There are hotels that focus on discretion, neutral colors and bathrooms safely hidden behind a door.
And then there is the 25hours Hotel Bikini Berlin.
In this rather trendy Berlin hotel, the design clearly likes to take some liberties with conventions. To the point of having installed some toilets behind large glass panels, with an unobstructed view to the outside.
Yes, even in that spot.
Is it a designer's bias or just a slightly strange idea? In any case, it doesn't exactly leave anyone indifferent.
A Berlin hotel that's playing the "Urban Jungle" card
The 25hours Hotel Bikini Berlin opened in January 2014, in the Charlottenburg district, right next to the Berlin Zoo and the Tiergarten.
His universe was imagined by Studio Aisslinger around a concept called "Urban Jungle"The idea is quite simple: to constantly play with the boundary between the city and nature.
On one side, Berlin, its buildings and its hustle and bustle. On the other, the zoo, the trees and a much greener atmosphere.
And this mix is found everywhere in the hotel. Some rooms overlook the zoo directly through large bay windows, while the Jungle Sauna also enjoys a panoramic view.
In short, here, the view is clearly part of the scenery.
And apparently, nobody thought that an exception had to be made for the toilets.
Toilets that caused a stir from the moment they opened
From the moment the hotel opened in 2014, certain sanitary facilities quickly attracted attention.
The reason is quite obvious: large glass surfaces face outwards, offering views of the zoo's surroundings and Berlin. Not exactly what you'd first imagine when thinking of a place where you generally prefer peace and quiet…
But ultimately, these restrooms fit in quite well with the rest of the hotel. Here, you can enjoy the view from everywhere, and the design cleverly blurs the lines between indoors and outdoors.
At the time of the opening, a sign even warned visitors that monkeys were not necessarily the only ones likely to observe them.
That sets the tone.
Since 2014, the hotel has undergone several renovations. In particular, some of the rooms and bathrooms were redesigned during a renovation carried out by Studio Aisslinger.
It is therefore difficult to assert that the famous toilets visible in the opening photos have remained strictly identical in every detail.
The hotel continues to prominently feature its public restrooms in its official media center, alongside its guest rooms, the Monkey Bar, and the Jungle Sauna. Large bay windows and open spaces remain a key element of the décor.
When design pushes the notion of panoramic view a little too far
The establishment has never sought to be a classic hotel anyway. Hammocks in the rooms, mismatched furniture, vegetation, raw concrete, panoramic views of the zoo… everything is designed to give the place its own unique identity.
Ultimately, these glass-enclosed toilets simply push the concept a little further than expected.
Finally, "fun" probably depends on which side of the window you're on.
If you like unusual architecture and hotels that take some liberties with the notion of privacy, the 25hours Hotel Bikini Berlin is definitely worth a visit.
And if you have a pressing need to use the restroom upon arrival, perhaps consider looking around before settling in comfortably.
