Located dead center of the country, Marburg is one of those mid-sized German cities that has picturesque spires, pristine hilltop Gothic-style castles, and numerous Renaissance flourishes found along narrow cobblestone streets. Even though it’s the seat of pharmaceutical giants like BioNTech, the mini metropolis’ industrial past has long been overlooked.
Set within a derelict but historically significant Deutsche Bahn (German rail) depot, the recently completed NOXX Hotel sheds fresh light on this heritage inside and out.
The bolt in the steel rail that is the rapidly developing mix-use workspace complex in its midst, the new 82-key destination unfolds as a series of seamlessly interconnected public areas and generously sized accommodations. Frankfurt interiors practice ABERJA imbued all with a coherent palette of materials, and custom furnishings that hint to the past while suggesting a future.
The studio adopted a ”genius loci“ (spirit of place) approach by selecting a bright red to evoke and amplify the original brick construction: the repurposed if slightly crumbling original structure as the ground floor. This tone carries across various elements: bed frames, benches, and modular shelves/desks. Semi-circular washbasins reflect the profile of classic locomotive boilers. Patinated aged steel and perforated metal surfaces tie everything together. Cascading like layered theater curtains, mesh metal delineates different zones. It’s decidedly contemporary; an homage that’s far more nuanced, sculptural, abstracted, and future-oriented.
There’s a level of cheerfulness – achieved through bright tones and a level of literal and metaphorical openness – that imbues NOXX with an inviting atmosphere, not the dreariness one might normally associate with late Nineteenth Century industrial architecture.
Integrating into the rest of the complex’s program – co-working spaces, conference rooms, and multipurpose event halls – the ground floor contains a near boundless flow between the lobby, restaurant, and additional seminar rooms. A six-story insert structure – clad in decidedly contrasting dark-hued composite panels – cantilevers over the preserved depot structure and contains uniquely laid-out guest rooms, tiered into Essential, Comfort, Loft, and Suite categories. Fitted out with kitchenettes for those here for a longer stay, the latter also features perched views of Marburg, its castle, and the surrounding countryside. A top level bar does the same.
NOXX Marburg also exceeds Germany’s already rigorous sustainability regulations for new buildings. The hotel meets the stringent 55-EE standard, consuming 45% less energy than legally required. This was achieved through the careful sourcing and implementation of materials; the integration of high-efficiency heat pumps, a photovoltaic system, district heating, and superior insulation. On an operational level, hotel management constantly adjusts temperature control to balance comfort with minimal consumption.
What: NOXX Hotel
Where: Marburg, Germany
How much: Starting at € 139 per night
Design draws: Making the most of a long discarded train depot, NOXX Hotel was designed to reflect a “genius loci” (spirit of place) approach: brightly colored custom furnishings and architectural elements that loosely reflect the location’s industrial history.
Book it: NOXX Hotel
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Photography by Steve Herud.