With its provocative blend of Gothic design motifs – think vaulted ceilings, stone staircases, high window arches and solid columns – and 20th Century design, The Qvest Hideaway Hotel is the complete antithesis of the monotonous post-war architecture that punctuates the historic heart of Cologne. Owner and art collector Michael Kaune transformed the former city archive building from 1897 into a 34-room urban retreat. No two rooms are the same, ranging from a cozy 8sqm alcove under the roof to a majestic suite boasting a hand-painted ceiling frieze from 1390. With a large part of the hotel furnished with Kaune’s personal collection of furniture and photographs (with design classics by the likes of Charles and Ray Eames, Arne Jacobsen, Corbusier and Mies van der Rohe), the spaces form a veritable design museum. A mid-century and Bauhaus lover’s dream. The Qvest is part of Design Hotels™ network, that represents a curated selection of more than 290 independent hotels in over 50 countries. (Bookings through www.designhotels.com or via the appropriate number).
