The hotel's name was a manifesto for its builders, Patrick Huber-Flotho and Robert Jäger: the Legend Hotel draws on the millennia-old genius loci of the place, revealing the stories and legends woven into this remarkable location. Positioned above the Roman city wall and harbour, nestled between Rathausplatz and Alter Markt, the historic town hall tower and Cologne Cathedral, this new building fills the void left by underground station construction. Working within strict heritage conservation guidelines, the architects preserved the distinctive red façade of Alter Markt, the window proportions, and the characteristic roofline that defines Cologne's historic centre. The project's sensitive location—adjacent to the historic town hall and archaeological zone, with a barrier-free passage linking the U-Bahn, Alter Markt, and Bürgerstraße—demanded exceptional coordination among all stakeholders. Developers Patrick Huber-Flotho and Robert Jäger led the design vision in close collaboration with architect Ines Kapplinghaus, while the Cologne-based firm Dewey Muller managed implementation planning and construction oversight from the earliest design stages through approvals.

Throughout the interior, from the restored town hall staircase to Bürgerstraße, a new architectural landscape unfolds—spaces, forms, and colours that weave past and present seamlessly together. Guided by the principle of "Honouring the past – building connections – shaping the future," the hotel speaks to its surroundings through form and material, both within and without, inviting guests to experience the site's full complexity and layered history. The 20 individually designed guest rooms frame sweeping views of the surroundings and the historic sculptures of the town hall tower—seemingly within arm's reach—creating an almost tactile dialogue across centuries. This history-infused philosophy extends to the hotel's own restaurant concept, PVLS Restaurant & Bar. Named after a dish celebrated in Roman times, two-star chef Daniel Gottschlich and chef de cuisine Johannes Langenstück craft a menu that subtly echoes historical influences while reinterpreting them with contemporary creativity and technique.

www.deweymuller.com

Photography Credits:

Viola Epler
www.violaepler.de

(Featured in CUBE Cologne Bonn 04|22)