ranging from 226-1500ft2 – serve as retreats in the metropolis. The interiors are influenced by Berlin in the 1920s, the building’s history itself and the current lifestyle of the city, with original elements such as historic columns, capped ceilings and exposed brick walls all integrated into the new scheme. Rooms facing Monbijoupark also afford distinctive perspectives the city including views of the TV Tower, Berlin Cathedral and City Hall. Up above, seven maisonettes with 14-feet-high ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows offer a residential-style living experience.
In the same building, Root restaurant offers a variety of international and local dishes. Behind the concept is the team of Berlin restaurateur Roland Mary, who also runs the hotel: “We do what we think is good,” he explains. Those who would like to look over the chefs’ shoulders as they prepare dishes can take a seat at the counter-facing the open kitchen. And for dinners that continue into the night, the bar sits adjacent.
Hotel guests and members of the private club Longlat are given access to a fitness centre featuring modern equipment and training areas for yoga, boxing or CrossFit. There’s also treatment services and saunas, together with a wellbeing hub offering a programme for physical and mental development; think physiotherapists, chiropractors and facial treatments.
Rounding out the hotel’s facilities, an event area can host a variety of gatherings from creative sessions and panel talks to fashion installations, conferences or corporate events. In the former coachman’s yard, the glass roof provides plenty of natural light, whilst at an adjacent smaller hall complements the space. In both rooms, high ceilings, daylight, exposed brick walls and parquet flooring create an atmospheric ambience. The seven maisonettes are available for interviews and more private discussions in smaller groups too.
