Baden-Baden is a famous health resort town located in southwestern Germany near the French border. Known since the ancient Roman era for its spas, some of the finest in Europe, it has been adored by well-known artists. “Baden” in the town’s name is said to derive from bad, a German word for bath.

The Roomers hotel is located a little ways away from the center of town. Situated along a quiet street lined with traditional residential houses, the hotel is housed in a building with a striking modern appearance, featuring contrasting black and white elements. Stepping through the glass entrance doors into the windbreak room, there appears a heavy, solid wooden door suggesting a transitional passageway into some special sort of space.

Inside, the building has a tranquil air reminiscent of an art museum. Huge pendant lights quietly indicate the location of the front reception desk. Being able to take care of check-in while seated at a big round table chatting with hotel staff gives a sense of familiarity and feeling of relief.
The ground floor, everywhere except the dining space, is a relaxed, open space with a living room-like feel. Further back there is even a billiards table. This is a place where all are free to spend time in the manner of their own liking. Expressive of the German predilection for lively interaction in large groups, chairs of differing designs are lined up with a nice sense of spacing between them.

The street-facing dining space features a long, narrow floor plan. Providing a moderate degree of concealment from the heavily trafficked street outside, the latticework screen completely covering the windows serves to accent the space as well.

A big factor in what provides feelings of comfort when travelling through Western Europe and the Nordic countries is the scarcity of visual and auditory noise one is subjected to. Taking the elevator hall as just one example, not a single instructional notice is there to be found—these features that might at first glance appear “kind” or “considerate”—and instead one finds only chairs or paintings decorating the space in the manner of art objects. An exceedingly simple approach that contributes to a pleasant, comforting feeling. If something is unclear, the hotel staff will kindly provide explanations, and it is in just such communication that the true joy of the travel experience is to be found.

Doors to guest rooms are decoratively furnished with the metal door knockers commonly seen in Europe. The first time I used a door knocker in Europe, I was dubious about whether a sound with such artless simplicity would really carry inside. My concern was unfounded, though. In this day and age when everything has gotten to be so modern and convenient, coming into contact with something so unchangeingly traditional and inexpedient gives a sense of relief.

Solid wood flooring lends an overall sense of warmth to the interiors here. Having all the room’s furniture simply set atop it keeps the space from having a closed-in feel and sets the space off with a cozy “at home” look.
A mirror spans the partitioning wall between the entrance passageway and bedroom, part of which functions as a door, and it’s interesting the way the wall leading to the bathroom appears interrelated as well upon opening the door.

The bathroom presents a sophisticated air with the coordinated look of its flooring and walls with their stonework tiling in beige. The counter, with its width of about 1m, offered good ease of use with plenty of space for the placement of amenities.

With its round-shaped counter, the hotel’s top-floor bar offers a stage-like presentation, picture-perfect with the bartender standing in the middle. The adjoined terrace includes a swimming pool, making it a nice spot to enjoy the beauty of the surroundings in summertime.