The Art’otel by UK practice ADP Architecture has recently opened its doors in Amsterdam. This hotel and lifestyle venue blends design, art, and hospitality in a startling new way. Located opposite Amsterdam’s Central Station in a beautiful monumental office the Art’otel combines a unique architectural style with modern art inspired interiors. The transformation was the result of a collaboration of ADP architecture and Digital Space and provided the city centre with a new cultural hotspot.
The monumental building, dating from the early twentieth century had been one of the most expensive buildings built in Amsterdam at that time. A century later, however, it had become functionally and technically outdated. For the Art’otel the trick was to maintain and restore most of the exterior like the monumental facades and some monumental interior aspects while further completely renewing and renovating the interior.
ADP was responsible for the basics; the lay-out, structure and organization of the project. Their idea to use the building for cultural ends as well led them to change the building construction so to create a wide exposition area within the basement. Along with the restaurant, run by Lifestyle Venue 5&33, this part of the building is publically accessible.
The upper floors contain over a hundred high-end hotel rooms. These different parts of the building are thematically joint by the art of Atelier Van Lieshout, the signature artist of the Art’otel. “Enjoying art and the art of enjoying” is the theme that pulls everything together.
The Art’otel got awarded both the Best Hotel Design 2013 award and the Best Restaurant Design 2013 award.
all images © GERARD VAN BEEK