There are buildings that we enter with awe. Because contemporary history flows out of every pore. That’s how we felt about the Hotel am Sophienpark in Baden-Baden, which was initially founded in 1733 as the “Zum Goldenen Lamm” inn.
The challenge: hotel director Marcus Scholz wants to modernize the hotel, which is located in Baden-Baden’s magnificent boulevard, and establish it in the luxury segment. To do this, the entire ensemble needs a new look and feel that pays tribute to the long and eventful history and the old building fabric, while at the same time appearing elegant and modern. In other words, an interior design that preserves the old and creates the new.
Let’s start with a journey through time in historic Baden-Baden, which was already popular with the Romans due to its hot thermal springs. The former residence of the Margraviate of Baden owes its name to the city. As early as the Middle Ages, Emperor Frederick III traveled to the spa, and the spa tax was introduced in 1507.
However, Baden-Baden did not experience its heyday until the 19th century. At this time, outstanding spa architecture buildings were also constructed, such as the Kurhaus with its casino. In 1830, the new magnificent boulevard, Sophienstraße – named after Grand Duchess Sophie von Baden – was laid out in the up-and-coming “summer capital of Europe”. The “Goldene Lamm”, which was converted from an inn to a hotel around ten years after the construction of Sophienstraße, was also located on this magnificent shopping street. From then on, celebrities from the worlds of culture and nobility stayed here at the Hotel Holland – and later even emperors, princes and dukes.
The special feature of the Hotel Holland was the huge garden at the rear. The adjoining park belonged to Grand Duchess Stephanie von Baden (Stéphanie von Beauharnais; 1789 to 1860), who had a pavilion built here as a summer residence. The French-born duchess and relative of Napoleon drew on the Swiss style. The plank carvings on the roof are characteristic, as is the floating gable, which is very well preserved. A typical Swiss house.
And our journey through Baden-Baden’s history ends with this Swiss house. Because here, in the outbuilding, something new begins. It is the new beginning of the magnificent Hotel am Sophienpark.
“The owners initially asked us to plan a sample room for the Schweizerhaus,” explains Katja Scharnagel, Head of Hospitality Innovation, “but we quickly came to the conclusion that it made sense to create a coherent overall concept for the entire site, including the main building and park.” This was followed by a comprehensive market analysis and research to find out how the hotel could be repositioned. Due to the location and its surroundings, the choice fell on a boutique hotel. “A consistent concept in design and operation makes the hotel a tangible experience for guests,” explains the interior designer.
Together with the interdisciplinary interior design team – i.e. architect:interior, interior designer:interior and lighting designer:interior – a unique design was created that will later be implemented in the main house. Details of the design concept will not be revealed at this point, as the interior fit-out of the main building is still pending. “All in all, we wanted to work with what was available in the annexe and pay tribute to the old building fabric,” explains Katja. Initially, 15 colorful rooms were created in the annexe, the dependance, luxurious, stylish and comfortable.
The sensitive refurbishment is particularly evident in the staircase, where the old half-timbering is masterfully showcased. The nature-loving Stephanie von Baden would certainly have liked that, wouldn’t she?
