At Waldhotel Heiligenhaus, the name is a promise. The hotel's centerpiece—a stately 1926 building with elegant green shutters—anchors a sprawling complex nestled directly against the forest. The owners' ongoing commitment to thoughtful modernization has kept the historic structure beautifully relevant. In 2019, they launched an ambitious renovation that began with the redesigned "Blattwerk" bistro and has continued through a complete reimagining of the restaurant, banquet facilities, and new music lounge—encompassing roughly 320 m² in total.

The forest dictates the design. It's the organizing principle that threads through every space—a visual narrative unfolding from entrance to terrace. A verdant carpet patterned with stylized leaves welcomes guests into the luminous restaurant; when the glass doors part, a generous staircase descends directly onto the terrace and its charming pavilion overlooking the forest edge. Wischniowski Interior Designers shaped the core concept, with hotel owner Frank Wegener contributing numerous personal touches. The redesigned spaces flow between three distinct zones, each independent yet seamlessly connectable. The mirrored door panels are subtly obscured by applied leaf elements, making them nearly invisible. A custom floor mimics the forest floor itself, while stag-adorned walls dressed in leafy wallpaper patterns reinforce the nature connection. Particularly striking are the moss installations—dynamically lit to suit the mood of each moment. Oak room dividers catch the eye as well; their resin-cast counterparts become dining surfaces in the bistro. This oak, sourced from a French golf course where it was struck by lightning and felled after decades, is being resurrected piece by piece. A former storage closet, now elegantly renovated as the "Baumhaus" (tree house), has gained two exceptional tables through this process. French blacksmith David Briclot masterfully forged the table legs from the initials W and H—spelling out "Waldhotel Heiligenhaus"—beneath thick oak tops crowned with solid glass. Combined with sage-green walls, an electric fireplace, and views of the surrounding woodland, the effect is undeniably inviting. In the music lounge, blue-tinged tree rings on the wallpaper immediately command attention. Playful squirrels scamper across pendant fixtures above, casting soft light that perfectly suits the room's warm character.

www.innen-architekten.com

Photography Credits:

Simon Stadler

(Published in CUBE Ruhrgebiet 03|22)