Finalist Hotel Design Award 2023: Wilmina

𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮
Location: Berlin, Germany
Owner: 2. Jeonie GmbH & Co. KG
Operator: Wilmina GmbH
Project Developer: 2. Jeonie GmbH & Co. KG
Architects: Grüntuch Ernst Architects
Interior Designer: Grüntuch Ernst Architects
Type of business / Category: City hotel, Boutique Hotel, Design Hotel
Construction period: 100 months
Number of rooms: 44
The Berlin 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗮 is part of a 19th-century justice ensemble under preservation order. On Kantstraße, the former women's prison remained inaccessible for decades, hidden inside the block of houses. From the street, only the former district court in the front building can be seen, which has been given a new lease of life as an art and cultural space under the name Amtsalon. A new penthouse floor was added to the four existing levels. In the cell wing, several of the former prison cells were connected and converted into comfortable hotel rooms. To provide a view, the small cell windows were extended downward, while the grilles in the upper window section were retained. The former sluice yard was converted into a restaurant hall, and the existing urban wilderness in the central garden courtyard was complemented by a landscaped perennial garden and green roof areas. The concept aims for sustainable use of materials and follows the overarching strategy of preserving authentic traces of the past throughout the building to create spaces for the present. 44 guest rooms were created from the former prison cells: they range from sleeping bunks (11 square meters) to the Garden Loft (75 square meters), located in the former meeting room. All guest rooms combine historical authenticity with modern comfort and offer soothing retreats through light colors, soft textures and warm, high-quality materials.

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It was great experience to visit here!