The newly renovated Schwan Locke Hotel pays homage to the early German modernist movement known as the Deutsche Werkbund. The hotel was designed by UK-based design studio Fettle, who has successfully reinterpreted modernist principles to create an aesthetically pronounced and inviting hotel.
Reflecting on the modernists of the early twentieth century, the designers combine mass production with traditional craft to create a functional and minimally ornamented space. The hotel features 151 apartments, a lobby, a coffee shop, a bar, a gym, and lounging areas. The designers favored bright hues to decorate the guest spaces. Tones of red, blue, green, and yellow are found throughout the building and create a feeling of vibrancy and relaxation.
Modernist Mies van der Rohe's color palette inspired the design, while Wekbund artist Veronika Grenzebach's portraits are displayed throughout the hotel's public spaces.
Image Credit: Edmund Dabney & Lennart Wiedemuth
What's Driving This Trend
- Modernist Homage Hotels
- There is an opportunity to create hotels that pay tribute to modernist design principles like those found in the Schwan Locke Hotel.
- Bright Color Palettes
- Using bright and bold color palettes, like those seen in the Schwan Locke Hotel, can add vibrancy and relaxation to hotel spaces.
- Combining Mass Production with Traditional Craft
- There is room for innovation in combining mass production with traditional craft in hotel design, as seen in the Schwan Locke Hotel's interpretation of modernist principles.
Who This Affects Most
- Hospitality Industry
- Hotels can incorporate modernist design principles and bright color palettes to create visually appealing and inviting spaces.
- Design Industry
- Designers can draw inspiration from modernist principles and create functional, minimally ornamented spaces that incorporate traditional craft techniques.
- Art Industry
- Hotels can collaborate with artists to incorporate unique portraits or artworks into their public spaces, as seen in the Schwan Locke Hotel's use of Veronika Grenzebach's portraits.
