Today’s incarnation of the regal townhouse peels back the layers of time, revealing the original brick walls, soaring ceiling and generous windows of the original home.
BERLIN – Behind the prestigious facade at 25 Kurfurstendamm in Berlin, a one-hundred year-old legend is primed for its comeback. After two years of meticulous restoration, autumn 2014 will see the classy return of Hotel Zoo. Built in 1891 as a private residence for an affluent family and converted to a hotel in 1911, the new Hotel Zoo returns the old-time glamour of 1920’s Berlin Boheme. The modern update of the hotel, in the re-invisioned City West, eases the iconic property from yesterday’s Berlin to tomorrow’s.
Today’s incarnation of the regal townhouse peels back the layers of time, revealing the original brick walls, soaring ceiling and generous windows of the original home. 145 rooms and suites will exhibit individual design and grand proportions, while dramatic plays of scale will be evident throughout the hotel’s living room lobby, bar and restaurant. The crowning rooftop gives sweeping views across the city, with the hotel’s original sign hinting at its cinematic past. For two decades the hotel played host to an array of VIP’s during the annual Berlin International Film Festival. The dignified doors, that have seen the likes of Grace Kelly and Sophia Loren, will soon be ready to reopen.
Setting the Scene
As one of a handful of buildings that remained untouched during WWII, the team responsible for the re-design is intent on preserving its stately status. Under the direction of multi-disciplinary designer and Hollywood art director Dayna Lee (from New York and Los Angeles-based Powerstrip Studio) the hotel is undergoing a complete transformation. Careful restoration has left the bones and spirit of the former townhouse intact, with its preserved facade and expansive interior proportions maintained. Lee has translated old-world sophistication into a contemporary language, without losing any of the original character and charm.
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