The ‘less is more’ ideology of Ludwig Mies van der Rohe may hardly be used to describe the newly renovated public areas of the hotel, yet influences of one of Germany’s most distinctive 20th-century styles are evident in the design approach. Moscow-based studio Sundukovy Sisters employs the geometric shapes and functionality characteristic of the Bauhaus, only to subvert its principles with fantastical ornaments, a bright palette and luxurious materials.

Blurring the boundaries between the hotel and the zoological garden, the designers introduce a cast of abstract ‘zoo objets d’art’ to invite more than a touch of whimsy and fantasy to the space. From an oversized zebra in the restaurant to various graphic animals in the lobby, the hotel is a playground of colour and texture.