Prison turned design hotel in small town Germany
Hotel Liberty / Offenburg / Germany
One thing I really like is when old buildings are repurposed and get a second chance as something totally different. Like this one. It used to be a prison and is now a design hotel. Going from being discouraging to inviting. Changing from a place people tried to escape from to a place people are traveling from near and far to experience. Talk about a transformation.
The original building was erected as early as 1840 and it wasn’t until 2009 that the last prisoners were relocated to the new prison. More or less directly after the prison door was closed for the last time the transformational journey began. The planning took almost two years until work finally began together with interior designers from Knoblauch-Design and local Trend Concept. And it wasn’t until October 2017 that the first hotel guests were welcomed when the old prison doors once again opened.
The hotel offers 38 rooms and the experience is built around the prison heritage. Like the in house restaurant that is called ”Wasser & Brot” (which means Water & Bread). The rooms are made up of two or more old prison cells where walls have been removed to create larger spaces. The rooms have vaulted brick ceilings, thick walls and small prison size windows letting in just enough light. But you also have all the modern features one could expect from a design hotel. This is a prison I don’t mind being locked up in.
Old meets new when the original prison is paired with a more modern glass structure.
The prison past is really evident in the atrium surrounding the reception and restaurant.
I couldn’t have said it better myself.
The old prison cell doors are a constant reminder of the past of this building. Today’s cells I assume are somewhat more attractive than the old ones.
The curved brick ceiling of our room was beautifully lit.
Look what we found in our room. A cell mate to keep us company.
M enjoying a chilled Aperol in downtown Offenburg.
RG inside info
This place is perfect if you…
…like us, were on a road trip through Europe and wanted a cool place to stay for the night. There aren’t too many design hotels along the Autobahn so I was really glad when I found this on Design Hotels web page.
My favorite thing about this place…
…I love when you old meets new. When skilled architects starts with an old beautiful building and combines it with a new structure that marry. When there is a friction but not a crash between the two. And I also really liked the small funny nods to the past, like that there is a cell mouse in every room to keep you company.
What not to miss when staying here…
…is to go out and experience the small, cute town of Offenburg. Find a terrace and order a large beer. This is Germany after all. And if you want to venture further, the beautiful Schwarzwald area with deep forests and rolling hills is just around the corner.
If you like this place you might also like…
Nääs Fabriker, Tollered, Sweden
Factory Hotel, Münster, Germany
Steam Hotel, Västerås, Sweden
