In the right hands, industrial minimalism imparts a pleasing aesthetic of layered textures and monochromatic hues, an ideal that Jonathan Tuckey Design has realised to great effect with its latest project – the creation of 23 new rooms on the fourth floor of Berlin’s Michelberger Hotel.
What was once redundant office space has been transformed, the London-based studio fully exploiting the high ceilings, steel beams and original open plan and oversized windows of the 1903 building to flood the bedrooms with light – the rectangular clerestories, especially, deserve applause.
Quirky touches abound, not least the odd placements of mirrors that create the illusion of other rooms, alongside slanted writing desks, slender benches and chairs made from Panzerholz – a compressed plywood that has a pleasing weathered, almost velvety veneer and which, oddly enough, is also bullet-proof. Both the beds and bathtubs are enclosed in floor-to-ceiling cutaway cabinets, their imposing bulk inspired by a railway signal box outside the hotel.
ADDRESS
Warschauer Str 39-40
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
Daven Wu is the Singapore Editor at Wallpaper*. A former corporate lawyer, he has been covering Singapore and the neighbouring South-East Asian region since 1999, writing extensively about architecture, design, and travel for both the magazine and website. He is also the City Editor for the Phaidon Wallpaper* City Guide to Singapore.
-
Togo's Palais de Lomé stages a sweeping new survey of West African design'Design in West Africa' in Lomé, Togo (on view until 15 March 2026), brings together contemporary designers and artisans whose work bridges tradition and experimentation
-
Vigilante’s 1979 Jeep Wagoneer features luxury trim, modern muscle and elevated stylingTexan restomod master Vigilante has created a new take on the classic Jeep Wagoneer, transforming the 1970s family SUV into a sleek, architectural powerhouse
-
Australian studio Cordon Salon takes an anthropological approach to designWallpaper* Future Icons: hailing from Australia, Cordon Salon is a studio that doesn't fit in a tight definition, working across genres, techniques and materials while exploring the possible futures of craft
-
Let’s go Deutsch – a date with Berlin’s new-wave dinersIn the German capital, the diner is being reinvented as a contemporary hub for cosmopolitan flavours, conviviality and near-Nora Ephron levels of delight
-
A luxurious new floating hotel redefines the European riverboat experienceQuietly cruising the Rhine, Main and Danube, new Hecker Guthrie-designed vessel Solara is the latest addition to the APT fleet
-
In the foothills of the Bavarian Alps, Chiemgauhof Lakeside Retreat elevates cabin-style charmArchitect Matteo Thun gives a masterclass in clean lines and traditional craftsmanship with this stylish German retreat in harmony with its surroundings
-
Hamburg’s new food court Le Big TamTam offers traditional flavours in an irreverent settingLe Big TamTam, designed by Studio Aisslinger, marks a new era in Hamburg’s hospitality-rich Hanse District
-
Inside MM:NT Berlin Lab, the new futuristic aparthotel captivating the tech-savvyWallpaper* spends two nights at the currently-on-trial MM:NT Berlin Lab, a digitally hosted escape for guests who value independence
-
Fire and salt fuel the new Beef Club eatery at Volkswagen’s AutostadtBeef Club, revamped by Ester Bruzkus Architekten, turns to fire and salt in its cooking as well as its interior inspiration
-
Hamburg’s Central Congress Bar is all about 1960s smoky boardroom glamourCentral Congress Bar in Hamburg offers an unconventional and retro respite from the working week
-
Rosewood Munich’s opulent elegance embraces its historic featuresRosewood Munich balances historic detailing with modern luxury to create a quiet German escape