The Fontenay, 2018
Grandhotel Hamburg
In this building no wall is parallel to another, the partition walls in the rooms run radially from the inside to the outside, the façade wall and all concentric interior walls are either concave or convexly curved. Therefore, for example, each natural stone slab in the bathrooms was planned and cut individually.
The special geometry opens the rooms into the park-like landscape and makes them appear wider. Nevertheless the mainly right-angled furniture cannot be placed against semi-circular walls. For a long time even the television was in conflict with the geometry of the room. We developed a custom mount so that people can comfortably watch TV from all points in the room without the TV visually dominating the room.
Category
Status
Abgeschlossen
Timeline
2014 – 2018
Gross floor area
30.000 m²
Service phases
2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8
Client
Kühne Immobilia GmbH
Photography
The Fontenay
The emotionality of the architecture is palpable, everything fits together harmoniously, nothing has to be explained. The thoughtful diversity – two restaurants, the spa with pool and the bar on the roof, as well as the generous terrace areas – are unusually generous for a city hotel. The interior design reflects the organic form of the building inside as well. Circles are often repeated, as are beautiful combinations of selected materials – terrazzo, the variations in the parquet, the white and green onyx. Everything is in dialogue with the building and nature and ensures a sense of vitality.
The emotionality of the architecture is palpable, everything fits together harmoniously, nothing has to be explained. The thoughtful diversity – two restaurants, the spa with pool and the bar on the roof, as well as the generous terrace areas – are unusually generous for a city hotel. The interior design reflects the organic form of the building inside as well. Circles are often repeated, as are beautiful combinations of selected materials – terrazzo, the variations in the parquet, the white and green onyx. Everything is in dialogue with the building and nature and ensures a sense of vitality.
The ambition of this unique building made it essential that the furniture was also individually designed and made. Almost all the furniture was custom-made except for the chairs in the rooms, a design classic by Eero Saarinen. We didn’t make the sofas in the guest rooms too “loungy”, as is often the case, but high and firm, yet incredibly comfortable. In the suites the furniture is supplemented with products from leading Italian manufacturers.
The ambition of this unique building made it essential that the furniture was also individually designed and made. Almost all the furniture was custom-made except for the chairs in the rooms, a design classic by Eero Saarinen. We didn’t make the sofas in the guest rooms too “loungy”, as is often the case, but high and firm, yet incredibly comfortable. In the suites the furniture is supplemented with products from leading Italian manufacturers.
„Minimalist design requires special attention to detail in comparison to opulent design.“
— Christian Meinert
„Minimalist design requires special attention to detail in comparison to opulent design.“
— Christian Meinert
A welcoming culture and the reception of a guest are always a big issue. At The Fontenay there is no classic reception counter separating the staff from the guest. Here you sit together “at one table”, which is much nicer and more individual than standing opposite each other. This also reflects the open architecture as you have direct visual contact with the staff as soon as you enter the hotel.
A welcoming culture and the reception of a guest are always a big issue. At The Fontenay there is no classic reception counter separating the staff from the guest. Here you sit together “at one table”, which is much nicer and more individual than standing opposite each other. This also reflects the open architecture as you have direct visual contact with the staff as soon as you enter the hotel.
Status
Abgeschlossen
Timeline
2014 – 2018
Gross floor area
30.000 m²
Service phases
2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8
Client
Kühne Immobilia GmbH
Photography
The Fontenay