W Budapest, Hungary

Posted in Projects on 11 December, 2023

City’s rich history, creativity and diversity are poured into an eclectic melting pot of inspiration.

An urban fairy tale has been brought to life with the transformation of Drechsler Palace into a bewitching hotel. Interior designers Bowler James Brindley of London and Bánáti + Hartvig of Hungary weaved their magic over the UNESCO World Heritage Site, drawing inspiration from the palace’s rich cultural history and multiple identities as a café, social hub and Hungarian State Ballet Academy.

W Budapest opened in July, with 151 stylish guestrooms and suites, including the Extreme WOW – W’s take on the presidential suite – as well as a bar, restaurant, W Lounge and AWAY Spa.

Architecture and interior design
The design of the hotel brings together the two sides of the city, Buda and Pest, celebrating the rich heritage of both while playing with the juxtaposition. This has inspired a ‘second skin’ design narrative, which creates an interplay between materials in every location. From soft layering and oversized archways to the use of metallic meshing to create depth and intrigue in the bedrooms, the second skin aesthetic creates spaces that reveal new depths each time you experience them.

The original ornate building provided many precious features that the new design embraces and celebrates. The enchanting inner courtyard is now enclosed by a delicate, veil-like glass roof to protect it from the elements. The fifth floor’s unique wood-centric design is sympathetic to the palace’s original roof design that has been restored. A speakeasy breathes new life into the palace’s underground bar, paying homage to the eclectic characters and socialites that frequented the space in its past life.

The Loire Valley-inspired French Renaissance architectural aesthetic features throughout the reimagined hotel, mirroring icons from the city, such as the Hungarian State Opera House, the Széchenyi Baths and neighbouring buildings on Andrássy Avenue. This grand aesthetic has been playfully modernised within the hotel, which features stained glass and a rich colour palette of green, coral and deep blues, alongside a contemporary twist on Zsolnay tiles, jewellery inspired light fittings and decorative motifs.

“When we started the project, we were presented with a rich feast of inspirations from which the various narratives were born. One of which was Hungary’s famous export, Harry Houdini, and his life’s work inspired our ‘grand illusion’ design narrative. We have used mirrors in creative ways throughout the hotel to create optical illusions on ceilings, walls and floors, allowing Harry Houdini’s legacy to live on through W Budapest’s illusionary aesthetic,” said Bowler James Brindley. “Zsa ZsaGabor, another celebrated Hungarian who was at the vanguard of introducing European sophistication to Hollywood in the 1940s, has also been celebrated through playful touches of retro glamour.”

For more than two centuries ballet has been an integral part of Hungary’s cultural scene, with the hotel once housing the State Ballet Institute and the Hungarian Dance Academy. The interior celebrates this through soft pink hues, curved lines and impressive lighting installations, inspired by the graceful fluidity of the dance. The ‘ballet etoile’ aesthetic is celebrated in the all-black Extreme WOW suite and all-white WOW suite, taking inspiration from Swan Lake.

Amenities
The Houdini-inspired illusion comes to life at W Budapest’s AWAY SPA, where mirrors and water features create a feeling of never-ending space and serenity. Hidden doors lead to secret spaces where guests can seek solace from the bustling city and enjoy moments of calm and relaxation. A lounge takes centre stage, inspired by Budapest’s thermal baths, shrouded in traditional tiles and gold mesh, fusing the traditional side of the city with the modernity of W Hotels.

Artwork
Adam Ellis Studio created artwork that’s displayed throughout the property. Blending both interiors and ambiance, original wallpapers and framed pieces portray modern elegance, daring details and Hungarian influences. Highlights are a tapestry trio of Hungarian mythological creatures made from grass cloth and a welcome area dressed in green and gold metallic artwork detailing Houdini’s aviary of tropical birds suspended from a chandelier chain.

The extreme WOW and WOW suites feature a bespoke wallpaper inspired by the grand ceiling fresco of the neighbouring Hungarian Opera House. A modern feel extends into the suites’ bathrooms, where sea creatures shimmer through delicate aquatic botanicals. These intricate works are complemented by static framed art pieces in a monochrome palette, depicting all the accoutrements for ‘a night at the theatre’.

Destination
Budapest offers an array of activities, mixing those that have been passed down through generations with burgeoning trends to create a vibrant and eclectic social scene. In particular, the hotel nods to the city’s love of chess throughout its ‘Budapest Gambit’ inspired design. Chequerboard patterns make unexpected appearances, including monochrome tiled marble flooring, a chessboard inspired ceiling mirror in the W Lounge, guestrooms that feature black and white tiled walls and recesses, and lamps that emulate chess pieces to bring soft lighting throughout the hotel. This is complemented by odes to Budapest’s café culture, which sees locals start with coffee and stay for cocktails with dining areas in Nightingale, the hotel’s destination restaurant, mixing blue tones with metallic accents and café-style seating to create a sense of intimacy.