In the middle of Cologne
"Midtown Hotel" is the name by which a new boutique hotel goes that has just opened in Cologne – and it is more than fitting given its central location on Kaiser-Wilhelm-Ring. Owner and architect Johannes J. Adams chose to center the hotel concept around design: Each of the 40 rooms and suites features extraordinary objects and handmade furniture and in the process he certainly did not shy away from installing bold items. Earthy colors create a consistent and cozy color mood.
The subdued color scheme continues in the bathrooms. Grayish blue and nude shades for the walls contrast with the classic white of the ceramics. Hand-made tiles with their characteristically uneven surfaces convey the impression of tasteful craftsmanship. When it came to the washstands and toilets Johannes J. Adams opted for the collection Kartell by Laufen. This series by Swiss manufacturer Laufen has long since emerged as a contemporary classic. With its extremely thin sides and precisely shaped corners the rigid linear geometry of the washstand translates what Laufen’s revolutionary SaphirKeramik material makes possible into a groundbreaking design idiom. And it is not just the design that is convincing: Thanks to the thin sides, the washstand affords a larger basin and a larger storage surface than models made from conventional ceramics. The raised rim also protects against water splashes and makes it easier to clean.
In the Kartell by Laufen toilet, the combination of a toilet bowl without a flushing rim, powerful flushing mechanism, and the LCC dirt-repelling surface finish reduce cleaning to a minimum. Guests will be struck by the architectural, elegant shape of the toilet, which tapers conically downwards. Doubtless the fact that the bathroom design is both cozy and stylishly practical is a decisive reason why people feel so at home in a “Midtown” room – which thus forms a great base from which to discover everything the heart of Cologne has to offer.
