Julia Himburg, GM of Hotel Provocateur, Berlin, does admit that even the best designer does not always consider practicality. When Saar Zafrir brilliantly re-conceptualized the 1911-vintage building, originally a gentleman’s townhouse complete with (still-working) elevator, he perhaps did not consider Germany’s cold winters, when many wear long thick overcoats. He also seemingly overlooked women’s occasional need for full-length red-carpet dresses.
Provocateur opened September 2017 as a 58-room hotel, part of Design Hotels. All rooms are memorable for high ceilings, dark walls hung with interactive videos showing short Art Deco burlesque scenarios. Bigger rooms have in-room bathtubs, and stylish armoires holding minibars, safes and four-foot high hanging space that is only 15 inches wide. What to do about hanging those long garments?
“What we Germans call Garderobenständer, coat stands, are the obvious answer,” Himburg explains. The stands are sturdy, have plenty of space for garments, and hooks at both ends are useful for scarves. Suitcases can also be stored there. The stands can be moved as required. They are, in addition, decorative features in the room. And more than one perennial traveler commented that you can never, ever, have too much hanging utensils, and that includes hooks (will owners and designers please note).