City Whispers

After an intense summer, we’re slowly retreating indoors. But before we finally settle in, let’s embark on an autumnal cul­tural journey through various metro­po­litan cities.

More than a hotel!

The Wilmina, awarded the German Sus­taina­bility Prize for Archi­tecture 2023, boasts a mul­ti­di­sci­plinary art and culture venue called the Amtsalon in the former court building. It regu­larly hosts pop-up events by art gal­leries. Of course, the hotel itself is an exciting place due to its special history as a former cri­minal court and prison. Thanks to its excellent location in Berlin-Char­lot­tenburg with perfect public transport con­nec­tions, you can con­ve­ni­ently explore both new and fondly remem­bered aspects of the capital city from here.

Exciting yet under­stated

In the heart of Dubrovnik’s old town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, you’ll find with Sixty Steps Studio a small and exquisite accom­mo­dation for two. Located on the third floor (sixty steps up!) of a building dating back to around 1600, this apartment was once part of a ballroom. The interior is an exciting yet under­stated mix of antique family heir­looms, Italian design icons from the 1960s and the owner’s per­sonal designs, com­ple­mented by curated art ranging from con­tem­porary Croatian to post-war works. If the weather doesn’t cooperate, you can listen to the exquisite classic vinyl coll­ection played on a gra­mo­phone in intimate tog­e­therness.

City, yes. Hotel, no.

The statthaus – Statt Hotel in the Gere­ons­viertel, a dis­trict of Cologne rich in tra­dition, offers six apart­ments and two mai­so­nettes, each for 2–5 guests. It’s cen­trally located yet quiet, with Cologne Cathedral within sight and walking distance. The tower-like, listed building from 1860 was saved from decay by architect and host Kristin Reuther-Mer­curio and has been accom­mo­dating guests from near and far in the Rhenish metro­polis since 2021.

Mini­malism in baroque sur­roun­dings

In the capital of Sicily, graphic designer, pho­to­grapher and author Stefan Kop­pelkamm ful­filled with Atelier Palermo his dream of having his own studio. When he’s not staying there, Stefan gladly rents out his studio apartment with mini­malist fur­nis­hings in a baroque palazzo. Up to six guests can then enjoy 150 square metres of space to work on creative pro­jects in an inspiring envi­ronment.

Bar­celona with a dif­fe­rence!

Bar­celona with a dif­fe­rence! Located on the edge of the old town, the two ope­rators of yök casa+cultura have been offering three apart­ments since 2014, expli­citly com­mitted to sus­taina­bility and respon­sible tourism at a time when these issues were still mar­ginal. To this end, they have imposed a mani­festo on them­selves and made it available to their guests. Staying here allows you to expe­rience the city away from the main­stream – and, at best, you par­ti­cipate in guided tours and events on the topics of design, Bar­celona and sus­taina­bility to delve even deeper and more respectfully into the culture of Catalonia’s capital.

Casual atmo­sphere in Antwerp

For sight­seeing trips in larger groups to the port city of Antwerp, known for art and fashion, the two holiday homes Zalig in Ant­werpen in the old town are perfect. The town­houses at Leu­wen­straat 9 and Lange Rid­der­straat 77 accom­modate ten respec­tively fourteen guests. The owners have com­bined the his­to­rical charm with ele­ments of indus­trial style and bohemian chic to create a casual atmo­sphere inside.

Editing: Ulrich Stefan Knoll

Pho­to­graphers: Lucas Carl / Uns­plash (cover photo), Patricia Pari­nejad, Marko Genero, Aaron Zac­ca­relli, Patricia Banzcyk, Kathleen Cas­siers, Stefan Kop­pelkamm, Carlos Barruz

For more accom­mo­dation, for example in Zurich, Vienna, Leipzig, Berlin, Potsdam, Paris, Lisbon or Porto, click here.