karim rashid: nhow hotel berlin

'my vision engages technology, visuals, textures, color, as well as all the needs that are intrinsic
to living in a simpler less cluttered but more sensual environment. design touches us on every level,
and design can continue to define and shape our dimensional interior environments and create
new progressive human behaviors and new languages. I always question whether the physical world
is as experiential, as seductive, as connective, as inspiring, as personalizable, and customizable
as the digital world. that is what I tried to achieve with nhow hotel berlin by making a space that
coexists with the data-driven digital infostethic world.' - karim rashid

junior suite, pink


each of the guestrooms are designed for comfort and distilling positive energy in hotel visitors.
rooms in the hotel's east tower feature a sunrise / sunset color scheme of warm golds and bold,
rejuvenating pinks. the west tower technolux rooms have cooler color schemes consisting of greys,
blues and pinks. high aloft the hotel, the upper towers have prime views of the spree river.



standard room, blue


in each guest room displays bold digipop artwork which serve as the bed headboard.
the custom patterned flooring is made of printed recyclable wood laminate.
within, karim has designed a two way mirror to hide the flat screen television when not in use,
and seems to morph into a chrome desk that is cantilevered from the wall.

in premium rooms, a curved wall divider separates the bedroom from the living area.
inset is a television that rotates within the wall for viewing in bed or while lounging
on the leather couch in the separate living room, or working from the desk.

nhow room bed


bathroom walls are executed in a white gradient glass, allowing natural light to flood the space
while still providing privacy. bathrooms also feature freestanding bathtubs in custom colors,
with large glass showers, mosaic tile floors and double sinks. lighting can be personalized to
create different preset moods: work, play and relax.



standard room bath and shower



suite bedroom guitar



suite livingroom



reception


hotel guests are greeted in the lobby by a visually engaging reception desk.
the sensuous sculpture is made of a high gloss fiberglass with inset lighting.
on the opposite wall, a one way mirror glows with global locations and times of a digital world clock.
in front of the clocks is a field of rolling hill seating and lighting populating the entrance.
the printed ceramic floor tiles provide dimension and texture, the pattern representing the
transference of digital data that exists around us.



nhow bar envy


the nhow bar envy is a continuation of the lobby. its omnipresent and omnidirectional head
made of gold lacquered fiberglass atop the bar, create a lavish statement. the seating areas
are composed of curvaceous organic and ergonomic couches and lounge chairs flank the bar.
a custom wave banquettes mirror the ceiling sculpture above, sheer custom curtains printed
with a digipop pattern act as artwork coloring the views of the iconic view of spree river.



hotel restaurant


the hotel's restaurant has a pastel color palette whose shades of green are meant to aid in digestion.
the ceiling is punctuated by organic shaped lighting fixtures which illuminate the dining space.



restaurant


striking sculptures in the middle of the room serving both as art & object and form & function.
these pieces are made from fiberglass and glass serving breakfast and lunch,
and when not in use at night, stand simply as artistic elements within the room.
communal tables bring travelers together with locals in a casual setting.



breakfast area



restaurant details



lobby lounge


the lounge features twilight colors and soft colors resulting in a sensual mood.
an LED sculpture which reads 'freedom' acts as a backdrop to the space.
the lobby lounge is separated from the main lobby by glass walls and projected artwork.
the ceiling houses a sculptural installation of molten plastic with recessed lighting
embedded within, giving of a dynamic glow.



music lounge



sound studio digital sslboard (solid state logic board)



meeting lounge



seven star gallery




ground floor plan

1 - lobby
2 - rreception
3 - back office
4 - elevator vestibule
5 - coat check room
6 - men's restroom
7 - women's restroom
8 - handicapped restroom
9 - lobby lounge
10 - private lobby lounge
11 - bar / lounge
12 - breakfast restaurant
13 - kitchen
14 - conference and spa entrance
15 - meeting room - designtopia 1
16 - meeting room - designtopia 2
17 - meeting room - infosthetics
18 - conference break-out area
19 - conference - organomics
20 - backup room
21 - terrace



nhow berlin



up close of the exterior

project info:

name of project: nhow hotel
principal use: 303-room hotel plus nhow suite (304 total) & recording studio, conference facilities,
bar, restaurant and wellness center (spa & gym)
client: NH hotels
floor area: guestrooms: 304 rooms; reception/ Lobby: 500 sqm; conference facilities: 1000 sqm; 
outdoor terraces: 1000 sqm; nhow suite: 250 sqm with 115 sqm terrace; recording studio: 100 sqm;
dining & bar lounge: 500 sqm; 2 levels of wellness center: 450 sqm
construction period: februrary 2008 - november 2010
team:
karim rashid - designer
camila tariki, karim rashid inc. - project managers
kamala hutauruk, cece stellies, julie lee and evan mccullough - project architects
jana zschuppe - NH project manager
nippon development corporation - developer
NP tschoban voss - building architects
BAM deutschland AG - general contractor