Park Plaza Hotels Europe has announced plans for their seventh art’otel, due to open in Cologne 2008. Construction of the hotel begins this autumn in the city’s midtown Reinau Port development which will also comprise private housing, a leisure centre and sports facilities after its extensive 217,000 square-metre regeneration.
Situated opposite the city’s famous Chocolate Museum on Holzmarkt Strasse, the hotel will offer 210 guestrooms, restaurant and bar, outdoor terrace, meeting rooms, fitness centre and private car parking. Being positioned along the Rhine river, the hotel will afford picturesque views of the river and the architectural landscape that includes the museums and attractions of Colognes Old Town.
The unique setting on the waterfront has attracted prominent architects and designers to the area to such an extent that the City Council decided to hold a competition whereby several architects were invited to submit their designs for the new art’otel contract.
As tradition with the art’otel concept – developed by brand custodian Mr Dirk Gaedeke – one artist’s work will be featured throughout the hotel and a young Korean-born lady, known only as SEO, has already been selected. SEO is a master pupil of German artist Georg Baselitz – whose work is featured at the company’s art’otel berlin mitte – and despite her young age, has already achieved international acclaim with inspiring, intensive combinations of European and Asian traditions.
art’otel cologne will be the sixth art’otel in Germany for Park Plaza Hotels Europe, joining those in Dresden, Berlin (3) and Potsdam and art’otel budapest in Hungary. The company have aggressive plans to expand their art’otel collection, with projects soon to be announced in Amsterdam, Vienna and London.
The art’otel brand was recently placed in the top 10 PWC lifestyle hotel brands. The art’otel concept is a 4 star-deluxe hotel featuring modern design and original artwork from a famous local artist.
Report by Chitra Mogul
