citizenM Opens 2nd Hotel in Amsterdam
Last July, we reported on the opening of the first citizenM Hotel at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport, and we mentioned that they were planning to open another more urban location. Well, they’re now officially a hotel chain with the opening of the citizenM Amsterdam City location.
Located in Amsterdam’s financial district, between the World Trade Centre and city centre, and with rates starting at 69 Euros a night, citizenM continues to target the frequent traveller market. The low rates are made possible by the ultra-compact rooms that are actually built in a factory and then transported to the site and stacked on top of the pre-built ground floor. The 215 room, five floor hotel was designed by the Dutch architectural firm Concrete.
Besides the innovative room design, the ground floor is especially filled with designer touches. As a result of their partnership with Vitra, there is a variety of designer furnishings including the Marshmallow sofa by George Nelson, the new Vegetal chairs by the Bouroullec brothers, child-size Panton chairs, the Porcupine Desk by Hella Jongerius, and cute plywood elephants by Ray and Charles Eames.
Visit the citizenM Hotel’s website – here.
Rudy on 17 Jun 2009 at 11:21 pm #
Yet another example where the designers don’t seem to care about the health of the cleaning staff. How in the world do you change linnens on beds that are build in between walls like this.
Jan Rathinger on 17 Jun 2009 at 11:54 pm #
You overreact too much. People go to work every day in places that are 10,000 times more dangerous than this. It’s just changing sheets on a bed, not coal mining. It might be a little more difficult than normal, but that’s the job, if it’s not for you then don’t work there.
The rooms are small on purpose, do you not understand that?
J Clark on 17 Jun 2009 at 11:58 pm #
Very unique and impressive. That’s one hotel I’d like to stay for a couple of days.
Pieter Wilhelm on 18 Jun 2009 at 1:16 am #
Seeing as how their first location has the same beds, and has been operating for over a year now, the cleaning staff obviously manage to change the sheets just fine. So what’s the problem?
citizen Robin on 18 Jun 2009 at 3:26 am #
Hi Rudy,
Thanks for your commment. I can tell you that we have developed an ideal solution for changing the bed linens in the citizenM rooms. It is a patented system on hydraulics that actually lifts the mattress topper up with the flick of a button. Sheets are easily removed and replaced. Don’t worry, at citizenM our people are our most valued asset.
All the best,
citizen Robin
citizenM hotels
Rudy on 18 Jun 2009 at 3:42 am #
@ Jan & Pieter Wilhelm
While working overseas I happened to live in hotels for extended periods. My remarks regarding poor lay-out come from close observation and a relative who worked as a cleaning maid. It often is an underpaid job and contracts are usually temporary and short term. The management are aware of the strain inducing hard work and they don’t want permanent staff on sick leave.
Optimizing space for economical reasons is not a bad thing in itself. Unless like here, I see a lay-out that becomes a burden for people who are in a way users of the space as well.
Shouldn’t this be an issue that designers and architects could raise with hotel owners? Perhaps they could present more friendlier solutions that are equal profitable.
Rudy on 18 Jun 2009 at 3:54 am #
@ citizen Robin
I see you have addressed the issue in a way that is user friendly for your staff. Chapeau!
Pieter Wilhelm on 18 Jun 2009 at 4:46 am #
Rudy, in the future, why not give the designers the benefit of the doubt before assuming they don’t care about people?
You could have just asked how they change the bed linens. No need to suggest they’re bad people. It’s needlessly insulting, especially since you know that you don’t know the whole situation.
Rudy on 18 Jun 2009 at 5:02 am #
@ Pieter Wilhelm
Well, the designers of this hotel came up with a patented solution that is new and undocumented. Who could have guessed?
John T on 18 Jun 2009 at 5:12 am #
I would enjoy this hotel if I was travelling alone, but if I was with someone else, I would prefer to have a more private bathroom.
sarah on 18 Jun 2009 at 4:44 pm #
I read about CitizenM on springwise.com not too long ago. A very cool hotel concept. They have a funny video on their website introducing the concept. I hope they have a chance to expand around the globe.
jeffrey on 19 Jun 2009 at 3:53 am #
smart, user friendly, love the common spaces and the eating area, the rooms are small but you’re really on there to sleep and shower anyway which is the point.. i’d stay there in a heartbeat- hope they expand the concept
jacob on 20 Jun 2009 at 10:10 am #
Rudy actually made a very astute observation about the usability of the design, regardless of “patented solutions.”
kast on 21 Jun 2009 at 2:04 am #
wow .the bed is very big …nice .but can the tv be lowered )
star on 26 Aug 2009 at 6:33 pm #
where can I get one of CitizenM’s beds and pillows in Australia? having a bad back I have never been able to sleep as well as I did on a recent trip to Holland stayed in CitizenM Amsterdam.