Waldo Works Transforms Historic Frankfurt Banking Hall into Bauhaus-Inspired Hotel.

London-based architecture studio Waldo Works has completed the transformation of the former Deutsche Bank headquarters into the striking Kimpton Main Frankfurt. The hotel is located within the FOUR towers development in the city’s financial district, and spreads over 8,240 square metres.

Under the direction of Tom Bartlett, Waldo Works has crafted a contemporary interpretation of Bauhaus principles whilst respecting the site’s institutional heritage. The design team approached the 155-room hotel as an exercise in contrasts, balancing cool, neutral materials like chrome and crystal against warm, opulent elements including deep green and red marble, rich velvet, and dark mahogany wood.

This material interplay is immediately evident in the reception area, where bespoke desks made from leather, mahogany, aluminium and copper create striking focal points. Custom glass and nickel light fittings by Illumination Works complement screens rendered in marble, glass and green veneer, establishing the hotel’s aesthetic from the moment guests arrive.

Television Centre Penthouse in London by Waldo Works.

Taking lead from the post-war origins of the building, the designers followed a concept of British modernity imbued with eclectic colours and objects, with particular inspiration taken from the 1951 Festival of Britain.

The lobby bar MAY continues this material narrative with a mahogany, marble and copper bar topped by a custom crystal and nickel glass holder. Signature enamelled Kimpton Frankfurt table lamps provide intimate lighting, while banquettes upholstered in leather and textile feature Tibor Fabric accents. Textile art pieces by New York-based Caroline Kaufman add a contemporary touch, complemented by lighting inspired by Dan Flavin that glows warmly throughout the evening hours.

ANNI, the hotel’s 85-cover brasserie restaurant, pays homage to Bauhaus textile artist Anni Albers through its embroidered textile signage and design philosophy. Drawing inspiration from classic European grand cafés and traditional Italian restaurants in New York, the space features oversized paper lampshades, yellow grasscloth wall coverings, and elm panelling with tiled columns. Artist Zebedee Helm has contributed a collection of caricatures depicting famous Franks, adding local cultural references to the walls.

Studio Ford Celebrates Legendary Women of Bauhaus with Hand-Blocked Textiles.

With each block-printed design in Interwoven, an integral woman of the Bauhaus is acknowledged from Gunta Stölzl and Anni Albers to Otti Berger and Benita Koch-Otte.

The guest rooms showcase attention to detail through indigo-dyed veneer and velvet headboards, green enamelled custom lighting, and tobacco leather bedside tables featuring distinctive knuckleduster handles. Desks integrate into headboard designs, cantilevering out in blue saddle-stitched leather, while custom chrome conical desk lamps span dramatically from desktop to ceiling.

Bathrooms demonstrate functional innovation through red and blue taps that simplify operation for international guests, alongside glazed vanity surfaces, marble elements, and fine enamelled gridding on walls. Alabaster lighting creates a warm, welcoming atmosphere throughout these private spaces.

The hotel’s art collection, curated by Laura Bartlett Studio, includes collages by Monika Gardyla, wall reliefs by Ruairiadh O’Connell, and photographs by Jenny van Sommers, reinforcing the property’s commitment to contemporary creative expression within its historically significant setting.

Puro Poznań's Craft Renaissance: A Love Letter to Polish Heritage.

From the sculptural reception desk to Art Nouveau-inspired glass windows, each element tells a story of local artisanship while creating thoroughly modern spaces for today's travellers.

[Images courtesy of Waldo Works. Photography by Sebastian Arlt.]