Big, beautiful and bizarre in Bonn

The latest hotel to open up in Bonn is a five star luxury design/boutique extravaganza called the Kameha Grand.  Usually design or boutique hotels are perfectly styled and small in scale.  The Kameha Grand is grand by name and grand by nature with 253 rooms, a spa, two restaurants, four different bars and lounges, plus numerous banqueting suites and meeting rooms. Owner Carsten Rath, is optimistic about the hotel's popularity, despite opening in the middle of a recession. He has incorporated an eco gimmick that will go far to cut down on running costs. The hotel is able to cater for 70% of its heating and cooling needs using geothermal power.  The power plant in the basement allows for reduced energy costs and cuts C02 emissions by roughly 400 tonnes.  The hotel sits right on the Rhine and offers spectacular views of the Rhine valley and Siebengebirge hills.  Its modern glass exterior looks rather like an airport terminal from afar, and the large spaces inside can look a little like an exhibition hall. But the luxurious (and somewhat kitsch) interiors created by the Dutch industrial designer Marcel Wanders, create a somewhat surreal and bizarre atmosphere which makes the hotel a delight to look at - its a little like walking into the pages of Alice in Wonderland.  Wanders calls it a very "sexy cool place" and says that "a hotel should entertain inspire stimulate... and create a space full of surprises and beauty" - and he has certainly achieved this at the Kameha Grand. The verdict is still out - the hotel officially opens on Sunday 15th November - in the mean time - take a look for yourself - and let us know what you think.

Kameha Grand Bonn
Am Bonner Bogen 1, 53227 Bonn
www.kamehagrand.com