HOSPITALITY ATMOSPHERES // Unmistakably Berlin: Studio Aisslinger redesigns the 25hours Hotel Bikini Berlin

The legendary 25hours Hotel Bikini Berlin reopens its doors after an extensive redesign by studio aisslinger— the same studio behind the hotel’s original concept eleven years ago. While a ten-year cycle is typical for hotel renovations, this transformation went far beyond a standard refurbishment. It was about reactivating key areas and evolving the hotel’s concept to keep it fresh, relevant, and unmistakably Berlin. With the new concept, studio aisslinger once again sets a new milestone for experience-oriented hospitality design through immersive storytelling.

Situated next to the Tiergarten in central Berlin, the 25hours Bikini Berlin is a true cult destination in Berlin and across the global hospitality scene.

Even today, more than a decade after its inaugural opening, people line up nightly to enter the famous Monkey Bar or dine at NENI on the 10th floor.

Central to the redesign by studio aisslinger was the enduring retention of the hotel’s appeal as a creative, unconventional hub.

To maintain its iconic status, the hotel’s design has been carefully refined to preserve its character while offering new experiences. The result is a vibrant, unconventional space full of flexibility, unique identity, and local character.

The redesign

The new design of the 25hours Hotel Bikini Berlin strikes a harmonious balance between urban lifestyle and lush nature, inspired by its unique location next to the Berlin Zoo and the green expanse of the Tiergarten.

True to studio aisslinger’s signature design narrative, the concept is playful, immersive, and driven by storytelling.

Aisslinger’s „Urban Jungle“ reflects culture, sustainability, and Berlin’s subcultural spirit—woven throughout the hotel’s public lounges, themed rooms, and vibrant rooftop bar.

The suites

studio aisslinger completely redesigned all 24 suites with a bold new spatial concept, introducing fresh impulses to the overall experience. In each suite, the bed now takes center stage in the rooms, offering uninterrupted views of either the Tiergarten or City West.

Open-plan layouts ensure a seamless flow throughout each room. For moments of stillness and intimacy, each Large room includes a private wooden library capsule— the Conversation Pit –– a cozy, circular lounge retreat for reading, relaxing, and disconnecting.

This analog touch reflects the brand’s enduring commitment to tactile, non-digital experiences.

Special attention was given to the newly designed open bathrooms, which blur the traditional boundaries between private and shared space—open, fluid, and bathed in natural light.

Warm- toned lighting was introduced through integrated mirror illumination and new adjustable fixtures, while updated tiles add a fresh, contemporary feel. A playful, modern touch: the bathtubs now double as Bluetooth speakers.

In a pioneering collaboration with premium brand Kaldewei, the hotel launched an upcycling initiative: for the first time in the company’s history, original bathtubs and shower trays were recycled, refined both technically and visually, and reinstalled in the updated rooms.

Hospitality

A bold new chapter unfolds with a series of reimagined spaces that blend comfort, creativity, and Berlin edge. The Nomad Bar transforms from a daytime bakery to a lively aperitivo bar thanks to rotating shelf panels.

The Brick Lounge — with its tactile, hand-laid brick walls — provides a grounded coworking and reading space. Overlooking the zoo, the Rattan Jungle offers sculptural seating and hammock zones immersed in greenery.

The Bikini Lounge, developed with MOROSO, introduces a flexible sofa landscape perfect for work, relaxation, or spontaneous socializing.

Materials & furnishing

The latest design interventions highlight the contrast between the building’s raw architecture and newly added cozy zones. Materials include innovative textiles by JAB, natural brick, upcycled cork, rattan, and mirrored surfaces that reflect either the city or the Tiergarten into the rooms.

Collaborations — such as with MOROSO for the new coworking Bikini Lounge — and unique collectibles by studio aisslinger, like a four-meter-long kilim rug light fixture, deepen the hotel’s immersive design narrative.

About Studio Aisslinger

studio aisslinger is a design and interior architecture office founded 1993 in Berlin, with an office in Singapore since 2008. The design focuses on spatial design, ranging from cabins and new architectural concepts to product concepts, material innovations and culturally oriented visionary design. As a trendsetter in hospitality, retail and new work, studio aisslinger leads the way with its visions for future work-life-ambiences.

The work of studio aisslinger reflects a symbiosis of commercial requirements and free creativity in internationally realised and award-winning large- scale projects as well as in design experiments and installations that are shown in museums and exhibitions. Milestones and high-calibre projects during this time include design for Vitra AG Switzerland, Cappellini Spa Italy, Zalando SE Berlin, 25hours-hotel Group, Accor Group France, Nordic Group Sweden, Basecamp Europe, Jägermeister SE, EHPC & SIRCLE Group Amsterdam, Thonet GmbH Germany, Fotografiska International Museums, Central Group Bangkok Thailand, SIGNA Group Germany and Metropolis Investment Group, USA. These and numerous otherprojects represent a special and far-reaching experience that demonstrates a very deep unders- tanding of how and why design works.

About 25HOURS

25hours Hotels are part of Ennismore, a hospitality company rooted in culture and a creative community. This global collective is shaped by founder-led brands that place contemporary hospitality at their core. Today, there are 17 hotels in European destinations such as Hamburg, Berlin, Paris, Copenhagen, and Florence, as well as in international cities like Jakarta and Dubai. 25hours is a smart hotel concept defined by its charmingly relaxed service, designed to meet the needs of urban, cosmopolitan travelers.

Facts & Credits
Project title 25hours Hotel Bikini Berlin
Typology Interior design, Hotel design
Location Berlin
Completion 07/2025
Architecture studio aisslinger
Operator 25hours Hotels
Floor area 8,800 sqm
Photography Whitelight Studio
Text provided by the architects