Another room largely as it was. Rumoured to be the birthplace of the Hitler Youth movement, the library is brought to life by the large contemporary painting over the working fireplace. Again as restored it is a striking and attractive room, the large doors making it soundproof.
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Meeting rooms are largely original having survived the war years and post war use as a propaganda radio station and training school. Careful restoration of fittings and furniture displays original sense of style looking surprisingly modern.
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Gloom also clouds the outlook of an hotel trying to move its image on from its past. Using the Bauhaus legacy the ‘forbidden art’ of the Schickelgruber era is being added to the interior alongside a magnificent list of contemporary artists, including George Baselitz, Otto Dix and Elvira Bach. Schickelgruber’s own suite 100, used by German Chancellor Helmut Kohl in a summit with Russia’s President Putin has not only received the first significant remake, including the introduction of air conditioning, new bathrooms etc, but has had the work of Lionel Feininger selected, some original some beautiful reproductions. Short of demolishing what is a handsome building the use of the ‘decadent’ art (according to Schickelgruber’s beliefs) banned by the dictators regime is an interesting play on the historical view.
Much has been made of the use of the 1936 Olympic stadium for the world cup and the rehabilitation this brings to the stadium. The use of art rather than sport helps the rehabilitation of the Elephant. It is only a help however, and the introduction of new windows and air conditioning, as a part of a continuing and much needed refurbishment to bring the historic fabric up to current five star hotel standards, helps more.
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