Architectural treasures are best restored, not destroyed. When converting Hamburg’s historic tax office into Germany’s first Fraser Suites, select design details were preserved to highlight the protected 1910 landmark’s past: 100-year-old Art Deco floor tiles were a surprise discovery, while restored 1950s corridor pendant lights reference the last extensive renovation. Inspiration from the Roaring Twenties adds inviting elegance, while playful floral and geometric patterns soften the imposing, awe-inducing architecture of the former legal building. Soothing blue tones further relax the mood and allude to the maritime culture of the nearby harbour. The restaurant and bar were created from the oval-shaped library with banquettes inset amongst the bookshelves. A huge challenge was transforming government offices into 154 guestrooms that, despite 98 diverse layouts, maintain a cohesive design language. Some have high ceilings; some are two-storey maisonettes; and others are at water level. A potential problem became a virtue: the atypical footprints with added kitchenettes have the individuality of traditional private apartments and feel calming and personalised for long-term stays.
