Hotel Zoo Berlin, a Member of Design Hotels

THE HOTEL Great cities are defined by their grandest boulevards. Fortunately, the visionaries behind Hotel Zoo Berlin, on Berlin’s Kurfürstendamm, understood the magnitude of their undertaking. Refusing to play it safe, they infused a 1920s building with daring new qualities befitting a contemporary star on one of the world's grandest stages. Spacious rooms and suites feature custom-built furniture and a bold bohemian spirit, while the restaurant and lounge serve sophisticated, avant-garde cuisine and classic cocktails amid world-renowned DJs. In short, welcome the leader of cool in Berlin’s revived City West neighborhood. MADE BY ORIGINALS After graduating from Rhode Island School of Design, Dayna Lee started working in the advertising, television, fashion, and motion picture industries before settling in hospitality. With partner Ted Berner and the talented team at Powerstrip Studio—the multidisciplinary outfit that specializes in conceptual design from resorts to urban towers—Lee developed a signature style characterized by luxury without decadence and elegance without compromising comfort. ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN Originally the private residence of Berliners in the political sphere, the building that houses Hotel Zoo Berlin still stands as one of Kurfürstendamm’s most recognizable structures. Built in 1889, it escaped damage in World War II, and was then gutted and renovated in 2012 for the hotel’s relaunch in 2014. Many of the original elements remain, such as the façade, the soaring ceilings, and the bay windows, while Powerstrip Studios—led by Dayna Lee and Ted Berner—have embellished the interiors with a bold bohemian spirit and the refined elegance of a stately townhouse. References to 1920s abodes and Hollywood set design are enhanced by statement pieces, eye-catching furniture, and thought-provoking works of art.

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