Hotel Monastery Garden

The irreplaceable charm of Český Krumlov blends with the warm atmosphere of a small boutique hotel lovingly reconstructed and operated. The hotel owners lived abroad for a long time and traveled extensively, and they wanted to capitalize on their experiences in tourism to create their own little dream hotel. They fell in love with the town when they first visited it as tourists years ago. And it was precisely in the historic center of Český Krumlov that they decided to build a hotel to which guests would love to return; a hotel that would surprise and entertain them with every visit, offering them a range of experiences and accommodation options (hence every room is unique) and above all, one that would convey a truly warm and family-like impression. They enlisted the architectural studio "ti architekti" for collaboration. They liked their style and the combination of historical elements and modern solutions – a contrast with respect for history.

You will find Hotel Monastery Garden right at the entrance to the monastery gardens, which in fact gave it its name. Herbs and plants from the gardens became the centerpiece of the hotel's interior. You will find them on wallpapers and paintings, forming the names of all ten rooms. "At the owners' request, we tried to conceive the interior in an experiential way. The place thus became our main inspiration," explains architect Martin Machů. "The hotel is located in a 16th-century building. Unfortunately, it underwent an insensitive reconstruction in the past. Therefore, we could not build too much on historical layers. We had to recreate the atmosphere of mystery, imagination, and a certain scruffiness. We aimed to furnish the hotel so that it feels lived-in yet clean. Familiar, yet still fresh. We have a number of design stand-alone pieces here. The interior should appear timeless: it shouldn't be unnecessarily historicizing, nor inappropriately contemporary," adds Martin Machů.

The selection of switches and sockets fits into the concept of the interior at the intersection of history and modernity. The choice fell on retro rotary switches from the berker series 1930 made of black plastic by Hager. These round switches evoke the style of the 1930s. They are a popular choice for historical buildings, but surprisingly pair well with minimalist interiors in the style of classic modernism. They were a great choice for the playful atmosphere of the Hotel Monastery Garden.

The entrance to the hotel is pleasantly unconventional. Upon arriving from a small cobblestone alley, you won’t find a traditional reception desk in the hotel’s entrance area, but a bistro, whose heart is a large dining table. The bistro, which serves not only hotel guests but also the general public, feels more like a grandmother's kitchen with its warm coziness. If you’re not greeted directly by one of the owners, you will be taken care of by the café staff at a wooden island, where you will always find a warm homemade pie. The bistro is freely accessible to guests even after closing time, so you can enjoy a late bottle of wine in the historic dining hall. In the basement, a wine cellar awaits you.

Paradoxically, the architects did not want the hotel to feel too design-oriented. During the interior reconstruction, they tried not to slip into architectural exhibitionism. They worked with local picturesque features and kitsch, rich colors, and forms. They aimed to create a feeling of coziness and charm. They balanced on the edge but tried to avoid cheapness. They represented clean solutions in a colorful way. While they addressed every detail, they did so in a manner that the result felt natural, and the effort was not overtly visible in the outcome. The architects intended for guests to take away unique experiences and for them to find something a little new every time they return. Therefore, every room is entirely different. Some include a well as part of the interior, others a chimney or a library. "We wanted to evoke curiosity, create a sense of mystery and imagination. Walking through the city at night is truly a unique experience. The small side alleys invite exploration. That’s why we also played with hidden rooms, sliding pictures, or closet passages like in Narnia in the hotel’s interior. If you want to peek into an old well in the rock, you can do so right from the bathtub in the room named Hawthorn," reveals the hotel’s architect Anna Holešovská. The architects also kept in mind the phenomenon of social networks, particularly the quest of travelers for photo opportunities to post on Instagram. "We aimed for every corner of the hotel to have the ambition to become a backdrop for a traveler's Instagram photo. Therefore, the hotel is photogenic in every nook and detail," concludes Anna Holešovská.

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