DOROTHEA HOTEL, BUDAPEST, HUNGARY

Posted in Projects on 14 July, 2024

Reimagining three historic buildings, Autograph Collection’s debut in Hungary blends local heritage with contemporary interpretation.

Housed across three historic buildings in Budapest’s iconic District V, the new hotel and residences are named after Archduchess Dorothea, an influential figure of the 1800s who significantly contributed to the city’s cultural and economic development alongside her spouse, Palatine Joseph. Evoking the charm of Hungary’s golden age, Dorothea Hotel invites guests and residents into an unexpected city centre sanctuary where the past seamlessly merges with the present. As part of Marriott Bonvoy’s global portfolio of over 30 different brands, Dorothea Hotel marks the Hungarian debut of the Autograph Collection brand.

Envisioned by acclaimed Italian architect and designer Piero Lissoni, Dorothea Hotel is a blend of architecture and interior design that honours both history and modernity. Bringing together three adjoining buildings – each with different stories, courtyards, and façades – into a single entity, Lissoni Casal Ribeiro (the architectural division of Lissoni & Partners Milan studio) aimed to balance restoration and innovation, working with local historic preservation experts to retain key elements from each era.

Envisioned by acclaimed Italian architect and designer Piero Lissoni, Dorothea Hotel is a blend of architecture and interior design that honours both history and modernity. Photographs by Tommaso Sartori

The three buildings were established in different periods, including the Weber building (1873), the former Neo-Renaissance headquarters of the United Budapest Metropolitan Savings Bank; the Mahart building (1913), the art nouveau former headquarters of the Hungarian River and Sea Shipping Company; and the Munnich building (1937), a modernist edifice with art deco and Bauhaus elements.

The architectural project reconfigures the roofs into a new piano nobile that can be used by hotel clients, residents, and the general public alike. The space opens out towards the city, offering unique views of this world heritage site, and with its clear contemporary expression overlaying the renovated historical façades, it truly represents this cosmopolitan city’s move towards modernity and innovation.

The historical context and the enhancement of important architectural features also serve as the starting point for the development of the hotel’s interior design, where the interpretative matrix is again contemporary, introducing unexpected and sometimes ironic elements. Upon arrival, guests are greeted by a stunning ornate ceiling and walls adorned with portraits by Hungarian art and fashion photographer Zoltán Tombor. The playful artwork features women in traditional attire with a modern twist, which extends throughout the hotel, interpreting local styles and customs in a modern key.

Above and below: Zoltan Tombor’s playful artwork is first seen as guests enter the hotel, large concrete bas-reliefs form the backdrop for the Lobby

Entering the reimagined reception space, guests are welcomed by a magnificent long-drop glass chandelier. The lobby is distinguished by large compositions of concrete bas-reliefs that reinterpret traditional Hungarian decorative patterning and by the heritage staircase standing against blue ceramic tiling, a contemporary interpretation of Zsolnay tiles.

The unification of different buildings necessitated working with varying heights, creating multi-height spaces or volumes with more intimate proportions. This architectural gesture extends into the very heart of the building, transforming the three small enclosures into a single courtyard of generous proportions featuring an all-season covered garden open to the rest of the city and offering a wonderful prospect for the rooms fronting onto it. To maintain the luminosity of the interior spaces, the façades overlooking the courtyard are entirely in glass, while perimeter balconies and vertical elements in wood offer protection and balance the influx of light with the need for privacy.

Each Autograph Collection hotel offers “The Mark” – an experience unique to the hotel. At this hotel, the inner courtyard features the Pavilon Restaurant & Bar, an airy, lush garden oasis where guests are surrounded by nature. Within Pavilon, guests can admire a succulent herb wall that pays tribute to Palatine Joseph, who had a deep fascination with botany. Helmed by Chef Carmine di Luggo, this restaurant brings a fresh take to dining in the city with locally sourced farm-to-table dishes. Fragrant and visual, the herb wall and plants provide inspiration and ingredients for the cocktails and dishes here and throughout the hotel’s dining venues.

Upstairs, Anton’s Bar & Deli offers an artisanal coffee experience alongside light bites and freshly baked pastries by day, while in the evenings it transforms into a dynamic bar and community space serving innovative cocktails. The Zsolnay tile inspiration from the lobby is again used here for the shingles in different shades of blue that line the counter, a space characterised by unholstered surfaces and wood panelling and by the chromatic contrasts of the furnishings.

Yet to launch are a further two restaurant openings this year helmed by three-Michelin-starred Chef Dani García: BiBo, an Andalusian Brasserie on the rooftop offering panoramic views of Buda, and Alelí, an authentic osteria from Italy on the ground floor.

Above and right: An atmospheric base palette contrasted with pops of colour and accented lighting is signature to Lissoni’s sleek style

The positive tension between cultural heritage and contemporaneity also defines the stylistic codes of the furnishings, materials, and objects in the area dedicated to the 216 rooms and suites, which are divided between those facing the outside and onto the city, which takes on a heritage design, and those overlooking the courtyard with a contemporary influence.

The contemporary guestrooms feature furnishings in a soft beige colour palette with pops of orange, beautifully contrasting with the dark wood flooring and peacock blue curtains. Alongside Tombor’s artwork, guests will see Budapest’s progression in history, with photos representing the city’s urban developments initiated by Palatine Joseph in the 1800s.

Located in the oldest Weber building, heritage guestrooms are identified by the doors with portraits of women from the 1800s, sourced from the Hungarian National Gallery. Inside these guestrooms, decorative cornicing wraps around the large neo-renaissance-styled windows, framing the soft furnishings with subtle floral embroidery inspired by local folk motifs. In an elegant light grey tone, heritage guestrooms offer four-poster canopy beds, a green velvet sofa, and black and white carpet juxtaposed with dark wood herringbone flooring.

The crown jewel atop the hotel is the Presidential Suite, a serene retreat with timeless décor, featuring a master bedroom with a walk-in closet, ensuite bathroom, sauna, living room, and dining area with a fully equipped kitchen. The sense of grandeur is elevated by 270-degree floor-to-ceiling windows and a generous wraparound terrace, offering breathtaking views across the city skyline – complete with a jacuzzi and lounge seating.

Wellness-loving guests can seek inner sanctuary at the Spa, complete with a swimming pool, sauna, steam room, and fitness centre, spanning a generous 650 square metres. Holistic body treatments, using Babor Cosmetics, can be enjoyed in the three treatment rooms, including a couple’s room.

“Each Autograph Collection hotel tells a truly unique story, and Dorothea Hotel, Budapest, Autograph Collection is a shining example of this, reflecting the rich history of Budapest through a refined and sophisticated lens. This new opening expands our portfolio of Autograph Collection Hotels into one of Europe’s most fascinating cities,” said Sandra Schulze-Potgieter, Vice President, Premium and Select Brands, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Marriott International. “From the revitalised historic architecture and storied guestrooms to a progressive dining experience and hidden spa, the hotel offers an authentic sense of place and an experience that invites guests to forge a meaningful connection with the destination.”

 

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