Mamilla Hotel Jerusalem accommodation building, Israel luxury stay development, Israeli architecture design
Mamilla Hotel, Israel : Jerusalem Architecture
Israeli Luxury Accommodation design by Safdie Architects
post updated 16 February 2024
Design: Safdie Architects
Location: central Jerusalem, Israel
Luxury Hotel in Jerusalem
I had the fortune to stay at this hotel for a few days. It is the closest hotel to the Jaffa Gate, unlocking the wonders of Jeruslaem’s wonderful Old City. The design is restrained and contextual and makes a good neighbour, using the same palette of materials and colours as surrounding buildings. But the really special part of the hotel for me is inside: there are a whole series of great spaces. Two stand out for me: the Foyer and the rootfop restaurant.
The spacious foyer is given energy by the contorting stair which just out over a void and pulls you up towards the bar. The rooftop restaurant combining bar and dining looks east towards the historic Old City. there is a lot of wood used and with the greenery this offsets the hardness of the stone. There are a whole series of other pleasant spaces – the cigar lounge, the pool, the spa – so all in all the hotel is a success.
Adrian Welch, e-architect Editor
photos from Mamilla Hotel
16 May 2013
Mamilla Hotel Jerusalem
Project Description
A significant cultural, architectural and touristic evolution of the urban fabric of one of the world’s most iconic and timelessly beautiful cities happens this June with the opening of the first luxury lifestyle hotel in Jerusalem and Israel: Mamilla Hotel. Located in a remarkable position in the city centre with breath-taking views of the Old City walls, the Tower of David and Jaffa Gate, the Mamilla is a contemporary, world-class hotel that combines a distinctly international outlook with the unique cultural heritage of this most magnetic, frenetic, incredible city.
Opening in the same year as the widely anticipated Ron Arad-designed Design Museum in Holon and one year after Santiago Calatrava’s 2008 ‘Chord’ Light Railway bridge in Jerusalem, the Moshe Safdie-built and Piero Lissoni-designed Mamilla Hotel is a pivotal emblem of the fascinating development and modernization of the local region.
Where luxury, lifestyle and heritage meet
The Mamilla Hotel juxtaposes the spectacular sights and enjoyments of this very ancient city with a fresh, modern approach to hospitality that reflects and anticipates the expectations and needs of a well-travelled, in the know and discerning clientele, combining the warmth of local Jerusalemite culture and customs with a working knowledge of leading-edge contemporary luxury trends, products and services. In particular the hotel aims to go above and beyond simple lodging to deliver to guests and visitors alike a genuine lifestyle experience that delights and inspires through numerous aesthetic, emotional and sensory touch points.
This focus on providing not just Jerusalem’s finest first-class accommodations but also a vast array of unique experiences for the mind, body and soul underpins the Mamilla’s core modus operandi. This is borne out through world-class architecture by Moshe Safdie, bespoke, contemporary design by Piero Lissoni, multiple restaurants and bar venues offering a range of both local and international cuisine, a chic ‘Mirror’ bar, a terrazzo-style Rooftop brasserie with uninterrupted views of the Old City, a holistic well-being spa and gym, various events and banqueting spaces and an elegant, gracious and personalized service.
photos from Mamilla Hotel
Jerusalem’s finest accommodations
The Mamilla Hotel has 194 guest rooms, including well-appointed Studios, spacious Executive Rooms, Mamilla Suites with separate living space, Residence Suites featuring oversized bedroom and living spaces and the Presidential Suite with bedroom, living room, dinning/study area and kitchen. All rooms feature dark wooden floors, bedside walls of exposed large Jerusalem Stone blocks, large metal headboards, bespoke furniture and sleek and luxuriously simple Piero Lissoni bathrooms with deep, cascading rectangular bathtubs and all featuring liquid-crystal bathroom walls that frost over, creating combined or segmented spaces at the touch of a button.
