art'otel dresden, by park plaza

Class: First

Style: Modern design

Rooms: 174

The art’otel chain is a small one, numbering just a few hotels across Germany and one in Hungary, mixing modern hotel design with an art gallery atmosphere — each art’otel is dedicated to the work of a particular local artist, and features a collection of that artist’s work. The décor is conceived as a complement to the artwork, and though modern, shies away from the prevailing international style of Zen minimalism — instead leaning toward the playful, the whimsical, the idiosyncratic.

This particular art’otel is located in a historic quarter of Dresden (a modest walk from the old town and a tram ride from the new city center) and is dedicated to the work of local painter and printmaker A. R. Penck, whose work is colorful and complicated, its primitive figurations recalling both graffiti and children’s art. Needless to say, this makes for interesting hotel design, miles beyond the white walls and dark woods of the average boutique hotel.

The appeal extends beyond the purely aesthetic — while certianly no five-star palace, this is a comfortable and well-appointed hotel, with all the basics covered; in addition to the art gallery there is a health club, complete with gym and sauna, and extensive business facilities. Wireless internet is available throughout, and the location is central, meaning that the Factory restaurant and Mix café, while fine enough, need not be the only game in town.