Eight NH Collection and nhow properties across Europe and Dubai show how restored landmarks, industrial conversions and contemporary icons can connect travellers with local identity.
nhow Rotterdam occupies part of De Rotterdam, the Rem Koolhaas-designed mixed-use complex on the River Maas.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Minor Hotels is highlighting eight NH Collection and nhow properties where architecture is positioned as part of the destination experience.
- Heritage-led examples include a former Murano glass factory, Amsterdam canal houses and a 15th-century chapel, and two historic Helsinki buildings.
- Contemporary landmarks include nhow Amsterdam RAI by Reinier de Graaf of OMA and nhow Rotterdam within Rem Koolhaas’ De Rotterdam complex.
- The selection spans Venice, Amsterdam, Helsinki, Dubai, Rotterdam, Milan and Berlin, linking hotel design with local culture and identity.
Historic buildings recast for contemporary stays
On Murano, NH Collection Venezia Murano Villa occupies a former glass factory whose industrial past connects directly with the Venetian island’s centuries-old glassmaking tradition. The hotel has been adapted as a contemporary property while retaining references to the site and the craft heritage for which Murano is internationally known.
In Amsterdam, NH Collection Amsterdam Barbizon Palace brings together a group of historic canal houses, a 15th-century chapel and modern interventions within one hotel. The result places guests inside several layers of the city’s architectural history rather than separating the accommodation from the historic urban fabric around it.
A similar preservation-led approach underpins NH Collection Helsinki Grand Hansa. The property occupies two notable buildings in the Finnish capital, the former Seurahuone Hotel and the New Student House. Minor Hotels says the redevelopment retained historical details while introducing contemporary Nordic design, with Art Nouveau influences and locally crafted elements contributing to the finished interiors.
In Dubai, NH Collection Dubai Ibn Battuta takes a different route, using architecture and interior design to evoke the journeys of the medieval explorer Ibn Battuta. The concept draws on the cultures and destinations associated with his travels, giving the property a thematic identity rooted in exploration rather than in the restoration of a single historic structure.
Design hotels become part of the city skyline
The nhow portfolio shifts the focus toward contemporary architecture and creative reuse. nhow Amsterdam RAI, designed by Reinier de Graaf of OMA, has become a prominent part of the Amsterdam skyline. Its stacked, rotated volumes give the building a deliberately unconventional silhouette that fits the lifestyle brand’s emphasis on design and visual experimentation.
Further south in the Netherlands, nhow Rotterdam is located within De Rotterdam, the large mixed-use complex designed by Rem Koolhaas on the River Maas. The project is one of the most recognisable examples of Rotterdam’s recent high-rise architecture, placing the hotel inside a building that is itself a destination for architecture-focused visitors.
Industrial reinvention is the theme at nhow Milano in the Tortona district. Housed in a former factory and originally conceived by architect and designer Matteo Thun, the hotel combines the character of an industrial structure with a contemporary design programme suited to a district closely associated with Milan’s fashion, art and creative industries.
In Berlin, nhow Berlin uses a more expressive interior language. Designed by Karim Rashid and set on the River Spree, the property is known for its bright colours, futuristic forms and music-focused identity, reflecting the city’s reputation for experimentation across art, nightlife and contemporary culture.
Architecture as part of destination storytelling
Taken together, the eight hotels illustrate several ways hospitality groups are using architecture to create a stronger sense of place. Some projects rely on careful restoration, preserving structures with long local histories. Others reinterpret industrial buildings or place hotels inside major contemporary developments that have already become part of a city’s visual identity.
For travellers, that can make the hotel more than a base for exploring a destination. A converted glass factory on Murano, a chapel incorporated into an Amsterdam hotel or a room inside one of Rotterdam’s most recognisable modern complexes can become part of the reason for choosing the stay in the first place.
Minor Hotels operates more than 640 hotels, resorts and branded residences in operation and committed development across 67 countries. Its World Architecture Day selection reflects a broader strategy of using established heritage, design-led conversions and contemporary architecture to differentiate properties while maintaining a connection with the places in which they operate.
