KIMPTON DE WITT, AMSTERDAM, HOLLAND

Posted in Projects on 12 June, 2017

Kimpton De Witt, Amsterdam is the brand’s first luxury venture outside the Americas and has been slated as one of this year’s most highly-anticipated hotel openings. SPACE’s Tonje Odegard had a closer look at the spanking new property to see how the chic hotel fits in with the uber cool canal city…

Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, an IHG hotel and one of the US’ leading luxury boutique brands, chose the heart of Amsterdam as the location for its European debut, and knowing Kimpton’s signature style, the Dutch capital is perfect for it. Kimpton’s bold and playful design naturally blends in with central Amsterdam’s effortlessly cool, relaxed and creative atmosphere.

The hotel has a spirited edge, which is immediately evident from the striking wall of vibrant florals and botanicals trailing the entrance, to the blue Delft-inspired tiles paving the bathroom floors. Located only steps away from Amsterdam’s Central Station, the hotel is a short bike ride away from the independent art galleries, antique shops and courtyard gardens of the trendy Jordaan neighbourhood.

The 274 guest rooms all have a thoughtfully curated design that both honours local heritage and has a playful edge. Set within three original buildings combined by late 20^th century construction and architecture from the Dutch Golden Age, in the Palace Quarter neighbourhood, even the location is the perfect mix of contemporary flair and rich history.

Among the 274 guest rooms are nine signature suites and ‘a house within the hotel’, the Little House, which was once the childhood home of renowned Dutch playwright P.C. Hooft.

Kimpton De Witt also houses three dining outlets, a top-notch fitness centre, its own flower shop and an interior open-air courtyard.

Mike Robinson, General Manager of Kimpton De Witt said: “We’ve been busy immersing ourselves in the fun-spirited and vibrant culture of this amazing city. Amsterdam is the perfect fit for our first hotel in Europe – it embodies the style, flavour and fun spirit of our brand perfectly. Our personal service and bold design will resonate well with this diverse, open-minded and fashion-forward city.”

The design

Transforming the old historic buildings with her creative approach, marrying the old and the new, and interlocking modern luxury and historical elegance is Kimpton’s Global SVP of Design & Creative Director, Ave Bradley.

For each new project, Bradley prefers not to have any preconceptions and likes to let the building, the neighbourhood and the market shape the vision for the design, which allows a story to develop naturally.

For Kimpton De Witt, Bradley’s goal was to effortlessly marry the late 20^th century building with the three original buildings from the Dutch Golden Age, while honouring the rich cultural and design heritage of Holland with a modern and playful twist.

This is in line with Bradley’s approach to design, which is to weave in something that is sweet, ethereal, unexpected, charming and soft that will catch the eye and invite the viewer to immerse themselves in the visual landscape of the space. Working with the late 20^th century industrial, brutalist building and the refined architectural details that style brings with it, Bradley wanted to soften the design by incorporating interactive and botanical features. This is seen in the living wall at the hotel’s entrance, the swings in the courtyard and movable furniture.

Public Areas

The lobby is a bright and spacious area, given loads of natural light through its several floor-to-ceiling windows. The crisp white walls are a stark contrast to the Delft-inspired floor tiles. Contemporary art adorn the walls, giving the room character and personality, while the stylish and modern mid-century furniture gives the comfort a lobby needs. An artistic function is given to the lighting with the intriguing use of it, especially on the walls.

Accommodation

The bedrooms embody the spirit of the modern collector, and are filled with unexpected yet refined touches such as fun interpretations of classic Dutch art, custom-made beautifully crafted desks, quirky Atelier Areti bird bedside lamps that reflect their glow onto blush marble tables, and Pols Potten porcelain gold-dipped parrot statues, which bring a surprising and charming element to each space. All the rooms have a certain residential feel to them, particularly apparent where the rustic, original ceiling beams are on display.

The guestrooms are divided into One Bedroom Standard rooms, Queen Standard rooms, Twin Deluxe rooms, King Standard rooms, King Deluxe rooms, Two Double Bed Deluxe rooms, King Executive rooms, King Junior Suite, and King Studio with Terrace.

The One Bedroom Standards offer a double bed and mod design touches as well as a luxe bathroom, including a walk-in shower. The Queen Standard offers the custom-made Kimpton mattress, curate artwork, contemporary design touches and bold colour splashes as well as a luxe bathroom with a rain shower. The airy, spacious King Deluxe rooms reveal unconventional Dutch-inspired design touches for their sitting areas.

Most of the nine signature suites have a private terrace, providing magnificent views of the city’s charming, iconic canal house rooftops. The hotel’s signature suite, the Penthouse de Witt, is split over two floors and the 30-square metre furnished roof terrace offers spectacular views of Amsterdam. The 46 square metre flat is adorned with original artwork and boasts luxe furnishing such as a plush sofa, a fireplace, a wet bar and a dining table for eight people.

The spacious one-bedroom King Junior Suites feature a king-sized bed, sitting area with bespoke furnishings, and a chic design palette. The luxe bathroom features a deep-soaking tub, a separate walk-in shower and expansive windows with beautiful views of the city.

Within the hotel stands a three-storey Little House, which dates back to the 1600’s. Small groups can book the Little House for a private residential experience and it offers two king-sized rooms and a first-floor living room with luxuriant sofas, bar stools and a plentiful wet bar. A separate ground floor, which is attached to the hotel lobby, houses the P.C Hooft boardroom. With the Little House, Bradley saw an opportunity to create a hybrid space within the hotel and has thus created the most unique accommodation offering in the hotel. The rooms have stylish lounge furnishing and unanticipated and inspiring nods to the local history.

Drinking and dining

Offering award-winning dining and drinking outlets, Kimpton De Witt houses a restaurant, a bar and a café that all tick off both aesthetic and culinary boxes. Wyers Bar & Restaurant provides a stylish yet relaxed environment to enjoy delicious American comfort food with a Dutch twist, courtesy of Executive Chef and native New Yorker, Sam DeMarco.

The House Bar is situated in the most historic and original part of the hotel. Set in a 1645 former family home, the bar’s discreet and modern ambience exudes Dutch hospitality with experimental drinks and fresh bites.

Miss Louisa Coffee & Beignets is a casual walk-up window open for early morning, afternoon and evening snacks.    

In addition to creative and bold design, Kimpton De Witt is sprinkled with unique features and personal touches inspired by local Amsterdam life. Set in the original Renaissance-era buildings, the hotel is a modern take on classic Dutch hospitality. With its fresh and contemporary approach to luxury, the milestone hotel Kimpton De Witt is a fascinating hotel that offers more than a comfy bed to sleep in – it’s an immersive experience.