Holloway Li / Wunderlocke, Munich

4 April 2023

Holloway Li / Wunderlocke, Munich

As a dynamic destination, WunderLocke offers a creative hub for Munich’s burgeoning community of artists, creatives and tech entrepreneurs

Words by Emily Martin

Images by Edmund Dabney

Project Info

Project duration: Three years
Project size:
Courtyard Level GIA: App. 1,890 sq m
Apartment Level GIA: App. 12,575 sq m
Courtyard Level External: 1,350 sq m
Rooftop Level External: 1,240 sq m
Open date: July 2022

LAST SUMMER Holloway Li unveiled WunderLocke in Sendling, Munich, the latest outpost of pioneering lifestyle for hotel brand Locke. It’s the practice’s second hotel for Locke, following on from Bermonds Locke, in London’s bustling Bermondsey, and its German counterpart follows similar design principles, creating uniformity of vision. Holloway Li’s latest low-impact design focuses on renewal through connection to nature, with the site underpinned by Mural Farmhouse, a unique farm-to-table concept, comprising five food and drink destinations over seven floors.

WunderLocke is underpinned by the Mural Farmhouse, a unique farm-to-table concept that provides food and beverage options across seven floors

Based in the industrial Obersendling district of Munich, the 360-studio aparthotel occupies a monumental ex-Siemens office building. As an alternative to the typically material intensive approach to retrofitting, Holloway Li developed its low-impact and adaptive re-use design approach, exposing the bare bones of the existing concrete frame with carefully curated minimal layers of ‘dressing’.

WunderLocke is underpinned by the Mural Farmhouse, a unique farm-to-table concept that provides food and beverage options across seven floors

‘WunderLocke was conceived to be a dynamic destination that can cater for both locals, holidaymakers, and business travellers,’ says Alex Holloway, co-founder and creative director of Holloway Li. ‘South west Munich is now host to a burgeoning community of artists, creatives, and tech entrepreneurs, and the idea was that the space could also provide a creative hub nearby.’

WunderLocke is underpinned by the Mural Farmhouse, a unique farm-to-table concept that provides food and beverage options across seven floors

The practice grounded its approach to the existing structure by referring to the rich theory and aesthetic of artist Vasily Kandinsky, who was based in Munich for a significant period in the early 20th century. Kandinsky’s work explores a closer relationship to nature through abstraction, rather than through more figurative approaches favoured at the time. He believed that by connecting with the ‘Innerer Klang’ (inner voice) of things, an artist could reveal the natural essence of objects and materials. The resulting visual language explored the tension between structure and amorphous masses of colour.

As south west Munich solidifies its reputation as a hub for artists, creatives and tech entrepreneurs, WunderLocke has also been designed to provide a creative hub. This includes use of low-impact and reusable materials to enhance sustainability

The designers used Kandinsky’s theory to reveal the ‘Innerer Klang’ of the existing Siemens building. Superfluous ornament was stripped back to reveal the raw concrete frame of the existing building, a quasi-ruin of the area’s industrial past around which the offshoots of renewal could be cultivated.

Holloway Li’s design explores the tension between the fixed concrete elements and formless boundaries of the various common area zones, encouraging a flexibility of use characteristic to Locke. In minimising ‘fixed’ elements, the design allows for future adaptation, limiting the need for wasteful renovation. The original 1960s terrazzo staircase was lovingly restored to its former glory, with new stainless steel fixings and handrails bringing it up to modern code.

Amongst the immovable concrete columns, the practice introduced dense, free-flowing planting as part of the interior scheme. A limited palette of natural materials is used for new finishes and furniture: timber, terrazzo and raffia balance the concrete mass, bringing harmony and softness to the space, which is further accentuated by a sumptuous, textured carpet which wraps the columns to dado level. The colour scheme, anchored by earthy tones and botanical greens, is punctuated by pops of colour across furniture and upholstery.

WunderLocke has also been tastefully designed for holidaymakers, both local to Germany and from abroad

The vast public spaces of building act as a microcosm of the city, combining living, working and leisure: complimentary co-working spaces, meeting and event spaces, a workout studio and sauna.

‘We chose natural materials such as timber, terrazzo and raffia to balance the omnipresence of concrete, bringing harmony and softness to the space,’ explains Holloway. ‘The lobby is characterised by a distinctive curved timber reception desk, this lounge area merges into co-working to one side and the bar to the other.

The original 1960s terrazzo staircase was lovingly restored to its former glory

The round bar opens to the outside through a window serving the external pool area, internally it has an upholstered bar top detail – a trope of 70s dive bars that encourages patrons to take root and get comfy.’

Holloway Li forged local alliances with German design studios, including Co ordination, to create bespoke furniture. This resulted in the use of natural materials splashed with colour to give WunderLocke a sense of ‘pop’

Forging local partnerships, Holloway Li worked with German furniture design studio Co ordination, to make a bespoke iteration of its ‘thread’ collection for the project. The designers collaborated with sustainable furniture consultancy Dodds & Shute to specify a range of responsibly sourced lighting, offsetting 15 tonnes of C02 and protecting 979 trees threatened by deforestation.

The focus on circularity and a return to nature continue into the unparalleled food and drink offering. Mural Farmhouse, conceived by the founders of revered local Michelin-starred restaurant Mural, comprises of five destinations spread over seven floors. This includes a 70-cover all-day restaurant, a fine dining Chef’s Table, coffee shop, wine, and cocktail bar. Inspired by the farm-to-table movement, food will be supplied by local and regional producers. A rooftop urban farm, with a painterly view over the Bavarian Alps, will provide handpicked seasonal herbs and vegetables for the restaurants.

Says Holloway: ‘This project builds and expands upon our interest in adaptive re-use and salvage. As a studio, we have developed a particular understanding for how to express the bones of existing buildings as part of the renovation process and strategy, using the embodied carbon of a host property, with a light touch approach to refurbishment. Here we challenged ourselves to expose the host structure whilst transforming the space without over-cladding or excessive development.’

By taking a low-impact approach to retrofitting the existing building, building a sense of collectiveness through a vast, flexible public space layout, and establishing a connection to nature, the project considers sustainability through a longer-term environmental, economic and social lens.

As a dynamic destination for locals, holidaymakers and business travellers alike, WunderLocke offers a creative hub in south west Munich for the city’s burgeoning community of artists, creatives and tech entrepreneurs.