25 hours Hotel Hafencity

Hamburg’s Hafencity is one of the most ambitious urban construction sites in Europe.
A new district is emerging creating a lively city quarter, a microcosm of modern life where people come together, mingle, confer and celebrate. So it was the idea behind the new 25hours Hotel Hafencity, by Stephen Williams Associates and Böge Linder Architekten to give this new district a new “living room“ in the heart of the Hafencity.
In search of the right spirit, Markus Stoll, a storyteller for brands, interviewed 25 international sailors in the Seaman‘s Club Duckdalben in Hamburg. The seamen’s stories were illustrated by Jindrich Novotny and appear not only on wall surfaces but also in specially created log books in each room.
Conventional furniture replaced with built-in elements and a ‘travel trunk’ providing the visitor with all that they will require: information, log book, drinks, working space with writing instruments and electrical connections.
The rooms are cabinstyle suites and the business center is called the “Radio Room”.
The “Hafen Sauna” is on the rooftop built within a rusty container with panoramic views over the industrial harbour.
The “Vinyl room” is a state-of-art library offering a collection of records to be played on various turntables.
The ground floor, with discrete lobby, restaurant, bar and shop presents a comfortable version of harbour living, and is the hub of the hotel. It is a public space of inclusivity that invites guests or non-guests to stay and drop in.
Furniture chosen by Connie Kotte has the patina of years which makes it seem as this industrial space has been there forever.
Hapag-Lloyd, Hamburg’s well known shipping company kindly donated a shipping container which forms one of the conference rooms and overspill from the restaurant for larger groups.
The Heimat Küche  (Home Kitchen) + Bar is the restaurant of the hotel in an elegant industrial aesthetic. Warehouse shelves, rough wooden boxes, floor markings, stacks of oriental carpets and an eclectic range of maritime finds are not only decorative but usable storage space for this multifunctional room. The hotel opens in July 2012.