In the simplest terms, the MM:NT Berlin Lab is a pop-up boutique hotel within a hotel – the first of its kind. Each of the six guest rooms in the lab is being used by operator Adina Hotels to beta test new ideas in hopes of determining exactly what Gen Z and Millennial travelers prefer during a stay. The focus is on observing whether this group of travelers is willing to give up some traditional conveniences or amenities in favor of a more convenient self-service model that borrows from digital interactions, which has made Airbnb a popular alternative to traditional practices.
Photo: Lars Bronseth
Developed by design strategist Philippa Wagner in partnership with architecture firms ACME and BWM, booking one of MM:NT Berlin Lab’s six rooms gives the feeling of securing concert tickets. Potential guests were only reached through a social media sign-up stream in January, where they competed for one-, two- or three-night room stays – free of charge – across test dates extending from March to May 2024. Unsurprisingly, The room and booking appointment were sold out within just two hours.
Photo: Lars Bronseth
“Our theory is that there is a group of Gen Z travelers and millennial travelers in particular who are open to new ways of interacting with hotel services,” says Asli Kutlukan, CEO of Adina Europe. “So we are using the lab to explore different hotel interfaces to see how we can adapt to changing behaviors and demands. Berlin is the ideal location for our experimental hotel because it attracts the culturally curious and is a mecca for change-makers and creative minds.
Photo: Silk Brill
MM:NT Berlin laboratory rooms are offered in three designs:
COMPACT – Compact and perfectly designed with a double bed, shower room and clever storage units that make the most of the compact space.
Middle – comes with the addition of a small kitchenette – everything you need and nothing you don’t.
LARGE – It feels like a super-chic small apartment, with a compact kitchen and an open plan living and dining area. There is also an additional foldable wall bed with a smart and simple room design to maximize space and reduce clutter.
Room 00:05 – Small bedroom, designed by ACME \\ Photo: Silk Brill
At just 14 square metres, the ‘small’ room 00:05 takes a cozy and contemporary style to maximize compact space. Recycled glass terracotta tiles made by Eco Friendly Tiles cover the entire room, including the bathroom equipped with a rain shower and a post-industrial recycled plastic sink.
Room 00:01 – Middle bedroom, designed by ACME\\\ Photo: Silk Brill
Room 00:01 is a “mid-sized” accommodation, which expands the design and features a bamboo and sage green palette and multi-functional furniture, such as a headboard that can also be used as a desk and kitchenette. The room also serves as an actual test bed for two different sustainable mattress companies, allowing the hotel to do a little A/B testing.
Room 00:06 – Large bedroom, designed by ACME
The 00:06 “Large” room measures 28 square metres, and gives guests the opportunity – and space – to stretch out across an open-plan living and dining area with furnishings including a birch veneer table and Snøhetta chairs made in collaboration with Nordic Comfort Products (NCP) using fishing plastic Recycled. The treatments give guests the feeling of staying in an apartment rather than a hotel. The ACME-designed compact kitchenette features a Foresso worktop made using recycled wood chips, and the room’s slightly secluded dresser bed is inspired by the design of a traditional 19th-century Dutch bed.
Photo: Silk Brill
At the heart of MM:NT Berlin Lab is the Lounge, a public-facing “lobby” that provides guests with a space to relax, unwind and connect with others. \\\ Photography by Silk Brill
The Counter is a self-service multi-purpose bar, offering guests coffee and sandwiches during the day, and locally sourced wines and organic beers at night. \\\ Photography by Silk Brill
The Hub is an open shared storage locker system, allowing guests to have groceries, laundry and meals delivered to their own lockers via the app. \\\ Photo: Silk Brill
Despite the hype surrounding free trial testing rooms, the MM:NT Berlin Lab is undoubtedly a serious effort in market research that will give Adina a wealth of knowledge about younger travelers. The Adina Hotels development team is already looking across Europe for other locations to open new hotels using information gleaned from MM:NT Berlin Lab guests.
What: MM:NT Berlin Lab
Where: Adina Apartment Hotel Berlin Hackescher Markt; And the. Spandauer Bruck 11, 10178 Berlin, Germany
Amount: The MM:NT Berlin Lab team recently completed a two-month pilot where guests were invited to book a stay for free in exchange for providing real-time qualitative feedback on the hotel design, public spaces, and overall experience.
Highlights: The Lab offered guests a choice of six simple “experimental” room designs operated on a self-service model through a concierge’s web-based mobile app. It allowed guests to check in and out, open spaces, and access to shared facilities including The Hub – a shared space at MM:NT Berlin Lab that allowed guests to securely obtain food, groceries, and laundry.
Design Sketch: The MM_NT Berlin laboratory is strategically located in the Mitte district, making it an ideal base for exploring the city’s rich cultural fabric. The hotel’s proximity to famous landmarks such as the Brandenburg Gate, Museum Island and the Berlin Wall Memorial provides guests with a deep dive into the city’s historical and cultural heritage. In addition, the surrounding neighborhood is full of trendy boutiques, cafes and nightlife.
Book it: Unfortunately, their two-month trial recently ended, but you can stay updated when they open reservations again here.
You can actually go on vacation to more design destinations here.
