- Outdoor & travel
The stylish, holistic and cosmopolitan-inspired interior of the Mauritzhof Hotel in Münster makes it the perfect urban retreat. Lambs and Lions creates a worldly atmosphere while reflecting the city's cultural evolution and history.
Situated on a green boulevard in the lively German city of Münster, the Mauritzhof has always been a striking hotel with a long history. It was transformed by owner Stefan Reckhenrich into a pioneer of boutique hotels in the 1980s and reopened in 2016 when the interior got a new lease on life. Interior architect Lambs and Lions transformed it into a personal and urban refuge with the help of architectural firm Kresings. 
Dreaming away at these images feels as good as really going on holiday.
It took six months to completely renovate the 1950s stone building into "a timeless space where intimacy and community achieve just the right balance," says Lambs and Lions. The studio brought their typical refined and unique style to the iconic hotel. Michael Schickinger, creative director and founder of Lambs and Lions, told us more about the hotel design and his studio. 
Timeless & urban
The renewed design of Mauritzhof created a fresh and young concept for a contemporary classic. Michael Schickinger's studio let a distinctive and personal breeze run through the interior. Lambs and Lions managed to perfectly represent their style in the hotel design. "The idea was to give the hotel a sense of urban elegance with relaxed forms and timeless design. We played with dark wooden wall panels, velvet and bronze elements, herringbone parquet floors and a soft colour palette to create a warm and sophisticated atmosphere," says Michael. Timeless Scandinavian pieces of furniture and vintage treasures with character were placed in perfect composition and the layout of the rooms takes into account a sense of human behaviour, atmosphere and functional needs.
With furniture from Danish brands such as Gubi – of which Imagicasa has been a big fan for many years – and Fredericia, Lambs and Lions created "a timeless design language full of character," says Michael. Comfort was an important factor. That's why the designer chose these Scandinavian furniture classics. All the pieces are beautifully in line with the earthy colour palette that provides a serene, sensual atmosphere. A lovely contrast to the hectic life in the city. Some personal elements and some art should certainly not be missing in a home and therefore not in this hotel. For further decoration, artworks from the owner's own private collection were complemented by beautiful works from Münster-based photographer Berthold Socha. 
A lovely contrast to the hectic life in the city.
Relaxing luxury
Behind the minimalist, limestone facade that reflects the elegant, cosmopolitan atmosphere of the interior, there are 52 newly designed guest rooms and a penthouse called the Panorama Suite. You can also enjoy a pleasant lounge and bar, which are Michael's favourite areas: "I really love the lounge around the bar and certainly the terrace side where the hotel opens onto the lush greenery of the promenade. From here you can see people cycling and jogging. It's not even a typical sight of a German city, but it rather has a Dutch touch." The beautiful, green surroundings also enter through the floor to ceiling windows in the entrance hall and thanks to the warm, cosy palette that dominates the entire hotel, you immediately feel at home. A relaxed luxury to enjoy!
According to Michael, it was a very pleasant project to work on. "During the project we had a very like-minded understanding and dialogue with the owner Dr. Stefan Reckhenrich," he says. "His humour and openness to new ideas made it very pleasant for us to work on this project. Especially in the tight and challenging timeframe we were facing." What they achieved here in just six months deserves a round of applause. 
This article was originally published in Imagicasa Autumn 2019. You can still order this issue through our webshop to read the full story behind Lams & Lions.
Photography © Georg Roske, Steve Herud