Berlin, Germany – January 7, 2014 – The historic HOTEL AM STEINPLATZ celebrated its opening following an extensive restoration, representing the first Autograph Collection hotel to open in Germany. Originally designed by August Endell, architect of Berlin’s celebrated Hackesche Höfe complex, HOTEL AM STEINPLATZ has captivated passers-by since its completion. With its striking olive-green facade, arched windows reminiscent of Moorish architecture and extraordinary stucco features, the building is a local landmark in the elegant residential area around Charlottenburg’s Savigny-Platz.
“Meeting the requirements of a distinguished and modern luxury hotel in a landmarke building was an exciting challenge. We worked closely with art historians and architectural preservationists during the project,” explains the architect in charge, Claudia Dressler. “And it was also enormously valuable to have the hotel founder’s daughter, now over 90 years of age, The building first opened as a luxury hotel in 1913 and soon took its place in Berlin’s cultural timeline. Following the October Revolution, many Russian aristocrats and intellectuals occupied the stately suites, while the hotel became a meeting point for prominent Berliners and travelers such as Vladimir Nabokov and Zarah Leander. During the Second World War, it was business as usual at the hotel, albeit in an improvised fashion – complete with tomato patches on the roof and a herd of goats in the courtyard.
1950 saw the opening of the voguish basement bar, when Steinplatz became a rendezvous and private stage for artists, actors and intellectuals. Literary greats such as Heinrich Böll and Günter Grass, as well as film stars like Brigitte Bardot and Romy Schneider were regular guests.
Throughout its 84 individually designed guestrooms, one Junior Suite and two Spa Suites, the hotel boasts exceptional interior design: a contemporary interpretation of 1920s flair, with a particular focus on natural materials. RESTAURANT AM STEINPLATZ sources the finest regional products to create classic Berlin dishes conceived by Michelin-starred chef, Stefan Hartmann, while offering a fresh interpretation of German cuisine. This philosophy is also reflected in BAR AM STEINPLATZ, which offers classic cocktails, as well as its own unique recipes using spirits produced in Berlin. On the top floor is SPA AM STEINPLATZ, offering spectacular views over the city’s rooftops.
WEST BERLIN’S RENAISSANCE
The re-opening of HOTEL AM STEINPLATZ comes as a milestone in West Berlin’s current renaissance. After years of hype over East Berlin districts, the focus is gradually changing direction. A stroll around the neighborhood, for example, will take you past the new home of the C/O Gallery for contemporary photography in Hardenberg-Strasse. You will brush shoulders with lifestyle journalists in Giro Coffee Bar and pass students from the University of the Arts on their way to their ateliers.
Located within a short distance of the Deutsche Oper, Tiergarten park, and KaDeWe, “The Department Store of the West”, HOTEL AM STEINPLATZ is both a living witness to a fascinating past, as well as a modern icon in the metropolis of Berlin.
Introduced in 2010, the vision behind the Autograph Collection is to offer an evolving group of passionately independent hotel experiences ranging from a 15-room boutique hunting lodge in the mountains of Colorado to a 19th century neoclassical palace in the majestic city of Prague. Exactly like nothing else, each hotel is thoughtfully chosen for its quality, originality, bold character and capacity to offer today’s modern traveler a range of unique experiences suited to their individual sense of style and adventure. While still relatively new, the distinct portfolio has proven to be a highly successful venture due to its discerning selection process and unique ability to create memories through enriching travel experiences.
