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MORE THAN A DECADE: REDESIGN OF THE 25HOURS HOTEL BIKINI BERLIN BY STUDIO AISSLINGER (Germany)
At the beginning of July, the team at the 25hours Hotel Bikini Berlin celebrated the hotel's eleventh birthday in the City West with over 1,000 guests. |
Category: Europe - Germany - Industry economy
- Renovation / Addition
This is a press release selected by our editorial committee and published online for free on Tuesday 29 July 2025
 Photo credit © 25hours Hotels
studio aisslinger was responsible for the further development of the design, just as it was eleven years ago.
All 22 Large Urban and Large Jungle rooms were given a completely new look. In line with the changed room concept, the bed has been moved to the centre of the room and, thanks to its frontal orientation, now offers unique views of the Tiergarten or City West. The bathtubs still function as Bluetooth speakers.
All Large Rooms also have their own library. This wooden capsule not only offers a cosy retreat and invites guests to read, relax and dream, it also underlines the 25hours Hotels’ connection to all things analogue.
Designer Werner Aisslinger explains how the new elements came about: “The 25hours Hotel Bikini is a cult location within Berlin and on the global hospitality scene because it has never lost its appeal and charisma as an unconventional creative hub. Even today, eleven years after it opened, there are still queues on the street every evening to get into Monkey Bar or the NENI restaurant on the 10th floor. Nevertheless, everyone involved is naturally keen to maintain this cult status and ensure that design optimisations and new concepts keep the hotel as unique and popular as ever. Our latest design interventions play with the contrast between the rough exterior of the building and the cosy corners that have been added. Innovative fabrics from JAB have been used, along with sustainable upcycled building materials such as natural bricks, upcycled cork and rattan, as well as mirrored surfaces that reflect the city and the Tiergarten into the rooms. Collaborations such as with MOROSO for the new Coworking Bikini Lounge and unexpected collectible Aisslinger design pieces such as a 4-metre-long lamp made of kilim carpets give the 25hours Hotel Bikini Berlin its beloved experience character.”
In addition to the changes to the Large Rooms, all Medium Rooms (Medium Jungle, Medium Urban, Medium Urban Twin) have also been renovated and fitted with a modern lighting concept. Light sources have been integrated into the mirrors and new swivel lamps have been installed. Special attention was paid to the renovation of the bathrooms.
In addition to new tiles and brighter but cosier lighting in the bathrooms, a unique upcycling project was carried out in collaboration with Kaldewei. For the first time in the history of the premium manufacturer of high-quality bathroom solutions, the hotel’s disused shower trays and bathtubs were recycled, technically and visually upgraded and then reinstalled in the renovated bathrooms of the 25hours Hotel Bikini Berlin.
There have also been fundamental changes in the public areas.
Francesca Schiano, General Manager of the 25hours Hotel Bikini Berlin since 2020 and actually the first employee of the Berlin hotel, is enthusiastic: “After eleven years, we were eager for something new and wanted to refresh the entire hotel. Besides the reading corners, the third floor is now my favourite place in the hotel. We have opened our Nomad Day Bar there. During the day, we offer healthy snacks such as breakfast bowls, salads, smoothies, juices and banana bread. In the evening, the cosy area around the corner from the reception is transformed into a wine bar in the heart of the neighbourhood. Here you can enjoy the pastrami sandwiches, which have been legendary since the birthday party, and other hearty snacks such as olives and baked goat’s cheese.”
The area, which is also popular with locals, is ideal as a co-working space during the day.
The large new community table and various work areas contribute to this. In the evenings, there is a cosy bar atmosphere with a fireplace and hammocks, offering a nice alternative to the lively atmosphere in the Monkey Bar on the tenth floor.
Monthly events are also planned, such as workshops, comedy nights, quiz nights, readings and concerts in small groups. Of course, the area can also be rented for various types of events.
About 25hours Hotels
25hours Hotels is part of Ennismore, a creative hospitality company rooted in culture and community, with a global collective of entrepreneurial and founder-built brands with purpose at their heart. Ennismore is a joint venture with Accor, which holds a majority shareholding.
Christoph Hoffmann, Kai Hollmann, Ardi Goldman and Stephan Gerhard were the founders and creative minds behind the 25hours brand, that was built from 2005 and today operates 17 hotels in prime European destinations like Hamburg, Berlin, Paris, Copenhagen and Florence as well as in the international metropolises of Jakarta and Dubai. 25hours is a smart, culturally resonant hotel idea characterized by provocative urban locations, irreverent yet functional aesthetic, and the romantic nostalgia of grand hotels. The brand focuses on individuality, authenticity and personality and, under the motto “If you know one, you know none”, designs each of its hotels with different designers and unique style. Sydney, Trieste, Trojena and Cairo are among the future destinations.
 Photo credit © 25hours Hotels
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