Kimpton Main Frankfurt酒店丨德国法兰克福丨伦敦Waldo Works建筑工作室

London-based architecture studio Waldo Works has completed the transformation of the former Deutsche Bank headquarters into the striking Kimpton Main Frankfurt. The hotel is located within the FOUR towers development in the city’s financial district, and spreads over 8,240 square metres.

Under the direction of Tom Bartlett, Waldo Works has crafted a contemporary interpretation of Bauhaus principles whilst respecting the site’s institutional heritage. The design team approached the 155-room hotel as an exercise in contrasts, balancing cool, neutral materials like chrome and crystal against warm, opulent elements including deep green and red marble, rich velvet, and dark mahogany wood.

This material interplay is immediately evident in the reception area, where bespoke desks made from leather, mahogany, aluminium and copper create striking focal points. Custom glass and nickel light fittings by Illumination Works complement screens rendered in marble, glass and green veneer, establishing the hotel’s aesthetic from the moment guests arrive.

The lobby bar MAY continues this material narrative with a mahogany, marble and copper bar topped by a custom crystal and nickel glass holder. Signature enamelled Kimpton Frankfurt table lamps provide intimate lighting, while banquettes upholstered in leather and textile feature Tibor Fabric accents. Textile art pieces by New York-based Caroline Kaufman add a contemporary touch, complemented by lighting inspired by Dan Flavin that glows warmly throughout the evening hours.

ANNI, the hotel’s 85-cover brasserie restaurant, pays homage to Bauhaus textile artist Anni Albers through its embroidered textile signage and design philosophy. Drawing inspiration from classic European grand cafés and traditional Italian restaurants in New York, the space features oversized paper lampshades, yellow grasscloth wall coverings, and elm panelling with tiled columns. Artist Zebedee Helm has contributed a collection of caricatures depicting famous Franks, adding local cultural references to the walls.

The guest rooms showcase attention to detail through indigo-dyed veneer and velvet headboards, green enamelled custom lighting, and tobacco leather bedside tables featuring distinctive knuckleduster handles. Desks integrate into headboard designs, cantilevering out in blue saddle-stitched leather, while custom chrome conical desk lamps span dramatically from desktop to ceiling.

Bathrooms demonstrate functional innovation through red and blue taps that simplify operation for international guests, alongside glazed vanity surfaces, marble elements, and fine enamelled gridding on walls. Alabaster lighting creates a warm, welcoming atmosphere throughout these private spaces.

The hotel’s art collection, curated by Laura Bartlett Studio, includes collages by Monika Gardyla, wall reliefs by Ruairiadh O’Connell, and photographs by Jenny van Sommers, reinforcing the property’s commitment to contemporary creative expression within its historically significant setting.

[Images courtesy of Waldo Works. Photography by Sebastian Arlt.]