The NOXX Hotel Marburg Emerges From an Old Train Depot

Located dead center of the country, Marburg is one of those mid-sized German cities that has picturesque spires, pristine hilltop Gothic-style castles, and numerous Renaissance flourishes found along narrow cobblestone streets. Even though it’s the seat of pharmaceutical giants like BioNTech, the mini metropolis’ industrial past has long been overlooked.

Set within a derelict but historically significant Deutsche Bahn (German rail) depot, the recently completed NOXX Hotel sheds fresh light on this heritage inside and out.

Modern café interior at NOXX Hotel features brick walls, large windows, pastel furniture, round tables, orange sofa seating, and decorative hanging panels. A vase with flowers sits on a table in the foreground.

The bolt in the steel rail that is the rapidly developing mix-use workspace complex in its midst, the new 82-key destination unfolds as a series of seamlessly interconnected public areas and generously sized accommodations. Frankfurt interiors practice ABERJA imbued all with a coherent palette of materials, and custom furnishings that hint to the past while suggesting a future.

Modern communal dining area at NOXX Hotel with round and rectangular tables, contemporary chairs, exposed brick walls, large windows, and decorative metal mesh structures suspended from the ceiling.

The studio adopted a ”genius loci“ (spirit of place) approach by selecting a bright red to evoke and amplify the original brick construction: the repurposed if slightly crumbling original structure as the ground floor. This tone carries across various elements: bed frames, benches, and modular shelves/desks. Semi-circular washbasins reflect the profile of classic locomotive boilers. Patinated aged steel and perforated metal surfaces tie everything together. Cascading like layered theater curtains, mesh metal delineates different zones. It’s decidedly contemporary; an homage that’s far more nuanced, sculptural, abstracted, and future-oriented.

A modern room at NOXX Hotel features pastel green cabinets, a round coral table, light chairs, a vase with dried flowers, and a curtained doorway revealing a softly lit brick wall.

Modern lounge at NOXX Hotel with exposed brick walls, large windows, an orange upholstered sofa, round tables with metal bases, and wooden chairs with burgundy seats.

Modern interior at NOXX Hotel featuring exposed brick walls, an archway, light wood floors, a round table with chairs, high stools, and grey curtains in the background.

Modern lounge area at NOXX Hotel with contemporary chairs, round tables, a bench with rust-colored cushions, and framed abstract art on the wall. Vertical lights hang stylishly from the ceiling.

There’s a level of cheerfulness – achieved through bright tones and a level of literal and metaphorical openness – that imbues NOXX with an inviting atmosphere, not the dreariness one might normally associate with late Nineteenth Century industrial architecture.

Modern lounge area at NOXX Hotel with a long bench, round orange cushions, and a curved backrest, set against an exposed brick wall featuring decorative lighting and two elegant arched alcoves.

Modern lobby at NOXX Hotel featuring curved orange seating, a mint green reception desk, and exposed concrete columns on light wood flooring. Dried flowers in a vase add a welcoming touch to the counter.

A modern interior at NOXX Hotel features a mint green reception desk, vases with flowers, a cylindrical concrete column, and geometric ceiling panels over wood and carpet flooring.

Modern lounge at NOXX Hotel with pastel pink and gray seating, round tables, wall art, and a contemporary sconce; accented by a bold red curved architectural feature.

Integrating into the rest of the complex’s program – co-working spaces, conference rooms, and multipurpose event halls – the ground floor contains a near boundless flow between the lobby, restaurant, and additional seminar rooms. A six-story insert structure – clad in decidedly contrasting dark-hued composite panels – cantilevers over the preserved depot structure and contains uniquely laid-out guest rooms, tiered into Essential, Comfort, Loft, and Suite categories. Fitted out with kitchenettes for those here for a longer stay, the latter also features perched views of Marburg, its castle, and the surrounding countryside. A top level bar does the same.

Modern lounge area at NOXX Hotel featuring a light gray sectional sofa, two accent chairs, small tables, and a bar with stools in the background under warm lighting.

A hallway at NOXX Hotel with light gray walls, a red door, a round wall lamp emitting soft light, and framed artwork decorating one wall.

Modern NOXX Hotel room with a double bed, yellow blanket, desk, chair, and pink accents, divided by a wooden partition featuring built-in shelves and geometric patterns.

Modern NOXX Hotel room with a double bed, open bathroom area featuring a freestanding tub and shower, pink curtains, yellow bed throw, and contemporary decor elements.

Modern bedroom at NOXX Hotel with a red headboard, yellow quilt, wooden accents, built-in shelving, and framed artwork above the bed against a light gray wall.

NOXX Marburg also exceeds Germany’s already rigorous sustainability regulations for new buildings. The hotel meets the stringent 55-EE standard, consuming 45% less energy than legally required. This was achieved through the careful sourcing and implementation of materials; the integration of high-efficiency heat pumps, a photovoltaic system, district heating, and superior insulation. On an operational level, hotel management constantly adjusts temperature control to balance comfort with minimal consumption.

Modern NOXX Hotel room featuring a neatly made bed with a yellow blanket, built-in wooden wardrobe, and a red desk with chair set against a light gray wall.

Modern bathroom at NOXX Hotel with a glass shower on the left, a black vanity featuring a round sink and oval mirror center, red shelving, and a beige curtain on the right.

A modern NOXX Hotel bedroom with a gray bed, yellow blanket, white pillows, red frame, large window with sheer curtains, and a mirror reflecting the room.

Modern living room at NOXX Hotel with gray sofas, metallic and yellow side tables, stylish wall art, and a red-framed desk with a wooden shelf set against a sleek gray wall.

Modern NOXX Hotel bathroom with a patterned tile wall, two round sinks in black and red cabinetry, oval mirrors, wall lights, and built-in shelves.

A modern black building with large glass windows, now home to the NOXX Hotel, is built on top of an old brick industrial structure under a partly cloudy sky.

A modern building with a brick lower level and a black upper section labeled

What: NOXX Hotel
Where: Marburg, Germany
How much: Starting at € 139 per night
Design draws: Making the most of a long discarded train depot, NOXX Hotel was designed to reflect a “genius loci” (spirit of place) approach: brightly colored custom furnishings and architectural elements that loosely reflect the location’s industrial history.
Book it: NOXX Hotel

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Photography by Steve Herud.

Adrian Madlener is a Brussels-born, New York-based writer specializing in collectible and sustainable design. With a particular focus on topics that exemplify the best in craft-led experimentation, he’s committed to supporting talents that push the envelope in various disciplines.