Gallery ︎︎︎
Hotel M
Designing impactful urban interventions“Our approach to Hotel M is akin to acupuncture in architecture: with precise, deliberate interventions, we refine the urban fabric to enhance its inherent vitality and character.”
Dietmar Leyk, principal and founder
In our approach to "Hotel M," we find ourselves engaged in a dialogue with the unique urban tapestry of Berlin’s Pfefferberg district. This historical industrial neighbourhood, known for its multifaceted character, presents both a challenge and an opportunity to infuse new life into its fabric. The project occupies a slender 6-meter-wide, 22-meter-high void—a space bordered by a formidable fire wall. Our design responds to this context with a conceptual precision that aims to respect and enhance the existing environment.
Our intervention is a deliberate act of architectural articulation. By precisely duplicating the profile of the fire wall and shifting this replica 6 meters into the void, we introduce a new layer of spatial interaction. This manoeuvre is not merely a structural adjustment but a thoughtful gesture that acknowledges and complements the heterogeneous nature of the area.
The façade of this new layer is enveloped in a finely divided grid of black aluminium. This choice of material is not incidental but rather a strategic decision that serves multiple functions. The black aluminium, with its reflective properties and subtle texture, engages in a dynamic interplay with light and shadow throughout the day. This play of light is not just an aesthetic consideration but a mechanism for creating a continuously evolving visual experience.
Moreover, the depth of the façade plays a crucial role in defining the spatial experience of Hotel M. It functions as a protective shield, offering a sense of privacy and seclusion for guests while simultaneously engaging with the public realm. This approach ensures that the private nature of the hotel is preserved without isolating it from the lively commercial context of the Pfefferberg district.
In essence, Hotel M is conceived as a deliberate addition to a historically charged urban context, where the interplay of architectural elements and materials serves to enhance both the private experience of its occupants and the broader character of the neighbourhood. Through this project, we seek to harmonise the new with the old, creating a space that is at once distinct and integrated, intimate and open.