schmidt hammer lassen wins German hotel design competition

This competition is the third largest international competition won by shl in the first quarter of 2010.

The hotel complex is situated in the newly developed Schwabinger Tor area, along the northern part of the Leopoldstraße. The challenge in the competition was to bring the architectural characteristics of Munich into this new and modern part of the city. schmidt hammer lassen architects’ design concept has its origin in three themes: the analysis of the historical city with its arches, vaults and arcades; a close relation to the master plan with its boulevards, plazas and narrow streets; and a focus on human beings as well as the overall experience offered to the hotel guests.

Partner at schmidt hammer lassen architects Kim Holst Jensen says, “The arcade motif is well known in Munich and emphasizes the passage from a public plaza to the more private urban spaces. The arcade creates a semi-public space where people can sit and observe the urban life. We want to integrate this architectural feature into the ground floor level of the hotel.”

North and south of the building complex, two new urban plazas form natural entry points to the hotel and the conference center. The entrances are accentuated in the building design by two golden vaults.

The hotel rooms have been designed by integrating large luxurious bathrooms. The rooms are flooded with daylight and features visual connection to the outside greenery. According to Kim Holst Jensen, the use of daylight is a general theme throughout the building complex. It offers the hotel guests a unique experience and sets a whole new standard for high-end hotels in general.

The building facades with their poetic rhythm of vertical lamella and the open ground floor level add value to the urban spaces of the city. With reference to the Scandinavian architectural tradition of working with daylight, transparency and simplicity, schmidt hammer lassen architects has created an expressive building complex. shl has combined the classic values with a modern design to create a unique hotel with its own style.