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By Mariam Nihal
The Conservatorium hotel in Amsterdam stands on the famous site of Amsterdam’s former Sweelinck Conservatory of Music. “It’s funny because I used to come here as a little girl and watch people playing instruments there,” a hotel staff member pointed out from our window to the lobby below as she gave us a tour around the room. “Now it is this grand hotel and I work here. It is surreal.”
The Neo-Gothic building was built at the end of the 19th century and was opened as a hotel in 2011. What may look like a magnificent palace is a contemporary luxury lifestyle hotel on the inside. From the latest technical facilities and luxury amenities, the hotel is created as a destination on its own for those looking for comfort and staying in during their trip. Infusing sophisticated simplicity with functionality, the features are easy to work with and are created for a comfortable stay.
Perhaps just lacking speaker support and AirPlay. With big windows looking across the brasserie and lobby lounge, the new concert area also called the symphony room, a level above it, the room is designed in a way that allows natural sunlight to brighten it up.
The hotel also feels like a greenhouse as sunlight cascades through the top glass ceiling and settles in every corner of the hotel like warm residue. The room’s interiors are composed of neutral colors with brushed-oak flooring and contemporary furniture that evokes a timeless feel. Another interesting element is the way doors are integrated within the walls and can open up to become closets or bathrooms. The big lush bathrooms include marble tubs, rainfall showers and a LCD mirror TV.
Now lets not forget the most important facet of any hotel experience- room service. The Conservatorium Hotel offers you the healthiest choices possible with a delectable spread and prompt service.
You can also have breakfast at the Conservatorium brasserie and lounge, which is located in a beautiful atrium with spectacular floor-to-ceiling windows and a glass ceiling. Indulge in traditional afternoon tea, local dishes for all-day dining and the seasonal Plat du Jour.
The lounge is great for intimate and relaxed meetings with plush sofas and coffee tables, providing a sophisticated sanctuary for its guests. For those who like to travel primarily because of hotels, then this is one you can’t miss in Amsterdam. But because of its impressive location, you can’t help but want to unleash the inner explorer waiting to discover art through the ages. The Conservatorium hotel is located in the heart of the city’s major museum square Museumplein and the Royal Concert hall with unrivalled access to all of the capital’s cultural destinations including the Rijksmuseum, Stedelijk Museum and Van Gogh Museum. The hotel is close to the fashion district of P.C. Hooftstraat and Van Baerlestraat, with access to stores like Gucci, Hermes and all high-end brands. The hotel is also close to the Jordaan neighborhood, one of the oldest neighborhoods of Amsterdam. The Conservatorium offers an array of luxury shops, a hair salon and spa as well. But what is commendable is that they keep history alive as they carry on the musical tradition of its birthplace. The hotel reportedly wanted to emphasize the heritage and history of the building, which has been the house of the former Sweelinck Conservatory of Music from 1983 to 2008. They do this by giving students of Amsterdam University of Arts, a podium to perform so that perhaps those like the staff that grew up watching musicians in the building will be able to relive their fond memories and create more for generations to come.
About Design
The building was originally designed by the Dutch architect Daniel Knuttel as the Rijkspostspaarbank at the end of the 19th century. It heralded the regeneration of the Museumplein, an area previously derelict. Knuttel was praised for his ability to fuse simplicity and functionality, and the award-winning Milan-based furniture and interiors designer Piero Lissoni has embraced this tradition through the reincarnation of this spectacular building 100 years later. Known for his austere lines, demure fabrics and shades of grey with occasional bright accents, Lissoni is considered one of the most prominent and exciting contemporary Italian designers. His clean designs are a hybrid of modernist and contemporary chic and contrast playfully with natural daylight throughout the building’s spaces. Furniture from leading Italian manufacturers such as Living Divani, Kartell, Cassina and other design classics sit prominently in all communal spaces while accent pieces such as vintage Asian rugs provide a sense of familiar comfort.
The Set
Conservatorium hotel is the first member of The Set, a collection that was created to redefine the concept of the luxury hotel for sophisticated, design literate travellers in the 21st Century.
