BK Architects and Office WINHOV collaborate on W Amsterdam in former bank and telephone exchange
by Helen Andrews | 25 Aug 2015
Starwood Hotels & Resorts’ first Dutch property, W Amsterdam, is due to unveil a series of gastronomic experiences and some accommodation before the full hotel’s debut in December, designed by Office WINHOV and BK Architects.
The historic former KAS Bank building and neighbouring Exchange building – a former telephone exchange – are both part of the W Amsterdam. Parts of the KAS Bank building are already open to guests, including a restaurant called The Duchess, which opened in June.
From September 21, 126 bedrooms in the Exchange building will be opened to guests, while the remaining guest accommodation, fitness centre and Away Spa will be available from December.
The hotel will open a W Lounge with more than 5km of copper pipes on show, paying tribute to the telephone wires and electricity lines used when the building was home the the Royal Dutch Post Building. This lobby bar will also house a distinctive set of stairs that echo the steps of Dam Square on the streets below. Global glass manufacturer Saint Gobain will produce gold lines printed on the windows of this building.
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There will also be an ‘X Bank’ in the hotel – a concept space for local designers, fashion specialists and musicians to exhibit their work.
The Entourage Group, a hospitality management company, runs The Duchess restaurant and will also operate Mr Porter – a rooftop steakhouse dining experience.
The hotel will also offer 414sq m (4,456sq ft) of meeting and event space.
The Entourage Group, a hospitality management company, runs The Duchess restaurant Credit: Office WINHOV and BK Architects
Credit: Office WINHOV and BK Architects
Starwood Hotels & Resorts’ first Dutch property, W Amsterdam, is due to unveil a series of gastronomic experiences and some accommodation before the full hotel’s debut in December, designed by Office WINHOV and BK Architects. The historic former KAS Bank building and neighbouring Exchange building – a former telephone exchange – are both part of the W Amsterdam. Parts of the KAS Bank building are already open to guests, including
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"Culture is the beating heart of this project"
Designed to restore neglected land and renew the identity of Iraq’s capital city, Baghdad Sustainable Forests promises a new way of living surrounded by nature. Gensler’s Ian Mulcahay tells us why he thinks the project could become a model for the repair and enhancement of urban centres
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