Design Hotels Presents Its Newest Member Hotel. The George Hamburg

• 
  SAVE
• 
  SHARE
• 
  TEXT SIZE
• 
  PRINT
• 
  COMMENT
• 
  PDF

. October 14, 2008

OCTOBER 9, 2008. The George, the newest member of Design HotelsTM, will open in November in Hamburg, Germany. Bringing a "New British Style" and attitude with a decidedly modern and light-hearted twist to English tradition and design, the 125-room hotel transports the best of a bygone era into our own.

Inspired by the tradition-rich social clubs of England, The George offers handsome spaces in which to socialise and lounge. However, membership is not required and all of its public spaces are open to both hotel guests, as well as neighbourhood locals. Among the venues are a library, a restaurant with attached English garden, a rooftop terrace, two clubrooms as well as a lounge and bar. What's more: each is available for private hire.

A tour through The George is like a stroll through London: inspiring and visually varied. Hotelier Kai Hollmann, who already counts Hamburg's Gastwerk Hotel and the 25hours Hotel to his repertoire, realised a design concept that exudes a dynamic yet understated urban elegance. Exotic influences dating back to colonial times make a striking contrast to modern classics. Indian saris are colourful highlights as bedspreads, while an oriental Marrakech style reigns in the spa. In the Library, modern interpretations of Chesterfield furniture, cosy niches as well as lavish carpets give the space a clubroom feel.

Located in Hamburg's St. Georg district, The George is a mirror of its neighbourhood: charming, cosmopolitan and lively. Trendy boutiques, restaurants and street cafes have settled in, attracted by the unpolished, avant-garde flair of this blossoming quarter.

New British Style

Designers like Terence Conran, Kit Kemp and Paul Smith have given a fresh new look and attitude to classic English style. Inspired by this contemporary approach with a traditional core, Hollmann brings the "New British Style" to Hamburg.

The interiors are welcoming, modern and low-key. The primary design scheme in black and white is softened with spots of colour, pattern and warm dark woods. Heavier elements are skilfully balanced with gauzy fabrics, glass and an intelligent lighting design. Craftsmanship also plays an important role in the interior design and handmade fabrics, carpets and unique pieces were personally sourced by Hollmann during his travels. "The bespoke woodwork and one-of-a-kind objects underscore the individuality and personality of the hotel. We want to provide an experience for our guests and not just a place to eat or sleep," states Hollmann.

Please Do Not Disturb - Private Hire

Similar to British social clubs, each of the public rooms are available for private hire - whether for a business meeting, a birthday celebration or product launch. Bar DaCaio is outfitted with soft leather chairs and a custom woodwoorked bar from which a fine selection of martinis and whiskeys are served. The restaurant by the same name specialises in reinterpretations of classic Mediterranean dishes combined with top-notch wines. A private dining room may also be booked. The Library is a fine and cosy room with inviting niches and deep armchairs. Two separate clubrooms are equipped for private business meetings. Alternatively, the rooftop spa with terrace impresses with fascinating views.

The Guestrooms

The 118 impeccably dressed guestrooms, five junior suites and two suites are distributed over seven floors. The design theme is carried through in the rooms where understatement and comfort prevail. Visual appeal and variety is ensured by differing night tables and lampshades as well as champagne-hued walls that set off the vivid sari bedspreads. Each room and suite is outfitted with modern technology (like flatscreen TV's and iHomes).

The Maker

Kai Hollmann is an integral part of Hamburg's hotel scene. With the Gastwerk Hotel Hamburg, the German Hotelier of the Year in 2003 created a milestone in industrial design. He later defined the trend of "affordable style" with the 25hours Hotel Hamburg. As shareholder in the 25hours Hotel Company, Hollmann also operates the Goldman 25hours Hotel in Frankfurt. All properties are members of Design HotelsTM.