Matter Of Factory: 17 Stunning Hotels In Former Industrial Buildings
Industrial Hotels Intro
These former workshops, warehouses and factories saw plenty of work in their time. Now they all have one thing in common: they’re living out their twilight years as places of rest, relaxation and rejuvenation.
By Fiona Brutscher
0/18
Travel
Matter Of Factory: 17 Stunning Hotels In Former Industrial Buildings.
Ink48, New York
Ink48, New York: This former printing house is now a chic Midtown Manhattan hotel. Hints at its former occupation can be found in the name of its rooftop bar (The Press Lounge), its restaurant (PRINT) and its floors and rooms (named after fonts like Courier, Garamond and Helvetica). ink48.com
1/18
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Matter Of Factory: 17 Stunning Hotels In Former Industrial Buildings.
The Refinery Hotel, New York
The Refinery Hotel, New York: A fashion district hotel that takes you back to a time when gentlemen and ladies wore hats… and those hats were made in the Colony Arcade Building. Today, that building is home to 197 rooms, decorated with salvaged materials and items referencing the millinery trade. refineryhotelnewyork.com
2/18
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Matter Of Factory: 17 Stunning Hotels In Former Industrial Buildings.
21c Museum Hotel, Louisville
21c Museum Hotel, Louisville: Five 19th-century warehouses were joined together to create this beacon of Southern hospitality. Many of the brick, timber and cast iron features were retained, materials reclaimed and reused. Today, the modernised ensemble functions as a hotel, but also houses an art collection that is publicly accessible, free of charge, 24/7. 21cmuseumhotels.com/louisville
3/18
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Matter Of Factory: 17 Stunning Hotels In Former Industrial Buildings.
La Purificadora, Puebla
La Purificadora, Puebla: This hotel was doing industrial chic before it became a buzzword, but the former water purification plant still has a contemporary edge. Daring touches, like the glass-walled rooftop pool and imposing entry staircase, set it apart from others that have followed suit. lapurificadora.com
Matter Of Factory: 17 Stunning Hotels In Former Industrial Buildings.
1888 Hotel, Sydney
1888 Hotel, Sydney: Soaring ceilings, exposed brick walls, period windows, hardwood beams made from Ironbark endemic to Australia… and the original sign declaring the year the former woolshed was erected (you guessed it, 1888) – all make for an authentic heritage feel at the heart of this boutique beauty. 1888hotel.com.au
5/18
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Matter Of Factory: 17 Stunning Hotels In Former Industrial Buildings.
The Henry Jones Art Hotel, Hobart
The Henry Jones Art Hotel, Hobart: Named after the man who established the jam factory that once occupied the historic building, this quirky-cool hotel merges references to Hobart’s industrial past with artistic touches. Thanks to the city’s recent emergence as a contemporary art hotspot, the local creative scene is booming – and the hotel proudly displays some of its best work. thehenryjones.com
6/18
Travel
Matter Of Factory: 17 Stunning Hotels In Former Industrial Buildings.
Ovolo Southside, Hong Kong
Ovolo Southside, Hong Kong: There’s no shortage of warehouses just waiting to be converted all over this history-charged trade hub, but this is the first Hong Kong warehouse converted into a hotel. There’s plenty of brick, concrete and exposed pipes to remind you of its utilitarian past, with colourful design – as well as vibrant wining and dining options – to bring it to new life. ovolohotels.com
7/18
Travel
Matter Of Factory: 17 Stunning Hotels In Former Industrial Buildings.
The Waterhouse at South Bund, Shanghai
The Waterhouse at South Bund, Shanghai: A dockyard building and warehouse dating back to the 1930s, now converted into one of the most stylish digs in town, successfully blending old and new. In former times, its waterfront location was a necessity. Today, it offers spectacular views and easy access to the Cool Docks development on the Huangpu River. waterhouseshanghai.com
8/18
Travel
Matter Of Factory: 17 Stunning Hotels In Former Industrial Buildings.
