Open Space Cafe-Bar

The Open Space Hotel in Murau, Austria, a building dating back to the 13th century, has been expanded with an ultra modern cafe-bar.
But integrating a modern addition within a space characterized by traditional architecture, is never a easy task. Designed by Architektur Steinbacher Thierrichter, the new addition to the hotel towers 12 meters over Muraus medieval town walls, offering great views over the river Mur. However, due to its placement in a historical town, some people are not happy with it.
We feel that it blends in with its surroundings, highlighting even more the old buildings. Therefore the Open Space Cafe-Bar can be seen as a valuable addition to Muraus historical center.

Sleeping in trees

So when was the last time you spent the night in a treehouse? The swedish so called Treehotel was designed and built by a group of designers and architects whose primary goal was to allow visitors to live in harmony with nature. The hotel is located in the village of Harads, 60 km south of the Arctic Circle.

Its rooms are located in the middle of the forest and are all designed differently.

The presumably most impressive room is the “Mirror Cube”: a lightweight aluminium structure which is hung around a tree trunk. The box is clad in mirrored glass so it reflects the surrounding forest and the sky.



The Mirror Cube

                            

The “Bird’s Nest”, which is yet another room, was built to resemble a bird’s nest and is covered with branches from the outside. The inside, however boasts a high-end room in modern design.



The Bird's Nest

photo sources: http://www.treehotel.se/

      

  

Converted Churches of Maastricht

If you're traveling to the Netherlands this summer, the city of Maastricht offers an interesting option.
Here, the fashion of converting gothic churches into commercial spaces is in full swing. Maastricht can pride itself with 2 such spaces: the Kruisheren Hotel is located in a 15th century monastery. Its unaltered structure is filled with design objects by Le Corbusier, Philippe Starck and Gerrit Rietveld following a concept by Satijnplus Architects.

Kruisheren Hotel (photo courtesy of  chateauhotels.nl)

Further down the street you can find the Selexyz bookshop in a 13th century former Dominican church. The store, designed by Merkx and Girod Architects must be rated amongst the worlds most beautiful bookshops. The building, no longer used as a church for 200 years has had a number of interesting functions: from an exotic animals shop to being rented for receptions. The former altar area now functions as a Cafe.

Selexyz bookshop