BUCHAREST REAL ESTATE CLUB took the opportunity to visit the new 5-star Marmorosch Hotel, recently inaugurated in Bucharest Downtown historical center, under the Autograph Collection brand by Apex Alliance, after a long and careful restoration process led by CUMULUS Architecture Studio.
The rich architecture of the Art-Deco, as well as the interior design, tell a story of progressive ideas of the time evoking the thrilling sense of historical importance and optimism that is closely tied with the era. Currently, the hotel features 217 rooms from standard category to suites, 4 meeting and ballrooms, 4 F&B outlets (restaurant, lounge, bar as well as a coffee corner), a fitness center and an SPA with an indoor pool and treatment rooms. Here is what we liked most:
1. The careful conservation of a valuable La Belle Epoque building
The Marmorosch, a class A monument decorated in neo-Romanian style, became the first hotel opened under the Autograph Collection brand in Romania. The restoration process was a difficult and challenging one, as the architects state, most of them due to the responsibility of the building’s heritage. The interior design reflects the interwar period and every inch has been restored or reconditioned, implying a total budget of EUR 42 mil. from investor Appex Alliance.
2. The edgy interior design
The consolidation and restoration work for the Marmorosch – Blank Palace and converting the former Bucharest bank into a 5-star hotel took 3 years, under the coordination of CUMULUS Architecture Office. The Art Deco and Art Nouveau architectural heritage include architectural and artworks, restored murals, specific furniture for the bank’s activity and many other bank references that can be found at every step in Marmorosch Bucharest, Autograph Collection.
“The Marmorosch building is itself built on an early stylistic experiment of undeniable value. The whole process of design, coordination and execution of the project meant for us at CUMULUS a privilege to be able to contribute to the conversion of a bank building into a hotel, thus rendered to the public through its open function”, said architect Adrian Soare, Senior Managing Partner at CUMULUS Architecture and lead author of the project.
Marmorosch Bucharest has a total of 217 rooms, split between Silver and Gold rooms, with the addition of Heritage and Platinum suites and the spectacular Marmorosch Palace Suite designed by YES Design Lithuania.
“Marmorosch Blank is a private bank that was the foundation of modern Romania, the monument building being of a unique stylistic value for Bucharest. The conversion and restoration project in The Marmorosch Bucharest, Autograph Collection is about bringing back to the public circuit a historical heritage that we can be proud of, to open to the city an abandoned, forgotten building and to create a reference point on the emotional map of the city”, architect Adrian Soare ads.
For interior design & other specialties, the architects collaborated with YES Design, a pioneering design studio from Lithuania.
3. Contemporary atmosphere, while thoroughly respecting this heritage building
We loved the modern adaptation of various interior design elements under this historical building. As an example, a cool contemporary bar has been set up on the former safe deposit location, underground the building and all over the building modern elements naturally blend with the original architecture of the place.
The architects` challenges were also the adaptation of the building to the operational safety and fire safety requirements in force in Romania, as well as to the strict standards of the Autograph Collection by Marriott brand for a luxury hotel while preserving all the existing valuable elements.
The former premises of Marmorosch Blank Bank were designed and erected in several phases starting with the year 1912. The initial design was elaborated by the architect Petre Antonescu and given its spatial and decorative qualities, the building represents an eloquent example of bank architecture of traditional inspiration of the early 20th Century.
Photo Credit: Bianca Dobrescu