Miniloft
A decade after this aparthotel opened, it’s still one of the city’s most stylish places to stay. The two adjoining buildings – one historic, the other a futuristic new-build clad in stainless steel – were designed and renovated by Britta Jürgens and Matthew Griffin, forward thinking architects who specialise in green buildings.
The minimalist apartments – it’s worth paying for the extra space of an Introverted or Extroverted loft – have exposed concrete floors and walls, under-floor heating and floor-to ceiling windows. Furniture is a well-edited mix of contemporary Danish items and simple, sturdy Ikea pieces; the small but efficient kitchens are stocked with basics (coffee, olive oil, organic cleaning supplies).
There’s a hidden roof terrace, open to all, with impressive views of the Berlin skyline. Although officially in Mitte, the lofts are a bit off the beaten track, near Nordbahnhof station, which is currently the site of a lot of construction work; however, the aparthotel’s guides are happy to point guests in the direction of nearby highlights and hotspots. Jürgens and Griffin are now designing a second outpost in Kreuzberg, near Checkpoint Charlie, which will incorporate art studios and work spaces. www.miniloft.com.
Soho House Berlin Lofts
When it first opened in 2010, Soho House Berlin faced criticism from locals who thought this wasn’t the place for a luxury members-only club from London. After all, Berlin is all about breaking down barriers, not creating them. But the new House survived, and now thrives: the hotel’s 65 rooms are almost always booked solid, and some of the city’s brightest talents have become members.
It’s common knowledge that George Clooney moved in when filming The Monuments Men, and the House has been home to many other visiting celebrities. To make more room for VIPs, four lofts were added last year in an adjoining building. Created by the in-house design team from New York, with help from Soho House founder Nick Jones himself, the rockstar crash-pads are a major departure from the clubby velvet-and-chintz interiors of the hotel rooms. The living rooms are stylishly outfitted in a cool, mid-century-style mix of Eames chairs, massive wooden dining tables, Moroccan rugs, an open kitchen and vintage DJ decks.
Some have two bedrooms, others three, all with private bathrooms. The lofts are popular with local tastemakers as party venues, with plenty of boys’ toys: table football; a 5.1 cinema system and 75-inch TV; and a record collection created by London-based The Vinyl Factory. www.sohohouseberlin.com/lofts.
