The Allerpark in Wolfsburg positions itself as one of the largest sports, leisure and recreation areas in Germany and attracts two million visitors a year from the Braunschweig-Wolfsburg region alone. With this in mind, the Courtyard by Marriott Hotel opened in January 2018 on the north shore of the Allersee (Aller lake). It targets a broad audience of business customers, tourists, long-term- and overnight guests. The architecture and interior design connect to nature and the surroundings in many ways. The bathrooms offer natural light and views of the outdoors. Ideal Standard products fit in well with the interior design concept and contribute to the notable comfort and cost-effective operation with the new AquaBlade toilet technology amongst other things.

Theme park with a variety of sports and leisure activities

Since 2017, Wolfsburg AG - a joint venture (public private partnership) of the City of Wolfsburg and Volkswagen AG - has also been increasingly marketing Allerpark nationwide. The 130 hectare public theme park combines the proximity to the city centre with natural features such as the Allersee and a variety of sports and leisure activities. The Courtyard by Marriott Hotel has been part of this offering since January 2018.

The four-star hotel is owned by Hotel Allerpark GmbH. This in turn consists of Volksbank BraWo Projekt GmbH and the Baum Business Group as project developers and investors. In addition to the Wolfsburg Courtyard by Marriott, Baum Hotelbetriebe GmbH also operates the Courtyard by Marriott in Bremen and the Courtyard by Marriott Hanover Maschsee as a licensee. The Wolfsburg Courtyard by Marriott offers a total of 152 rooms, a seminar and conference area, as well as a restaurant with lakeside terrace, all in an area of approximately 11,000 m². The investment amounted to 27 million euros.

Reflecting nature and the surroundings in many ways

"As a franchisee of the Courtyard by Marriott hotel brand, we have been able to develop our own hotel and interior design concept that specifically addresses the surrounding natural and park landscape," explains hotel manager Christoph Neumann. The building's four storeys do not rise above the trees in the park. With its wood composite façade, the building blends seamlessly into the surroundings. The room décor as well as the warm natural colours are also a reflection of the lake and park landscape. "At the same time, this should convey the high quality of the interior," adds sales manager Aljosha Nytsch. Floor-to-ceiling windows that span the width of the room provide an expansive view of the landscape or the lake and enrich the atmosphere of the room with incoming daylight. (The fourth floor also has balconies.) One architectural feature is the visual integration of the bathroom: A floor-to-ceiling glass pane between the bathroom and the living area allows for a clear view through the rooms into the outdoors. A "black-out curtain" covers the pane completely when needed. Looking from the living area towards the bathroom, the bathroom appears like a stage illuminated by daylight. This not only has a practical effect when e.g. applying makeup, says Nytsch. The interior design of the bathroom is particularly evident in its colours, shapes and high-quality overall appearance, says Schmeh.

Strada, Tesi and AquaBlade - impressive in their overall appearance

The washbasin, fittings and WC by Ideal Standard are suitably integrated in this overall image, both in haptic and visually perceptible quality. "We compared products from different manufacturers during the sampling process. Ultimately Ideal Standard was the best fit. In addition, the decision was based on the good reputation of the brand as well as the positive experiences that we have already had with Ideal Standard products in the other Baum Group properties," Neumann reported.  A stylish contemporary washbasin from the Strada series, a selection of modern Tesi fittings, and a wall hung toilet with the latest AquaBlade® flushing technology were selected for the Courtyard by Marriott Wolfsburg. The rectangular shape and the sleek sides of the basin are key Strada design elements. The Strada collection also comprises a stylish storage and mirrors that reflect the individual’s style. Tesi fittings express quality, style and versatility in equal measure, and they feature a variety of technologies and innovations that save water and offer safety in the bathroom: an improved CLICK technology that comes with a mechanical stop which allows limiting the water flow at 50%, an integrated regulator that offers max 5lt/min flow rate, and a hot water limiter that reduces controls the temperature of hot water with just a simple move.  In the Tesi wall hung toilet, the patented AquaBlade® technology sets new standards in design and optimum flushing performance, even with small amounts of water. AquaBlade® rinses the entire bowl with every flush, making it easier to clean.  In comparison with many traditional flushes, Aquablade® is up to 80% quieter. It is a truly revolutionary piece of bathroom technology and a milestone in the history of toilets.

Diverse target group

Overall, Ideal Standard at the Courtyard by Marriott Wolfsburg contributes to fulfilling all the requirements needed for comfortable living of the target group in a hybrid hotel concept for both leisure and business guests. All 152 rooms have capacity for at least two people. The connection to other rooms is also ideal for a combined family stay. All this is in addition to the beach location on the Allersee, outdoor terrace and the "Allerlei" restaurant. "With the Courtyard by Marriott Wolfsburg, we have been able to develop a location that is incredibly enjoyable for leisure activities. We want to convey this quality to the guests and in no way limit the audience spectrum," emphasizes hotel manager Neumann.