CONCEPT nhow Berlin hotel celebrates Berlin’s modern zeitgeist and connects it to the rest of the world by creating a technorganic land of data-driven art and spaces. Set on the Spree River, the old line between East and West Berlin, the nhow hotel bridges the digital age of information and the physical and spiritual needs of visitors. I always question whether the physical world is as experiential, as seductive, as connective, as inspiring, as customizable as the digital world. That is what I tried to achieve with nhow Hotel Berlin, by making a space that coexists with the infostethic world. The result is a music inspired hotel where sound is tactile, and a true immersive experience of color, texture, and vibrancy.
"NH Hotels is a large but really smart hotel chain. So when i created the nhow Hotel Berlin my objective was to create an original esoteric place (like Berlin itself) yet still pragmatic and fitting into the NH standards. My concept was to engage technology, fluidity, to speak about music, about diversity about eclecticism, but most importantly about the next wave of Berlin. I tired to address all the needs that are intrinsic to living in a simpler less cluttered, more sensual environment. I always question whether the physical world is as experiential, as seductive, as connective, as inspiring, as personalizable, and customizable as the digital world. That is what I tried to achieve with nhow Hotel Berlin by making a space that coexists with the data-driven digital infostethic world." Karim Rashid Public Areas: Lobby, Lounge, Restaurant Bar Guests are greeted by the dramatic reception desk; a sensuous sculpture is made of high gloss fiberglass with inset lighting. Backlit artwork by Karim Rashid fills the opposite wall. Rolling hill seating and lighting populates the entrance. The printed ceramic floor tiles provide dimension and texture, the pattern representing the transference of digital data that exists around us. The lobby flows into the nhow Berlin hotel bar and lounge, decked in twilight colors and soft curves. The soft language continues into the Karim designed furnishings. Another intimate lounge is separated from the main lobby by glass walls and projected artwork. The ceiling features a sculptural installation of almost molten plastic.
The omidirectional head made of gold lacquered fiberglass tops the bar creating a lavish statement. Seating areas composed of the voluptuous organic couches and chairs flank the bar. Custom wave banquettes mirror the ceiling sculpture above. The light filled restaurant’s pastel color palette was chosen because green shades aid digestion and light pink is soothing. The striking sculptures in the middle of the dining room serve as both Art & Object, Form & Function. Made of lacquered fiberglass and glass, the buffets serve breakfast and lunch and when not in use at night, act an art element. A sliding partition makes the space reconfigurable for private events. Communal tables bring together travelers and locals in a casual setting. Smaller tables offer a more intimate dining experience.
Meeting Rooms The nhow Berlin Hotel boasts 6 conference rooms, each with scrolling led signage announcing meeting and events. The Break-out area is an open plan space flexible for different functions and decorated with Karim Rashid original backlit artwork, Murano made lamps and sculptural benches. Hallways Energetic patterns in the form of wallpaper and carpets carry guests through the hallways to the guest’s rooms. Each floor features a different custom Digipop patterned elevator bank making every moment entertaining.
Guest Rooms A beautiful hotel embraces human needs, desires, and behaviors. Designed for comfort and positive energy, Karim thought of every detail to fulfill and creates new fantasies. The East Tower rooms feature a sunrise/sunset color scheme of warm golds and invigorating pinks. The West Tower Technolux rooms have cooler color schemes of grey, blue and pink. High aloft the hotel, the Upper towers have premium views of the Spree River, and are awash in calm colors, ideal for business traveler or peaceful get-away. In each guest room bold Digipop artwork serves as the bed headboard, imagery meant to inspire dreams. Underfoot the custom patterned flooring is made of printed recyclable wood laminate. Karim designed a two way mirror to hide the flat screen television when not in use. Remarkably, the mirror seems to morph into the chrome desk cantilevered from the wall. Leaving no detail unnoticed, the bathroom walls are white gradient glass allowing natural light in while still giving guests privacy. Playing to modern digital needs, guests can play their own tunes from an in room iPod dock and connect their laptop to the television. The lighting can be personalized to create different preset moods: work, play and relax. On premium rooms, a curved wall divider separates the bedroom from living area. An inset television rotates within the wall for viewing in bed or while lounging on the leather couch in the separate living room or working from the sculptural fiberglass desk. The spacious bathroom features a freestanding bathtub in custom colors, large glass showers, mosaic tile floors, double sinks and the luxury nhow Berlin amenities to pamper one’s self.
nhow music Suite The concept of the nhow Hotel Berlin was to make a space that coexists with the data driven digital infostethic world. Karim’s vision engages technology, visuals, textures, color, as well as all the needs that are intrinsic to living in a simpler less cluttered but more sensual environment. Design touches us on every level, and design can continue to define and shape our dimensional interior environments and create new progressive human behaviors and new languages. As a designer, Karim always questions whether the physical world is as experiential, as seductive, as connective, as inspiring, as personalizable, and customizable as the digital world. The nhow Berlin suite goes to those extremes by trying to physically create the digital data and electronic sounds floating around us. The intention was to make the Music Suite and recording studio a center of music and design culture. The two-level, 270sqm, suite features two living rooms, kitchen, dining room, working area, and three bathrooms. The floor to ceiling glass windows look out on to the 120sqm terrace, offering phenomenal views of the Spree. Designed as an event space the suite boasts a baby grand piano, music instruments on hand, projectors, and flat screen TVs. The bedroom has another private living area with swivel TV that can be seen from bed or couch. Shaded in silver, pink, gray and blues, the walls are patterned to invoke waves of music. nhow Berlin truely celebrates Berlin’s modern zeitgeist and connects it to the rest of the world by creating a technorganic land of data-driven art and spaces.
Façade Exterior and structural architecture were created by NP Tchoban Voss. Karim added his digital artwork to the glass catwalk connecting east and west wing. The catwalk takes advantage of river views and projects the hotel’s positive outlook outward.
