Mamilla Hotel Jerusalem, Israel

The Mamilla Hotel is a quintessentially urban structure - contemporary to the core. It is one of the radically traditional city’s first experiences in contemporary design. Moshe Safdie, the architect who fashioned the hotel’s exteriors, is also behind the rest of the Alrov Mamilla project. His application of Jerusalem Stone emphasises the material’s characteristic shine. Municipal law enforces its use in order to maintain the city’s aesthetic traditions – Safdie revitalises these traditions, allowing the material to breathe naturally while gliding into its contemporary manifestation.

Once inside, Piero Lissoni takes over. “Jerusalem has a special energy, the feeling is so particular,” says Lissoni. “The light is very different to other parts of the world, and with the white stones, everything around is like a huge reflection.” The celebrated Italian designer was so deeply inspired by the city’s light, that he took it as the starting point of the interior design and plays with it throughout. It fills each space – from the lobby to each of the 194 guestrooms, and on to the Holistic Wellbeing Retreat, restaurants and bars – while at the same time defining its parameters. Floating metal staircases arch away from Safdie’s stone façades under sloping glass and steel ceilings as though they themselves are white beams of morning light. Lissoni’s signature minimalist aesthetic, which is welcomed into Jerusalem for the first time here, is contextualized by the heavily rusticated traditional stone.

Each room has hardwood floors, custom made Lissoni furniture paired with gorgeous local finds, and bathrooms featuring rectangular bathtubs selectively shielded by liquid crystal walls that frost over with the touch of a button for privacy.

At the Mamilla Rooftop outdoor lounge & restaurant, guests are invited to gaze out over the awe inspiring Old City, while enjoying Lissoni’s elegant, comfortable seating and welcoming, wood-panelled bar area. This comfort as well extends into the Mamilla Café, where guests can take pleasure in a more informal dining atmosphere. Its long Carrera marble table intended for communal dining, is balanced by the option of hiding away in the charming sofa terrace lounge. One of the hotel’s highlights is the Mirror Bar, in which guests can enjoy cocktails and traditional drinks in a softly lit, mirror lined room. The Espresso Bar at The Mamilla Hotel’s lobby welcomes locals for their pre-work coffee and chat, giving them a minute taste of the simple and refreshing style that seamlessly stirs traditional flavours in with unparalleled contemporary, international elegance. 

by Moshe Safdie
Piero Lissoni

BECKER´S Hotel & Restaurant Trier, Germany

Amidst the vineyards and rolling hills of Trier, one of the oldest cities in Europe, dating back to Roman times, Becker’s Hotel & Restaurant grounds itself both in nature and in a family tradition that goes back five generations. Through the use of natural materials such as stone and wood, the property appears as if it is almost nestled within its surroundings. Seen from the outside, the lobby glows through large-paned windows, while the building’s volcanic rock façade gives the impression of a warm hearth. Blocks of charcoal grey basalt form a recurring motif inside the hotel as well, their subtly varying patterns lending the design a dynamic yet truly classic timelessness. Yet Becker’s self-professed heart is its kitchen. Done in black and white, the restaurant it serves suggests a sophistication befitting a black-tie event or a white wedding, while the wine bar’s deeper, darker tones evoke a cosmopolitan night out. Here, too, are the ubiquitous basalt stones, but the simple rectangular shelving for the wine glasses adds a repetitive, almost artistic visual element to the room, perhaps citing the reserved dignity of a Donald Judd sculpture. In the guestrooms, the stones give way to finely patterned dark wood floors combined with the glow of low spot lighting. A simple pane of glass separates the dark tiled shower from the sleeping area, adding a hint of airiness to the otherwise earthy elements embodied in the hotel’s design. At Becker’s, German winecountry hospitality is writ large, but is certainly footnoted with a
sophisticated, modern touch.

Dipl.Des. Ingbert, Jutta Schilz, Andreas Bohr (design) and Hans Jürgen Stein (execution).

Cerês am Meer Hotel Binz, Germany

Located directly on the seaside in Binz, quite probably Rügen’s most famous resort town, CERÊS am Meer is a fine example of a contemporary climate-centric building perched on the liveliest spot of Binz’s beach promenade. Arguably the most varied and beautiful of the Baltic islands, Rügen is also Germany’s most popular island destination – and CERÊS infuses it with a cosmopolitan flair down to its smallest, handcrafted detail.

Architect and interior designer Moritz Lau-Engehausen made his unique vision a reality in an idyllic haven that is reduced, clear and modern, yet always captures the spirit of the sea as well as a certain sensuality. Utilising natural elements like striking smoked-oak wood parquet flooring and natural black stone from China in a soft neutral palette of anthracite, black, white and platinum, the resort’s 50 elegant, airy rooms and suites are governed by a generous use of space. Here, French windows are a sweeping four metres high and expansive king-size beds are dressed in luxurious white linens. Each room also has a balcony or terrace that showcases a panoramic view of the island’s velvety white sand beaches long “sea bridge” pedestrian dock that juts into the glistening blue water. It’s as if the Caribbean has been transplanted to northeastern Germany.

Water is also the central theme in the SENSO SPA, whose luxurious treatments focus on the element in all its forms and temperatures. The restaurant, NEGRO, also picks up on the aquatic theme. It, along with the roof terrace, offers spectacular seaside views, and the lounge makes for a lovely respite, but perhaps the most unusual vantage point lies at the hotel’s apex, in a spectacular glass cupola perfect for night time stargazing from the tower suite it tops. After all, CERÊS is named after a small black star discovered 205 years ago. With its immaculate charm and classical lines, the Baltic’s new star is a veritable love letter to purity, as well as Germany’s ultimate seaside experience.

Cerês am Meer Hotel was developed by the family-run business known as Dr. Ing. F. Porsche AG. Yes, the same Porsche that is famous for its luxury sports cars. The hotel was envisioned as a way to extend the Porsche brand's commitment to quality, design, and attention to detail beyond the automotive industry. Dr. Ing. F. Porsche AG is known for its strong focus on craftsmanship and excellence, and this is reflected in Cerês am Meer Hotel. The hotel was designed to offer a unique and luxurious experience for guests, blending modern architecture with elegant interiors. Attention to detail and high-quality materials can be seen throughout the hotel, aligning with the values of the Porsche brand. Each room and suite features carefully selected furnishings and amenities, creating an atmosphere of refined luxury.

Mr Moritz Lau-Engehausen