Leather, wine, relationships: these are only some of the things that get better with time.
The statement also applies to the furnishings in the newly added suites at The Michelberger hotel in Berlin.
“In the hotel industry, it is common for rooms to be updated every five years due to wear and tear,” explains architect Rob Leechmere of London-based Jonathan Tuckey Design, who worked on the project. “That the materials we chose should mature and get better with time, rather than worse, was central to our investigations.”
The interiors, spacious yet homey, feature custom-designed furniture by the firm, with a rustic palette of beige, cream, grey, and dark and bleached wood. “A proportion of these have been made from Panzerholz,” says Leechmere. “The natural resins secreted by the wood during manufacturing give the material an aged and lasting appearance.”
Fun fact: Panherolz is also bullet-proof, developed to be used in tank armour, says Leechmere.
Terrazzo flooring feature in the bathroom area, while parts of the room are inspired by the train station outside. “The window furniture, such as the window bench and dressing area console, are based on a beautiful Signal Box, which is part of the S-Bahn (metro railway) in front of the hotel on Warchauer Stresse.”
First opened in 2009, The Michelberger hotel sits within a former industrial building dating back to 1903, which then served as a lighting factory. It was recently revamped with the addition of 23 new rooms on the fourth floor.
“The client originally approached us with only practical requirements. However, we understood they preferred natural-feeling materials, muted colours, and a minimalist aesthetic,” says Leechmere. “There were no specific style constraints, other than an aversion to overtly historical references and anything overly decorative.”
Simple yet thoughtful, the suites easily lend themselves to being homes away from home.
See more: Home Away From Home: Inside the Kimpton Saint George in Toronto
