Interview
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House no. 31, designed by Hans Scharoun, original radiator in the corridor of the left wing of the building, 2014. Photography by Natalia and Ernest Dec
future restoration works. As of now, there is no need to change the windows. GHL: In time, say in a few years, when the current windows are technically insufficient then you will use some other material? JG: Yes, it will form part of recreating the original conditions. This will be exactly the same as what we're now doing with the plaster used in the interiors. But
very narrow staircases in the rooms.
more of them. At some point providing
going back to the flaws, there are plenty
There's simply no way for a wheelchair
building tours may interfere with the
of defects which are a result of the very
to go through. A wheelchair user can
regular work of the hotel.
hurried original construction process. For
currently only enter the main hall and
JG: So far it hasn't been a problem. There
example, the wardrobe recesses are of
the restaurant. There's no possibility to
aren't that many tourists to actually impede
different sizes in each room. They were
transport a disabled person from the
our work. Usually, guided tours contact us
building very quickly, so it was irrelevant
ground floor to the upper ones. The
early enough and we set a particular date
if the recesses were the same or not. For
winding stairs make it impossible to apply
when they can enter the building and if
us it's a real problem since we can't use
other solutions and there's no free space
circumstances allow we also show them
standard furniture: instead we have to
to install a lift shaft. This is the biggest
room 48 and the corridors. It is always
have each wardrobe custom-built.
disadvantage of this building. Apart from
possible however to see the hall, the
Our biggest concern is that we can't
that, for ordinary users at least, we have
restaurant and the grounds.
adjust this facility to accommodate people
the feeling that this building was designed
with reduced mobility. If a disabled
especially to meet our needs.
GHL: The entrance to the main hall leaves a huge impression. It is
person wanted only to see this building inside, he or she would encounter serious
GHL: How do you cope with tourists?
especially fascinating to see the windows
issues due to the lack of a lift and the
As you mentioned, there are more and
positioned at unconventional heights.
126 WuWA