noa* redesigns goldene rose hotel under a historic roof, as a kaleidoscope of the past

GOLDENE ROSE hotel by NOA*

In the medieval town of Dinkelsbuehl, Germany, noa* and building planning office Juergen Haeberlein have redesigned the Hotel Goldene Rose, giving a common face to the town’s various architectural identities, each with its own history and distinctive features. The property, which dates back to the 15th century, consists of five different buildings united under one historic roof. Both teams succeeded in developing a unified spatial concept for a mosaic of uses such as restaurants, warehouses, a brewery, a cinema, a ballroom, a casino, and apartments, forming a comprehensive hotel ensemble without blurring the historical traces.

the front building of the Goldene Rose with its mustard-yellow half-timbered facade | all images by Alex Filz

historic WALLS house NEW FUNCTIONS

The front building of the Goldene Rose with its mustard-yellow half-timbered facade and view of the town square has been welcoming hotel guests for years. Now, right at the threshold, one encounters the main design idea that runs through the entire space, namely the translation of the past into the present. As soon as you enter, the ‘Vicky’ bar, named after the queen, invites you to linger in the armchairs in front of the fireplace with its counter made of black granite and antique mirror paneling. Here, the architects chose rough plaster with an antique finish, whitewashed oak floors interspersed with darker planks running parallel to the ceiling, and displays of old guild signs that give the ensemble a unique identity. The lobby adjacent to the bar and the spacious reception area take advantage of the existing irregularities and the labyrinth of original walls, whose design creates inviting and intimate seating areas.

‘The guest should be able to experience the building intensely – not only through the historic ceiling beams but also in its heights and various levels, by climbing up and down.’ shares Lukas Rungger, founder and leading architect of noa* (find more here).

the labyrinth of the original walls creates inviting and intimate seating areas in the lobby

Through the second building, which is reserved for circulation areas and various service rooms, one enters house number three, which was also the location of the former 1870 ballroom. On the first floor, hotel guests can have breakfast and dine in the restaurant Kantine Rosine. The ambiance is enriched by the wallpaper on the surrounding walls and ceilings, complemented by slightly transparent curtains for secluded, quieter areas. The landscaped courtyard offers views of the cathedral, the upper hotel floors, and the outdoor pool on the top floor. The fourth building, a former residence last used as a casino, houses part of the hotel’s 43 rooms and closes the gap with the last building, a former pub, and brewery that houses externally designed apartments, also part of the Goldene Rose.

the former 1870 ballroom

the wallpaper covers the surrounding walls and ceilings

SIMILAR YET DIFFERENT

Although the Goldene Rose guest rooms are divided into three categories, they all share the same aesthetic and design concept. Each room features a hanging sofa, a medieval-inspired tapestry behind the bed, and an open bathroom that blends into the space through mirrored, mosaic-like surfaces. The junior suites, located in the first building, are different and span two floors, the upper of which is an attic with exposed roof beams where the sleeping area is located. Here the tapestry extends on the floor and creates a cozy niche for the bed. ‘Our sustainability concept is also about bringing old buildings into use. In this case, we felt it appropriate to maintain the original guest room function, which perpetuates the charm and radiance of the city.’ explains Patrick Gürtler, the Interior Designer of the project.

A highlight of the building is the former ballroom and later cinema hall from the 1950s, whose bricked-up windows were reopened in the course of the project and whose space was converted into a multifunctional event hall. In the center of the two-story hall, which can also be rented for external events, there is a suspended box for private visitors – the ‘Kino Suite’ – with a large window facing the cinema screen, accessible via a walkway. The auditorium itself can be darkened with huge blackout curtains that span the entire second floor. A few original glass globe lamps provide atmospheric lighting and a touch of nostalgia.

each room features a hanging sofa and an open bathroom

AN UNEXPECTED ROOFSCAPE

The wellness area is located on the top floor of the hotel and extends over the entire roofscape, with building planning office Juergen Haeberlein taking care not to alter the exterior appearance too much. There is a ten-meter-long outdoor infinity pool that offers a unique view of the nearby cathedral. To prevent the pool from appearing as a foreign object from a bird’s eye view, it was roofed over; swimmers can see the clouds through the holes in the gable roof, but the pool remains invisible from above. The wellness area is complemented by a large relaxation room spread over two floors, a fruit bar, and a separate sauna area. An interior staircase leads to the top floor. Exposed wooden beams, an intimate atmosphere, and an across-stretched net in the topmost peak of the attic provide an incomparable relaxation experience.

the wellness area is located on the top floor and extends over the entire roofscape