
The elegant exterior of Dom Hotel, designed by Christoph Ingenhoven, featuring a sophisticated facade and modern architectural design.

The elegant exterior of Dom Hotel, designed by Christoph Ingenhoven, featuring a sophisticated facade and modern architectural design.
PROJECTS / DOM HOTEL
Engaging with History: The New Dom Hotel in Cologne
The historic Dom Hotel in Cologne is being modernized in close cooperation with the Office for the Preservation of Historic Buildings. In early 2014, Ingenhoven won first place in an international competition and began work on the project design.
Located in proximity to Cologne Cathedral, the hotel will be elevated to a 5-star rating and will feature 120 guest rooms and suites. Ingenhoven's primary focus lies in meticulously restoring and preserving the historic facade, including its colonnades. Additionally, an elegant glass-fronted recessed story was designed atop the existing structure, creating a horizontally structured roof that serves as a counterbalance to the cathedral's towering verticality.
During construction, efforts are underway to safeguard and incorporate protected elements such as the facade of the former luxury hotel and a listed stairwell into the future building structure.
As the detailed structural survey progressed, additional design tasks were integrated due to the deteriorated state of the existing building elements originally outlined in the competition brief. For instance, this included replacing window and storefront elements as part of the historic facade's restoration. By 2016, following a comprehensive evaluation of the load-bearing structure concerning fire safety and utility installations, it was determined that further refurbishment work was impractical from both technical and commercial perspectives. Consequently, the decision was made, with client approval, to partially dismantle the structure and strip out the Dom Hotel.
Upon completion of the project, the hotel will reopen in this distinctive location adjacent to the renowned cathedral.


The roof will feature an elevated recessed section, creating a flat and subtly receding roofline that conforms to the building's footprint. This design approach achieves a lightweight, almost floating appearance. It carefully adheres to Cologne authorities' height restrictions and enhances the urban aesthetic, particularly visible from pedestrian viewpoints such as Domplatte and Roncalliplatz.
The plans include landscaped rooftop areas and, following the supergreen® approach to sustainable architecture, a new inner courtyard abundant with greenery.
To streamline the facade and reduce excess materials, extensive glass panels are proposed for the colonnade facade. This restoration aims to restore the original character of the "inner" colonnade facade, creating a distinct and prestigious space in front of the hotel that echoes the qualities of the original building while integrating modern functionality. Additionally, the primary entrance of Europe's oldest Grand Hotel will be relocated to the south elevation facing Roncalliplatz.


Building history - The Aura of the Grand Hotel
The Dom Hotel is a place with a rich history. The current building dates back to 1893 and was constructed in the style of Historicism. During the German Empire, the hotel was a popular meeting place for high society. The building was heavily damaged during the bombings of World War II. The pragmatism of the post-war era called for a rapid reconstruction with a more functional approach. However, the hotel's enduring appeal has remained a constant. Prominent guests have included Kaiser Wilhelm II, who stayed there multiple times, as well as Louis Armstrong, Jimi Hendrix, and John F. Kennedy.
Data
Competition 2013/2014, 1st prize
Construction Start 2016
Completion 2025
Client Bayerische Versorgungskammer
GFA 21,000 m²
Credits
User / lease-holder
Althoff
Architectural Design
Pfeffer Architekten + Ingenieure
Structural Design
IDK Kleinjohann
Facade Design
DS-Plan
Mechanical Services Installations
intecplan Integrierte Technische Planung
Fire Protection
Ökotec
Interior Design
finerooms, Berlin & kister scheithauer gross architekten und stadtplaner GmbH, Cologne
Lighting Design
Tropp Lighting Design
Listed building Design
LRP, Thomas Lehmkuhl
Structural Design for Listed Buildings
Finck Billen
Engineering Design for Removal
Mull und Partner
Project Management and Supervision
zarinfar
Project Management and Supervision (M&E)
BMS
Construction Site Logistics
SiteLog
Transport Engineering
Brenner Bernard
Surveyor
KDS
Building Physics
ISRW Dr.-Ing. Klapdor