Hotels under Heritage Protection – Interior Architecture for Historical Buildings

A key challenge of such interior design projects is to find the balance between modern requirements, functionality and the preservation of the historical building fabric and the historical vision of the hotel. My particular expertise as an interior designer concerns listed and historic hotel projects. I possess the necessary knowledge and experience in collaborating with the heritage protection authority, which allows me to ensure that hotel planning and interior design concepts consider the unique history, pursue the goals of heritage protection, and comply with legal requirements. Furthermore, I am able to integrate historical elements into my designs to preserve the traditions and history of your hotel and its location.

My Specific Tasks:

Not every historical hotel and not every building with significant cultural value is under heritage protection. However, this does not mean that these values and the hotel’s own history should not be preserved in the interior design concept. What is important to consider when it comes to such hotel projects?

Specific Goals:

Regional suitability (location, surroundings, regional characteristics of the hotel). Considering the specific conditions of the region helps to develop a hotel concept that harmoniously integrates into its surroundings and emphasizes the regional character. Furthermore, as a qualified interior designer, I can develop innovative solutions that respect the traditional character of a building while simultaneously offering a modern ambiance for your hotel. This is particularly important in the hotel and gastronomy industry, where guest comfort must be considered as much as the aesthetic and historical authenticity of the building.

The cultural characteristics and the hotel’s own history. Every traditional hotel has its unique characteristics and features, which are often ignored during renovation or conversion in favor of following general modern, but short-term, trends. The history of the hotel’s development, origin, and expansion is incorporated into my interior design concepts. Integrating cultural specifics into the interior design creates an authentic atmosphere and conveys a sense of locality and connection to the region.

I ensure that these cultural values are preserved in the interior design of each hotel for future generations, while simultaneously offering new, contemporary functionality and vision.

Timeless Interior Design and a Unique Vision. How is it even possible to develop a timeless and regional hotel interior design that can still withstand strong competition in the hotel industry? Many of my clients worry during conversion, renovation, or new hotel planning about losing the charm and character of their hotel and becoming too similar to other hotels. The decision is difficult between modern trends and preserving the existing hotel history and cultural specifics. However, they often do not realize that they do not have to choose, as their greatest strength usually lies precisely in this hotel history.

And this is the crux of the matter: Your interior designer must be able to tell this story correctly!
For this, I not only apply my knowledge in interior design, as this would not be sufficient for historical and culturally valuable hotels and buildings, but also my expertise in art science, architectural history, color theory and composition, as well as my experience with the heritage protection authority.

I employ various methods that allow me to transfer important characteristics and values of your hotel into a new, improved form and combine them with modern elements. Only in this way can one create a timeless and distinctive hotel interior design that satisfies the guest, the hotel owner, and the entire region.

I have extensively researched the topic of why it is so important to preserve traditions in modern interior design and what possibilities exist for this. As part of my doctoral studies in art science, I conducted a study on this topic. Now I intensively apply this knowledge in my field of planning for hotels, gastronomy establishments, and SPAs.

My Special Qualifications:

As a hotel owner, you surely often ask yourself whether you can preserve the special historical, cultural, and regional characteristics of your hotel over years and generations, and whether this is even appropriate alongside modern trends in hotel planning and interior design. In any case, the answer is “YES”!

In regions like the Alpine area, history and architectural heritage, including in hotel buildings, have been well preserved over centuries. We merely need to find a way not to destroy them with faceless modern trends. We must not forget that hotel guests largely come here precisely because of this authenticity.
Yes, it requires analysis and research, as well as special commitment from interior designers and an in-depth dialogue with hotel owners, to find the right path for hotel planning, renovation, or extension. The invisible is often right before your eyes, but one often doesn’t notice it.

I have already worked on hotel projects in several countries across Europe. This provides me with a comprehensive overview of what is so special about interior design traditions and how sensitively they must be handled, especially in historical and listed projects. These experiences have shown me how important it is to understand and respect the unique character of each project. Through my work, I have been able to develop strategies that harmoniously combine tradition and modernity to create sustainable and authentic interior designs.

I seek suitable ways to transfer the old into a new form in hotel planning, to modernize it, and yet keep it recognizable. Some elements can be preserved, restored, and subtly integrated into the new interior. For others, in developing my hotel concepts, I draw upon stylization, interpretation, and the transfer of compositional and color characteristics. Artistic competencies are of great help here.

As an interior designer, I often ask my clients questions about the history of their hotel’s development, the hotel owner’s family, and important historical or regional details and characteristics of the hotel. Sometimes these questions are met with surprise. But above all, I need to know what story I should tell in a hotel. This allows the tasks and goals for hotel planning and the hotel concept to be formulated and defined much more clearly.