Contract - April 2013 - (Page 55)
By Sheila Kim
Photography Courtesy
Das Stue
Das Stue
A former Danish embassy offers five-star
accommodations, amenities, and animals
Themed décor and blatant animal kitsch might be expected, even
desired, in an American hotel situated next door to a zoo. But Das Stue
is a boutique property that neighbors the Berlin Zoological Garden,
and while Germany coined the term “kitsch,” it’s a country that boasts
haute design and architecture devoid of such tawdriness—especially
within its capital city. Thus, the collective behind Das Stue—Studio
Urquiola, Axthelm+Rolvien Architekten, and LVG arquitectura—
approached the project with a modern design sensibility, sparingly
inserting tasteful references to the menagerie but ultimately creating
an environment that is at once both welcoming and sophisticated.
Das Stue—Danish for “living room”—alludes not only to a home’s
social hub, but the building’s origin as the Royal Danish Embassy in
1940. Since then, the landmarked Johann Emil Schmidt structure
changed hands a number of times, ultimately becoming this five-star
hotel through a three-step process: Potsdam-based Axthelm+Rolvien
restored historical details, renovated the interior architecture to
accommodate rooms and amenities, and built an addition, all the while
combining these elements into a cohesive package. Milan-based
Spanish designer Patricia Urquiola designed the public space interiors,
from appointing furnishings and art to specifying finishes. And LVG,
also from Spain, provided final touches in the guestrooms and suites.
A grand entrance
Since the existing building’s curved stone façade naturally made an
elegant hotel entrance, the architects and designers left most of its
historical details intact. A portico marks the entry doors, which in turn
give way to a stone lobby flanked by staircases and discreet concierge
desks. It’s here where Urquiola first demonstrates her artistry of fusing
together seemingly disparate characteristics: refinement, comfort,
subtlety, and whimsy. Carpet lining the steps soften the classic stone
staircases, while a rug in the center of the lobby achieves the same
effect with a pebbly surface reminiscent of lizard skin. The reptilian
theme is repeated in a literally jaw-dropping sculpture—an openmouthed crocodile by Parisian artist Quentin Garel. And a sculptural
installation of small bulb pendants hovers above the artwork.
The lobby offers a unique vantage point: Behind the sculpture,
windows and a square wall opening reveal the meeting point of the old
and new buildings. Open sight lines allow guests to peer into the lounge
spaces of the modern addition and, at the end of that axis, the
occasional zoo critter strutting past a window behind the bar.
Feeling right at home
A comfy, residential vibe—albeit more upscale in some zones—
dominates the lounge, dining, and general sitting areas throughout
the hotel. Urquiola’s furniture designs coincide well with this relaxed
sensibility. Her quilted and tufted armchairs and sofas, from Moroso
and B&B Italia, mingle with a selection of saturated shag rugs and, now
and then, animal sculptures in the lobby lounge. In the existing
building’s generously sized stair landings, she complemented the
pristine white-painted balustrades, wainscoting, and original parquet
floors with cozy furniture groupings and bookshelves stocked with
books on design and animals, as well as games to transform the stair
into a three-story library and drawing room.
In the property’s three Paco Perez restaurants, Urquiola uses
slightly different formulas, but all impart the same cozy feel. The fine
dining Cinco features booth tables but encourages communal dining at
the center overlooking the show kitchen. Her Nub chairs for Andreu
World—a sort of modernized Windsor-style chair—and a canopy of
copper pots overhead manage to evoke a pantry setting. The Casual is
a skylit, carpeted space outfitted mostly with her upholstered armchair
and wingback designs. Finally, a private dining area within Cinco seats
up to 22 on Nub chairs and pillow-covered banquettes, though the real
draw is its direct views of the zoo’s ostriches.
contract
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Contract - April 2013
Contract - April 2013
Contents
Editorial
Industry News
Columnist: How Young Practitioners Can Present Themselves As Leaders
Product Focus: Rugs the Right Way
Product Focus: Sitting Pretty
Product Focus: Basking in the Sun
Product Briefs: Hospitality
Das Stue
Carousel Bar
Andaz Amsterdam
W Seattle
Jelsomino
Designers Select: Hospitality
Sources
Ad Index
Installation
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