Metropolitan eclecticism
The Château Royal Hotel in Berlin
The Château presents itself as an eclectic world for cosmopolitans. © Felix Brueggemann
The Château Royal – a name chosen by the trio of owners associated with the Grill Royal restaurant – asserts itself as an eclectic world for cosmopolites and art-loving, metropolitan flâneurs. Art, gastronomy, style and Berlin flair are reflected in the design concept for the interiors, which Irina Kromayer, working with Etienne Descloux and Katariina Minits, has executed as a bourgeois-bohemian cosmos.
Vintage pieces bring a personal touch to the interior. © Felix Brueggemann
The existing structures
David Chipperfield Architects have joined a new building to the existing structures and placed an addition on the roof. The changes in level and various architectural styles led to an adventurous combination of layouts: the 93 rooms have 26 different designs featuring oriels, corridors, niches and stairways.
Not only have the buildings from 1850 been sunken by several metres and the two old structures expanded by a two-storey rooftop addition to enable a greater number of rooms. Some areas, including the facade and stairwells, are historically protected. The sisal carpeting so typical of Berlin, a metal ceiling grid that cleverly conceals the technical installations, and the wall-hung glass cases displaying small works of art elegantly accompany guests to their rooms.
A revised version of Erich Diekmann’s Bauhaus chairs. © Felix Brueggemann
Berlin flair
What interior designer Irina Kromayer has accomplished with Etienne Descloux and Katariina Minits is certainly impressive: a warm, occasionally velvety interior with extensive dark wood, coloured marble, tin and craquelé tiles pays homage to Berlin from as it was at the turn of the twentieth century. It is thus fitting that each of the 93 rooms has its own floor plan and character.
Oak built-ins are reminiscent of the integrated cupboards of classic old buildings in West Berlin. © Felix Brueggemann
Interior
Apart from a few exceptions, the Château Royal possesses no furniture or lighting fixtures from large manufacturers or familiar designers. Rather, the creative team sourced vintage pieces that give the interior a personal touch. According to Kromayer, they even bought remnants of hand-painted French wallpaper and a bundle of Oriental rugs.
Blue craquelé tiles contrast with red marble. © Felix Brueggemann
Art
More than 100 works of art have been distributed throughout the entire hotel, ranging from Karl Holmqvist’s neon creations in the kitchen to wallpaper by Thomas Demand in the guest rooms and fireplace room. “Guests should feel comfortable and not even begin to wonder what belongs to which period”, says Irina Kromayer. “Our target group values a beautiful chair in a hotel room more than a large flatscreen TV.”
Read more in Detail 3.2023 and in our databank Detail Inspiration.
Architecture: David Chipperfield Architekten
Client: Müller-Spreer AG
Location: Berlin (DE)
Interior design: Irina Kromayer, Etienne Descloux, Katariina Minits
Art concept: Kirsten Landwehr, Krist Gruijthuijsen
Gallery
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