The Fontenay, Hamburg

 Störmer Murphy & Partners and Aukett + Heese join forces to create a new landmark on the shores of Lake Alster. Words: Catherine Martin | Photography: Courtesy of The Fontenay

Hamburg’s architectural prowess has elevated in recent years, with the city’s Neo-Renaissance masterpieces joined by striking newcomers such as Herzog & de Meuron’s Elbphilharmonie – housing The Westin – and the ongoing development of Hafencity, set to revitalise the rows of red-brick warehouses on the waterfront. Further north, a leisurely stroll along the banks of Lake Alster, a new landmark has taken shape in the form of The Fontenay. The 130- key hotel is the brainchild of Klaus-Michael Kühne, majority owner of transport company Kühne + Nagel, who was looking to build on the success of Castell Son Claret, the boutique hotel he and his wife opened in Mallorca in 2013. With Kühne’s first foray into hospitality requiring the meticulous restoration of a 15th century castle, his second called for a different approach entirely; one that began with only a plot of land and a vision. In bringing his vision to life, Kühne enlisted the services of locally-based architects Störmer Murphy & Partners, who looked to the surrounding parklands for inspiration. “I came up with the idea of a fluid form of three circles, intertwining with one another creating two large courtyards, with a very organic exterior shape,” explains architect Jan Störmer, adding that the hotel’s positioning – with pathways all around – meant it was important not to have a conventional front and back; that the architecture be enjoyed from all viewpoints.

Of course, such an inventive scheme was never going to be straightforward. “Dealing with six different circles and radii proved challenging for the designers and construction workers,” Störmer continues. “The supporting structure had to be engineered in a way that wouldn’t disturb the organic and fluid shape of the façade with thick supporting columns blocking views and restricting flexibility. The solution was a circumferential mega support beam along the corridor walls extending upwards over five floors.” The façade also required special attention, with local regulation dictating all buildings around the lake be white. As a result, Störmer opted for pure white porcelain panels with an enamel coating that is especially tough and resistant to dirt. The sweeping forms continue inside, where everything from the check-in desks to the lighting takes on a curvilinear profile. “The circular shape repeats itself throughout the building. Straight walls, except for the partitioning walls, do not exist,” confirms Störmer. “The three circles intertwine and narrow in the centre where the elevators carry guests to all levels of the hotel and courtyards branch off to both sides.”

One of these courtyards is open to the elements, and brings in the greenery of the park to create a focal point for the inwardfacing spaces. The second houses the lobby bar, and is wrapped in satinised panels of varying shades, lit by LED strips to dramatic effect. The centrepiece of the 27m-high atrium however, is a striking installation by Brand van Egmond, characterised by handmade metal branches and sparkling silver leaves. The Netherlands-based studio also created a series of lighting sculptures for Parkview, the adjacent restaurant designed by Aukett + Heese. Floor-to-ceiling windows and a green onyx wall bring a garden room feel to the space, with the dining area spilling out on to the terrace furnished with chairs and tables from Gloster. Guestrooms follow a similarly neutral colour palette, with pops of turquoise in the soft furnishings to reflect the waters of Lake Alster. Aukett + Heese worked closely with Störmer to develop the modern classic scheme, ensuring a synergy between the architecture and interiors. This meant sourcing furniture that follows the same curving lines as the architecture, and custom-cutting each natural stone slab in the bathrooms. “No wall in this building is parallel with the next,” explains interior designer Christian Meinert. “The partition walls in the rooms fan out from the inside to the outside; as a result, we couldn’t use the same plans for each room.”

The trapezoid layout of the guestroom, with its curved walls and floor-to-ceiling windows, is a light-filled space in tune with nature, thanks to the oak wood parquet flooring and direct sightlines to the park. “The exceptional geometric shape opens up the room, showcasing it in its full splendour. Nevertheless, you can’t position rectangular furniture against semi-circular walls,” Meinert continues, revealing that the positioning of the TV became something of a sticking point. “We had to come up with a unique construction that would allow guests to watch television from central points in the room and we’re quite proud of the result.” The solution involved mounting one side of the TV to a pole, allowing it to swivel almost 360-degrees for viewing anywhere in the room. The unique layout also brought challenges in the floorcoverings, particularly for guestroom corridors. “Machines can only make rectangular carpets, and we would have had to piece them together like patchwork, wasting almost 70% of the material,” Meinert explains. “So we decided to collaborate with House of Tai Ping in Hong Kong. They used hand-tufting guns to produce small batches of carpet based on our floorplans.”

Furniture meanwhile is custom-designed, with key pieces by Italian manufacturers such as Minotti, B&B Italia, Moroso and Flexform alongside Eero Saarinen’s Executive Armless Chair for Knoll. Dedon’s Mbrace wing chairs and rocking chairs furnish the sixth floor bar, which has proved a hit with both guests and locals thanks to its wraparound terrace and panoramic views of the lake and city beyond. The adjacent spa with indoor-outdoor pool and sun terrace also makes the most of its rooftop location. The Fontenay’s crowning glory however is Lakeside, a 40-cover restaurant up on the 7th floor. Accessed via a spiral staircase from the bar, the design scheme is a departure from the rest of the hotel, taking on an ethereal quality with shades of white and grey. Minimal table settings allow the multi-sensory creations of Head Chef Cornelius Speinle to take centrestage in what has become a new culinary landmark for the city. The destination restaurant, paired with a striking architectural statement and panoramic views, make for a compelling offer.

sources: Sleeper, July-August 2018.

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