September 17, 2007

Europe | Hungary | Budapest

Hungary for Style

By Nicole Cotroneo

Budapest’s hot new bolthole marries medieval history with modern design.

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Built by a legion of creative minds, Lánchíd 19 was virtually destined to become Hungary’s first design hotel. At the foot of Budapest’s Castle Hill, the newly open property stands in stark contemporary contrast to the sprawling royal palace. Its lighted glass façade features graphics that shift according to the speed of the Danube flowing out front (don’t ask us how; ask them). Yet, as futuristic as the $11-million building appears, it still reserves a nod to history: named after the nearby Széchenyi lánchíd — the first suspension bridge to connect Buda with Pest — the hotel has preserved the medieval walls excavated in the basement, and shows them off beneath a glass floor in the lobby.

Once you step into your suite, however, all bets are off again. All 48 rooms were uniquely designed to “tell stories” inspired by — wait for it — chairs. Of course, they’re no ordinary seats — each comes from a big-shot designer, including Philippe Starck, whose clear Victoria and Louis Ghost Chairs form the centerpiece of one guestroom. And, no, it’s not a scary story they tell — evidently, it’s a “dance lesson.”