A destination for world-class food and drink
Key to the hotel’s vision is to create restaurant and bar areas that will not just appeal to hotel guests but will become destinations in their own right for local Jerusalemites and other visitors, imbuing the hotel with a wider role in Jerusalem culture and entertainment.
photos from Mamilla Hotel
Guests, visitors and locals are able to enjoy the finest coffee, teas and cakes from the Espresso Bar located in the prodigious and elegant Lobby – set to become a central hub for both relaxed business and social meetings. In addition to the main hotel dining room, which serves the legendary Israeli breakfast daily, and the Lobby Café, serving all-day dairy specialties in a stunning historical indoor/outdoor annex to the main Lobby, the hotel offers the Mamilla Rooftop – a spectacular outdoor brasserie with perhaps the finest views of any Jerusalem restaurant, serving Italian style chiccetti, salads, meat and fish.
For drinks, the Mirror Bar is the ultimate destination in the city for sophisticated mixology, with an internationally inspired drinks list, resident DJ, local live jazz and a separate enclosed Cigar Lounge. For wine lovers, The Winery offers one of the largest selections of Israeli kosher wines in the country, served upon fine robust antique wooden counters, set amidst a modern 300 bottle contemporary wine rack. Chef Zach Melul heads up the hotel’s food & beverage outlets.
Holistic Wellbeing
Creating a place where mind, body and soul harmonize, and where guests can release everyday tensions and rediscover the essence of life, the Mamilla addresses physical and emotional needs through its 1,000 square meter Holistic Wellbeing Centre. This separate gym, spa and wellness space is designed to encourage visitors to achieve greater balance, mindfulness and inner harmony through a truly holistic approach that supports all aspects of a more healthful life.
photos from Mamilla Hotel
The space is split into different areas in alignment with the four elements to ensure comprehensive restoration and rejuvenation. ‘Earth’ is a lounge and bar providing organic and nourishing raw and cooked dishes and drinks; ‘Water’ is the main spa, featuring sound, music and aroma therapies, exclusive Watsu pool hydro-treatments, special hammam treatments and signature therapies using the finest local and international products and ingredients; ‘Fire’ is the gym, fitted with the most up to date equipment including Kinesis, plus a spacious aerobics, spinning and Pilates room and a private training room for optional personal training sessions; ‘Air’ is a calming, peaceful space for yoga, tai-chi, meditation and other group or one-on-one classes, with bespoke music that changes according to the time of day.
Events and Meeting
In addition to these public spaces, the hotel offers extensive meeting and events capabilities with its 430 sq ft Ballroom for up to 300 people and flexible meeting rooms which can accommodate a maximum total of 190 people.
photos from Mamilla Hotel
Alrov Luxury Hotels
The Mamilla Hotel is part of Alrov Luxury Hotels Holding – the hotel and hospitality subsidiary of Tel-Aviv-based real estate company Alrov, founded in 1978 by Chairman Alfred Akirov and overseen by Managing Director Georgi Akirov. Alrov is a prominent market leader, with more than thirty years’ experience developing, operating and investing in unique high-profile landmark buildings, developments and projects. In addition to the Mamilla Hotel, Alrov Luxury Hotels owns the David Citadel Hotel in Jerusalem and is currently developing two key properties in unique heritage buildings in Europe: the Conservatorium Hotel in Amsterdam and the Café Royal Hotel in London.
Separate to the holding company is Alrov Luxury Hotels Management Company, which has its head office in London and is overseen by Chief Operating Officer Massimo Ianni. Massimo brings to Alrov Luxury Hotels Management a distinguished CV including fifteen years at Hyatt Hotels & Resorts and senior management and consultancy roles at the Faena Hotel & Universe (Buenos Aires) and for one of the world’s most prominent international fashion designers on an eagerly anticipated new hotel concept.
As more and more travelers seek a complete experience, where their lifestyle continues uninterrupted by travel, Alrov Luxury Hotels promises dedication to the highest level of luxury and an elegant, personalized service. Throughout its worldwide properties, Alrov builds on the individual values and heritage of each location to create new, contemporary, world-class hotels that offer international and local communities extraordinary design and interiors, state-of-the-art technology, innovative dining and entertainment venues and exclusive and inspiring holistic wellbeing spa & gym centers.
Mamilla Hotel images / information from The Mamilla Hotel
Hotel website external link not working when checked on 16 February 2024: www.mamillahotel.com
Location: 11 King Solomon Street, Jerusalem, Israel
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