Opposites attract: Sofitel Kurfürstendamm blends Art Deco & Bauhaus

German architect Jan Kleihues plays with contrasting styles and make us fall for it 😍

Miss.Tic graffiti is the French cherry over this art loving cake 😘

Viviane Vaz for Id International

Are you an art lover? Wanna find a gem in Berlin’s Champs-Elysées? So, you should walk around the heart of West Berlin and go to Kurfürstendamm, also known as Ku’damm. This is one of the main streets in the German capital for cultural activities and shopping. There you will find a beautiful 5-star hotel blending different art and design schools and movements.

Designed by German architect Jan Kleihues, the Sofitel Berlin Kurfürstendamm is an Art Deco 17-story building with a stone façade from Kirchheim shell limestone. Inside, Kleihues reflects Berlin changing moods by playing with lighting and Bauhaus-inspired furniture.

Sofitel Berlin Kurfürstendamm Art Deco façade in limestone Photo: Viviane Vaz

Did you know that Art Deco and Bauhaus have opposing theories, styles and use of materials? It made me think how Jan Kleihues attracted opposites and made us, guests and visitors, fall for this combination.

The French Art Deco dates from 1920s to 1930s and is marked by luxury, the use of high-quality materials and skilled handcraft for exclusive clients. Its name comes from short for Arts Décoratifs, the 1925 international exhibition of modern decorative and industrial arts in Paris. Art Deco represents glamour and optimism in technological progress.

Can you feel the glamour and a touch of tech future in this meeting room?💡 Photo: Sofitel

In the same period, the German architect Walter Gropius comes up with an opposite idea. He argues that the end of the First World War (WW1) brings a new period of History that needs a different design style. That’s why he creates the Bauhaus. This German school works with the idea that architecture and consumer goods should be simple, functional, affordable and consistent with mass production, but at same time beautiful and creative.

The F51 armchair and sofa (in red and gray) were designed in 1920 by the Bauhaus director, Walter Gropius, for his room in Weimar. The cubic armchair has voluminous upholstery, but the armrests protrude freely and the back of the chair does not reach the ground. Photo: Sofitel

Search for more interesting pieces, such as this Vitra Cité armchair designed by Jean Prouvé at the *Cité Universitaire* of Nancy. The armchair impresses with its armrests crafted from leather belts, combining beauty and comfort. This Marlene Dietrich frame is also a must-see: it holds a cool optical illusion! By the way, did you know the Hollywood star used to sing an anthem to the city in the 1960s called “Ich hab’ noch einen Koffer in Berlin” (I still have a suitcase in Berlin)? 👜 Photo: Sofitel

Graffiti

Besides Art Deco and Bauhaus inspiration, this business hotel offers their guests several pieces of original art work by Markus Lüpertz, Katrin Kampmann, Junior Toscanelli and Dietrich Klinge. If this art mix is not enough, then take a stroll and find Miss.Tic sensual graffiti in one of the floors…

Miss.Tic is a French urban artist well known in the streets of Paris and associated with poetry since 1985. In this art work, she says: “Reciprocity is a mystery”. Do you agree? Photo: Viviane Vaz

Art freedom

What artists and designers love the most? Freedom. That’s what master Jan Kleihues gave his eight best students, letting them design some of the biggest suites at Sofitel Berlin Kurfürstendamm. The result is that today lucky guests can enjoy some boutique style suites: Les Suites “Opéra”. Each one has a unique style!

Luxury suite with wonderful view to Berlin Kurfürstendamm Photo: Viviane Vaz

Finally, if you get hungry but want to continue feeding your art senses, you should try the restaurant Le Faubourg. It’s where Art Deco and or Bauhaus lovers find a great selection of wines from Germany and France matching the modern cuisine philosophy. A toast for matching opposite lovers! 🍷

The restaurant Le Faubourg located in the Sofitel Berlin Kurfürstendamm. Photo Viviane Vaz

Tip: At weekends well-know DJs spin contemporary music and you can mingle over wine cocktails and light bites at the Lounge area! 😋