Titanic Hotel, Liverpool
Titanic Hotel, Liverpool: The ambitious redevelopment of Stanley Dock gave birth to this sprawling hotel and the adjoining Rum Warehouse conference centre. The result is a complex that pays tribute to the rich history of the docks while lending them a new lease of life in 21st-century Merseyside. titanichotelliverpool.com
9/18
Travel
Matter Of Factory: 17 Stunning Hotels In Former Industrial Buildings.
Michelberger Hotel, Berlin
Michelberger Hotel, Berlin: Just a few buzzwords to get you started: hipsters, street art, lofts, creativity, communal living, industrial chic… This painfully trendy hotel ticks all those boxes – and more – stopping just short of trying too hard. Housed in a former factory, it offers an authentic glimpse of urban living on the Spree. michelbergerhotel.com
10/18
Travel
Matter Of Factory: 17 Stunning Hotels In Former Industrial Buildings.
Sir Albert, Amsterdam
Sir Albert, Amsterdam: This imposing red-brick building was once a diamond factory; the hotel it now houses has retained some of its industrial heritage, although its fictional landlord, the eponymous Sir Albert, clearly prefers to think of himself as a gentleman of leisure. siralberthotel.com
11/18
Travel
Matter Of Factory: 17 Stunning Hotels In Former Industrial Buildings.
Malmaison, Belfast
Malmaison, Belfast: From Titanic to Delorean, there’s plenty of industrial history in Belfast – here, you can sleep in a bit of it. A heritage-listed Victorian warehouse turned into a boho fabulous hotel, featuring the original timber beams and iron columns, updated with plush, lush interiors. malmaison.com
12/18
Travel
Matter Of Factory: 17 Stunning Hotels In Former Industrial Buildings.
andel's Hotel, Lodz
andel’s Hotel, Lodz: This monumental weaving mill towers above the former industrial complex at the heart of Poland’s rich textile history. The spectacular hotel pool juts out beyond the red-brick facade in the shape of a cantilevered glass box, affording city views to swimmers and lending the building a modern touch. vi-hotels.com
13/18
Travel
Matter Of Factory: 17 Stunning Hotels In Former Industrial Buildings.
Gastwerk Hotel, Hamburg
Gastwerk Hotel, Hamburg: It only took one letter to turn Hamburg’s gasworks (“Gaswerk”) into a hotel that works for its guest (“Gastwerk”). It took a lot more than that to make it an airy, elegant design hotel with a steampunk edge, but the result is well worth the short commute from the city centre. gastwerk.com
14/18
Travel
Matter Of Factory: 17 Stunning Hotels In Former Industrial Buildings.
The Flushing Meadows Hotel, Munich
The Flushing Meadows Hotel, Munich: In a city known more for ornate palaces than urban minimalism, this contemporary refuge is a welcome change. The former Telecom building – with its cavernous rooms and stark, reinforced concrete ceilings – could be cool and forbidding, but the individually designed spaces are brimming with fun, quirky and homely touches. flushingmeadowshotel.com
15/18
Travel
Matter Of Factory: 17 Stunning Hotels In Former Industrial Buildings.
The Turbine Hotel and Spa, Knysna
The Turbine Hotel and Spa, Knysna: The Knysna power station once supplied surrounding towns with electricity. Now its prime location on South Africa’s Garden Route attracts holidaymakers looking to unwind and refuel. The remaining turbine stacks don’t just add character, they also helpfully serve as signposts for approaching guests. turbinehotel.co.za, wetu.com
16/18
Travel
Matter Of Factory: 17 Stunning Hotels In Former Industrial Buildings.
Protea Hotel Victoria Junction Waterfront, Cape Town
Protea Hotel Victoria Junction Waterfront, Cape Town: The former warehouse that once housed Cape Town’s oldest telephone exchange is now home to a conveniently located hotel with spacious rooms featuring exposed red-brick walls, split-level lofts and vaulted ceilings. protea-victoria-junction.h-rez.com
17/18
Travel
Matter Of Factory: 17 Stunning Hotels In Former Industrial Buildings.
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