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STEP INSIDE DESIGN HOTEL'S BOLD NEW HEADQUARTERS (Germany)
With a visionary design by the young Berlin-based studio RHO, Design Hotels unveils its new headquarters in an evolving district of the German capital. |
Category: Europe - Germany - Exclusive experiences
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This is a press release selected by our editorial committee and published online for free on Thursday 18 September 2025
 Photo credit © Design Hotels
Following 30 years at the office where Design Hotels was first established, the brand is ushering in a fresh chapter with new headquarters. Envisioned by RHO, a young Berlin-based design and architecture studio, the new space embodies Design Hotels’ ethos by supporting local emerging talent and championing innovative, sustainable ways of working.
"Our new headquarters is more than just a place to work—it’s a space that reflects the spirit and values of Design Hotels in every detail," says Stijn Oyen, Managing Director of Design Hotels.
"RHO understood our vision from the start, translating it into a stunning environment that inspires creativity and fosters connection for our team and the wider Design Hotels community."
The new headquarters is located on the top floor of AXIS, a dynamic, newly constructed urban hub in a former industrial area near Berlin’s Ostkreuz train station—a place that reflects not only the creativity and growth of Design Hotels but also the city it calls home. Five-meter-high ceilings and full height windows offer 360-degree views of the city providing a monumental setting for RHO’s bold design approach.
The headquarters are structed into four primary zones—a central community area, dedicated office space, cafeteria and creative studio—all defined by hybrid topologies, mixing open and enclosed areas to foster contemporary, agile, and dynamic workflows and processes.
The community area acts as the first point of welcome, featuring a floating reception desk, a Ligne Roset Asmara modular sofa, an immersive freestanding meeting room, and a raised podium with furniture at varied seating levels to support informal communication, collaboration, and focused work.
These spaces can be activated according to the need, with Kvadrat fabric curtains able to create a sense of intimacy for smaller community events or yoga sessions.
To one side of this space is the dedicated open plan office, divided by enclosed spaces including meeting rooms with Andreu World conference tables and Vipp chairs, telephone boxes, and think tank cabins. A custom designed, hand-crafted kitchen connects to an outdoor terrace with vetsak seating, separated from the office by a glass wall. These communal kitchens act as a space for cooking and socializing.
On the opposite side of the communal zone is the creative soul of the office: the Design Hotels Creative Studio. Here, a flowing space is defined by a central workshop table, rotating pinboards that double as permeable room dividers, and a wellbeing room equipped with a chaise lounge and meditative Shanti Chair by Inner Design.
Across all spaces, industrial looking Marset and Sammode lighting illuminate work areas. Sculptural moss-based artworks by Lilo Klinkenberg also bring an air of calm. These organic artworks infuse spaces with plant life and appear in harmonious dialogue with the color scheme, which contrasts neutral tones with carefully selected earthy colors including terracotta and matcha green.
While working on the project, RHO also considered sustainable practices, one of Design Hotels’ core values. Certain existing furniture and interior objects were reinterpreted and integrated into the new space, extending their lifespan and reducing waste.
Natural materials, such as linoleum, wood, and textiles, offer both durability and a reduced ecological footprint, and recycled materials also play an important role—most notably in EGE carpets made from yarn that includes regenerated fibers sourced from discarded fishing nets. Plus, a smart, energy-efficient cooling and heating system automatically adapts to the building’s occupancy and environmental conditions, ensuring year-round comfort while reducing energy use.
“Our goal was to create a workspace that reflects Design Hotels’ values—visionary, flexible, and deeply rooted in human connection,” says Nikita Marykov, co-founder of RHO.
“Every spatial element is crafted to foster creativity and interaction. We also wanted to create a cohesive visual and tactile experience that conveys the atmosphere of the space. It embraces timelessness—not chasing trends but quietly withstanding them—resulting in an environment that is stable, adaptable, and built to endure.”
Following nine months of construction and design, the resulting headquarters is more than a place of functionality; it is a space that offers a human-centered approach to design, that inspires the people within it, and that supports evolving ways of working and collaborating. Design Hotels has inhabited the new headquarters since July 21, 2025.
About Design Hotels
For 30 years, Design Hotels has been at the forefront of a movement in travel by crafting a handpicked portfolio of 300+ independently owned and operated hotels in over 50 countries. From cultural hubs in fast-paced cities to tiny off-the-beaten-path escapes, each hotel reflects the vision of its pioneering owner—or “Original”—who possesses a passion for genuine hospitality, cultural authenticity, thought-provoking design, and architecture.
More than a collection of hotels, Design Hotels brings forward-thinking member hotels insightful travel industry expertise—from trend forecasting and creative consultancy, to PR, marketing, and global sales representation.
Design Hotels is headquartered in Berlin, with branches in London, Los Angeles, New York, and Singapore. In 2019, the company partnered with Marriott Bonvoy, expanding the reach of its member hotels and offering its community access to the industry’s leading loyalty program
About Marriott International
Marriott International, Inc., (Nasdaq: MAR) is based in Bethesda, Maryland, USA, and encompasses a portfolio of nearly 9,300 properties across more than 30 leading brands in 144 countries and territories. Marriott operates, franchises and licenses hotel, residential, timeshare, and other lodging properties all around the world. The company offers Marriott Bonvoy, its highly awarded travel program.
 Photo credit © Design Hotels
 Photo credit © Design Hotels
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