BE OUR GUEST!
A dream for porcelain lovers: at the KPM Hotel & Residences in Berlin, you can not only admire outstanding architecture and chic design, but also exquisite pieces from the manufactory. Daniel Zeeh, 36, and Damian Brunner, 34, won one of our prize draws - and shared their impressions in our WEISS Magazine No. 4.
A weekend for two at the KPM Hotel & Residences: when Daniel read the announcement on the KPM Berlin Instagram page, he spontaneously applied with a few lines. "I didn't expect to win at all - and was all the more delighted," says the 36-year-old with a laugh. He traveled with Damian: The two only moved in together in May. Daniel, who comes from Leipzig and works in supply chain management for a large furniture company, now lives near Zurich, the home of his partner, a client director at an asset management company. "We own KPM vases from the Bauhaus period and plates, cups and bowls from the LAB series. With its clear form, it fits in perfectly with our Scandinavian furnishing style," he explains his affinity for KPM Berlin.
The two immediately felt at home in the new KPM Hotel & Residences, which opened in September 2019. It is centrally located and quiet in Englische Straße, right next to the manufactory. Of course, a tour of the factory was on the agenda, as well as a porcelain workshop and dinner at Dong A. "We liked it so much that we're coming back in August," says Daniel. "It's already booked!" Could there be a better compliment?
ON A DISCOVERY TOUR
"Everywhere in the KPM Hotel & Residences you will discover unusual exhibits: in the rooms, in the corridors, in the restaurant and of course in the lobby at reception. Because the colors gray, black and anthracite dominate, the white KPM figurines and objects stand out beautifully. I find it absolutely remarkable that KPM has been manufacturing all its products in the manufactory in the heart of Berlin for more than 250 years and has not outsourced production elsewhere. The Tiergarten park is just around the corner, and because you can rent bikes at the hotel, we went for a short ride through the countryside and Charlottenburg after breakfast."
FINE CRAFTSMANSHIP
"During the tour of the manufactory, we went through the individual stages of porcelain production: from processing the raw material to firing."
"In the hands-on factory, a KPM craftsman explained to us how the figure KRÖTE is created. It is not modeled, but the body and legs are cast individually and assembled later. We were allowed to try it out: sanding down the edges again and again until everything fits - that was fun."
MAXIMUM ENJOYMENT
"On the first floor of the hotel is the Dong A restaurant, which serves modern Asian cuisine: We had a delicious meal here in the evening. A life-size KPM figure figurine stands on a table in the middle of the room - a real eye-catcher. The wall, which is covered in white KPM coffee filters, is also very original - an installation by Berlin artist Michael Felix Langer. Later, we took our drink to the sun terrace on the roof and enjoyed the view: You have a great view over the city from there. Incidentally, we were able to play table tennis in the playroom on the fourth floor, which was pretty cool. There's also a table football table - but after dinner, you might prefer the small cinema: with a projector and space for ten people."
A RELAXING TIME
"We were completely delighted with the room: it was generously proportioned and equipped with a fold-out pantry kitchen that disappears into a smart wall module. We particularly liked the wonderfully comfortable, slightly raised bay windows from which you can look out over the Royal Porcelain Manufactory ."
There are a total of 117 rooms in five categories. They are between 25 and 45 square meters in size. Daniel and Damian stayed in an Executive room.
"In general, there are many original corners in the hotel. The two atriums, for example, which are located between the 1st and 2nd floors and the 4th and 5th floors. You can sit on casual Bauhaus-style lounge furniture, meet other guests there or marvel at the five-metre-high wall with recessed glass cabinets: very different pieces from the history of KPM Berlin are exhibited here."
WORLD TRAVEL AWARDS - Europe's Leading Design Hotel 2021
The KPM Hotel & Residences is one of the leading design hotels in Europe and was nominated as "Europe's Leading Design Hotel 2021" in the World Travel Awards.
Pictures: Franz Grünewald
