Enter a World of Edgy Fashion at Mercure Hotel Berlin Wittenbergplatz

Dive into the design inspiration behind the surprising and creative space that is Mercure Berlin Wittenbergplatz, and discover how our hotel is rooted in our locality.

Creative. Progressive. Contrasting. The Berlin fashion world, with its roots in the city’s own rebellious spirit, is many things – but perhaps its most defining feature of all? Open-mindedness. That's why Mercure hotels, with our mission to connect guests to your surroundings, chose Berlin fashion as the design inspiration for our hotel in the trendy district of Wittenbergplatz.

Picture the scene. People are strolling along Wittenbergplatz’s wide, tree-lined pavements, vanishing into and emerging triumphant from KaDeWe department store, Berlin’s oldest and most iconic shopping destination. Others are perusing the luxury boutiques and lingering at the open-air cafés along upscale Ku’Damm avenue, just a short walk away.

In the midst of this, you could be forgiven for not immediately noticing Mercure Hotel Berlin Wittenbergplatz. The building blends seamlessly into its fashionable surroundings, its cream panels and tall, blue-glass windows aesthetically pleasing yet not too modern. So where’s the visual impact? Brace yourself for a treat and step inside.

German firm Kitzig Design Studios were commissioned for the interior design, and their values of diversity, tolerance and creativity sync perfectly with Mercure's own. A branding wall greets you at the very entrance, setting the tone for what’s to come. This wall pays homage to the fashion industry with a collage of items contributed by Lette-Verein, a local vocational school for the applied arts. Each item is individual in its texture and appearance – a chunky gold chain, spools of cotton thread in rainbow colours, shiny rolls of satin binding tape, fabric swatches, pencil sketches – yet they all come together to create a unified whole.

Moving beyond, the lobby looks and feels more like an upscale boutique than a traditional hotel reception. Indeed, it’s not instantly obvious where the check-in desks are. Instead, your eyes are drawn to the trio of large, opulent gold mirrors on a statement anthracite wall, their unusual geometric frames inviting you to strike a pose in them. A three-seater sofa, simple in form but dressed in a striking zig-zag print, sits beneath the mirrors. An oval table and plush grey chairs offer another space to relax and flick through coffee-table books celebrating fashion and style. And those check-in desks? They’re a pair of tall, wooden tables, gently curved like a warm hug to make you feel at ease in this inspiring space.

The hotel, like fashion itself, is guided by continuity while still being unpredictable. As a guest, you rightly expect the same high standards and comforts while also knowing that there will be surprises. For example, stretching from floor to ceiling, right next to the check-in desks, is a glass case featuring a creation from Lette-Verein. Sometimes it’s a ballgown, elegant and shimmering; other times a tailored suit, precise and structured. And on other occasions – who knows? 

The same is true for the lighting. No ubiquitous downlights here – rather, a chandelier shaped like a flourish of trumpets invoking an elegant yet playful vibe. A bank of exposed lightbulbs in round, plate-like settings stretches along one wall, while ceiling lights in the form of sleek birds illuminate the check-in area. In another nod to the fashion industry, the broad, straight passageway linking the lobby and bar resembles a catwalk, with floor lighting leading the way.

Here, the mood shifts. Where the lobby stimulates you to keep looking and discovering, the bar, which doubles as a breakfast area, is a space to unwind. Natural light streams in from enormous windows, and the carefully curated mismatched chairs in all shapes, sizes, colours and forms invite you to choose your favourite. It's a place to feel comfortable, but that doesn't mean there’s nothing to look at. On the contrary, several walls are decorated with groups of stylised fashion photos in an array of sizes and shapes, tapping once again into the themes of diversity and individuality so central to Berlin fashion. A huge “R”, made of corks and in the centre of a wall showcasing bottles of wine, urges you to Relax. An especially whimsical and fun detail? The lights above the bar, which are upside-down retro-green wine glasses hanging at different lengths.

Just as fashion doesn’t shy away from controversy, Wittenbergplatz isn’t afraid to incorporate distinctive design elements. Take the rooms, for instance. The colours are bold – deep turquoise offset by rich yellows. The lines are clean and contemporary, the fabrics plush. But above the bed, instead of the usual watercolour landscapes or botanical prints you’d find in most other hotels, hangs a huge portrait photo of a model, hair swept up in an elaborate coiffure, shoulders swathed in an ethereal, feathery ensemble. 

It makes you stop and look – not just because it’s a striking work of art, but mainly because on second glance, you realise that the model, through their androgyny, challenges assumptions and refuses to be neatly pigeonholed. What’s more, the same image appears on the shower screen in the bathroom. Our bold design isn’t for everyone, but it’s sure to leave a lasting impression, and that’s what makes Wittenbergplatz unique.

Yet this is, after all, a hotel, so the question remains: would you want to stay here? Well, that depends on what you’re after. If you want somewhere that's simple and understated – and there’s nothing wrong with that – then this might not be your first choice. But if you want to immerse yourself in the flamboyant, colourful and unpredictable world of Berlin fashion, there’s no better place than here.