Nestled in the heart of Bavaria within the vibrant Englischer Garten, the Hilton Munich Park has recently been renovated by JOI-Design with a design that draws upon its idyllic setting along the banks of the Eisbach Creek.
The space has been transformed into a series of spaces with a cohesive and sophisticated design that is woven into the lush greenery and rippling streams of the surrounding landscape to provide a calming retreat for guests.
Prior to the renovation, the lobby’s scattered furniture and open-plan, double-height volume resulted in a vast yet cluttered feeling. JOI-Design has eliminated this through the creation of “zoned” layouts. Anodised metal balustrades in varying heights separate the seating from the traffic flow to turn the atmosphere into a cosy living room. In the lounge’s centre, a sinuous s-shaped sofa further breaks up the area into more intimate groupings, while barstools at café tables near the pastry counter are suitable for a quick coffee. The existing reception desk was split into two halves to disperse guests within the space; overhead, a smoked oak panel inset with horizontal light strips creates a focal point, closing off the once exposed conference level and lowering the volume of the space below to make it more inviting. In addition, JOI-Design worked with a lighting designer to form a central light sculpture made from assorted lengths of glowing fibre optic flower petals that hang from the coved ceiling.
Eye-catching accents have been added to spark guests’ imaginations. On the staircase landing, flower petals coated in champagne coloured anodised aluminium are enclosed in a rectangular timber frame backlit by LEDs to form an intriguing art installation. Throughout the lobby, glass and mirrored panels etched with three overlapping patterns of gilded tree branches disperse layered shadows of twigs. This motif is echoed in the metal screens that encircle the lobby, dressing-up shop windows to give them a warmer appeal and framing the entry into People’s Bar in a way that draws guests into the space.
Inspired by garden hedges, these trellises allow travellers resting in the bar to “see and be seen” while also providing a sense of shelter from the large lobby.
The People’s Bar had formerly felt soulless and disjointed from the rest of the hotel; now, it is imbued with contemporary warmth. Again, nature and the park outside infuse the language of the design concept. Silky ruby-toned accent cushions create a vibrant counterpoint to the soft champagne hued leather and velvet textures of the lounge chairs. Hanging above the smoked oak bar is an assortment of pendant lights which softly illuminate each seat individually. The helix of shadows cast by the perforated, geometrically contoured pendants used here and elsewhere in the bar are mirrored in the spiral form of the cocktail tables’ silver bases.
For the 247-cover Tivoli Restaurant and Club which overlooks the gardens, JOI-Design brought conviviality and a refined Bavarian elegance into spaces. Inspired by the beautiful natural scenery, the company has created a design which brightens the atmosphere and results in a more polished and comfortable guest experience.
The ‘Marco Polo’ event space on the top floor of the hotel has also been refreshed by JOI-Design with a crisp, neutral palette that provides a clean backdrop for the fantastic views of the colourful Munich skyline. New carpets, contemporary lighting and additional millwork details have given the space a sense of refinement.
In the Hilton Munich Park’s 484 bedrooms and suites, a contemporary interpretation of the park’s colourful scenery can be found through warm earth and ripe berry tones and a design that unfolds as guests discover its layered details.
Corinna Kretschmar-Joehnk, Co-Managing Director of JOI-Design, discussed the re-design saying, “We are fortunate that Hilton really supported our vision for bringing the beauty of the vibrant gardens surrounding the hotel into its interior spaces. By customising even the tiniest of details, we’ve created a subtle design that unfurls little-by-little to provide guests with discoveries throughout their stay and which completely transforms the spirit of the Hilton Munich Park.”
