At the beginning of March 2025, the second Mövenpick hotel in Poland opened its doors to guests: the Mövenpick Grand Hotel Wrocław. The designers from MIXD faced a serious challenge in this project – not only to recreate interiors worthy of a hotel with over a hundred years of history but also to reflect the spirit of its era, rooted in the old Wrocław. The hotel was also meant to honor the heritage of the Swiss-origin hotel brand, whose name immediately evokes the aroma of strong coffee, the sweetness of ice cream and chocolate, and champagne toasts.
Project Name: Mövenpick Grand Hotel Wrocław
Studio Name: MIXD
Location: Wrocław, Polska
Opening: Marzec 2025
Space: 7700m2
Design team: Piotr Kalinowski, Katarzyna Majer-Hola, Joanna Mazurek, Marta Jakubas, Małgorzata Grzechowiak, Marta Filik, Joanna Klimasz, Martyna Florek- Musiał, Veronika Przybyłek – Bartyzel, Aleksandra Wiatr, Aleksandra Zaręba
How to creatively and yet modernly reference the original interiors of Hotel du Nord, designed by Paul Rother? How to capture the spirit of Wrocław from the early 20th century, when buildings rich in decoration, Secessionist and Art Deco styles were emerging, alongside the first signs of Modernism? How to present the brand to Poles, renowned for understated elegance, exceptional comfort, and unique culinary experiences? “We worked closely with the investor on the details to ensure that the building’s interior also reflects its history, recalling the forgotten Wrocław from the early 20th century, emphasizing its local character. Grand has always been a hotel – we wanted to maintain this continuity. It was also important to highlight the gastronomic experience: for example, the prominent corner restaurant, from which we can observe the vibrant city and the people emerging from the main entrance of the Main Railway Station. Unlike the hotel in Karpacz, where authenticity of the mountain resort was key, here we had to show a different side of the Mövenpick brand: urbanity, immersion in history,” explains Piotr Kalinowski, CEO and Creative Director of MIXD, about his team’s work.
Paris on the Oder
Looking at the few preserved photos of the original interiors of the Hotel du Nord, built in 1919, it’s easy to see that even then, Western Europe, especially Paris, set the trends in interior design. Wooden paneling, lambrines, stained glass, decorative lamps, Thonet chairs, interiors lavishly decorated with lush greenery, particularly palms. “Echoes of these solutions can be found in our contemporary interpretation in this project: it’s a nod both to the history of Grand and the era in which modern hospitality was shaped. When we think of an elegant hotel with traditions, we imagine interiors like these,” says Joanna Mazurek, Associate, Design Direction at MIXD, about the design inspirations. “At the time this hotel was built, Art Deco was gaining popularity – we drew inspiration from this decorative, geometric style mainly in details: the reception desk and hanging lamps above it, the decorative ceiling in the lobby, metalwork, lighting in the restaurant and rooms. Antiqued mirrors are like relics from those times, silent witnesses to wild parties, balls, and extraordinary guests visiting this place. We also included several distinctly Wrocławian touches: terrazzo, popular in local tenement houses at the time, geometric mosaics, and stained glass in colors inspired by the nearby historic train station.”
Feast of Senses
The MIXD design team titled their concept “Feast of Senses,” clearly indicating that the project aimed to engage all the senses: sight, taste, smell, touch, and hearing. Although the sweet buffet located right at the hotel entrance tempts with the aromas of chocolate and pralines (these delicacies are made on-site, and guests have the opportunity to taste them during the traditional Chocolate Hour), the focus is definitely not only on cuisine. “We emphasized richness and diversity of materials, contrasting textures. Brass, veneers, pressed glass, ceramics, stone, cozy fabrics, and rugs. We wanted guests to enjoy touching these materials, which age gracefully in a noble way. Through this, we also aimed to express the character of the premium brand,” highlights Joanna Mazurek. Piotr Kalinowski adds, “MIXD was previously associated mainly with creative, surprising design, typical for hotels targeting younger clients. With this project, we proved that lifestyle can also be interpreted creatively within the premium segment. I believe we showed that this lifestyle can be linked to quality and continuity, not just trends or chasing novelty. It’s something more complex and profound, closely related to art, fashion, culture, and history. It offers the opportunity to provide hotel guests with a unique value through storytelling, original concepts, and the search for new meanings. These meanings stay in memory and make interiors timeless, regardless of the specific materials or colors used. What ultimately matters most is why we chose them.”
Wrocław’s Gateway
Formerly called the Gateway of Wrocław, the twin buildings of the Piast and Grand hotels now inspire the name of the hotel’s restaurant: The Gate. While this interior, imbued with the spirit of old hotel elegance, is designed entirely in a contemporary style, it seamlessly connects with the hotel bar and opens onto the street with high, arched windows, inviting both hotel guests and city residents. The interior is divided into zones and arranged flexibly, allowing not only breakfast service in a somewhat hidden buffet or dining at restaurant tables but also hosting groups of various sizes, organizing celebrations, and culinary events such as the increasingly popular chocolate workshops and wine tastings. The high ceiling features spectacular chandeliers with round shades, custom-designed for The Gate interiors. “We drew inspiration from the popular grape motif from Secession and Art Deco styles, which fits perfectly with the restaurant and also with the Mövenpick brand, known for its champagne,” explains Joanna Mazurek.
The Magic of Details
Mövenpick Grand Hotel Wrocław offers guests 179 elegant rooms and suites, along with amenities in a premium standard. Guests can enjoy the spa and fitness area or relax on the hotel terrace. It’s an ideal place for both tourists (just a few minutes’ walk from the Old Town Square and major landmarks of Wrocław) and business travelers (the hotel features a spacious conference hall, and its location makes business trips significantly easier). Although we are in the heart of Poland’s third-largest city, the hotel interiors convey a sense of tranquility. The space is quiet, comfortable, with soft carpets and rugs that absorb footsteps, and the calming color palette of the rooms, inspired by appealing shades of coffee, chocolate, and champagne, encourages relaxation. Visitors can return multiple times and discover refined details with each stay: custom wall sconces and… ventilation grilles, decorative wardrobe door handles, a color palette on the carpeting inspired by Zofia Stryjeńska’s artwork, and the smile of a mysterious lady drawn by Anna Rudak.
