Manfred Ronstedt

Founder & Principal

About Manfred Ronstedt

Architecture, for me, is not primarily about building. It is about creating the conditions for a particular kind of experience. My work joins technical precision to spatial and atmospheric intelligence.

The room is not the goal — the experience of the room is. Every hotel carries a story. Our task is to make sure the building tells it.

Manfred Ronstedt

Career milestones The development of a hotel planning practice

Since 2024

Forever Young

Development, together with architect Julia Echtler, of 'Forever Young' — a structured maintenance and asset improvement programme for hotel properties.

2018

International recognition

Award: "Best International Hotel Interior Design Firm" — BUILD magazine, United Kingdom.

2015

The expanded second edition of the hotel planning handbook, published in German, English and Russian.

2014

Founding of the German Hotel Planning Day

Chairing Host of the inaugural annual Hotel Planning Day for the DACH region, held in Salzburg — a format that has continued each year since.

Since 2013

RONSTEDT hotel concepts

Independent practice established in Kassel, engaged in concept development, planning and project management for hotel properties across the DACH region.

2011

First German hotel planning handbook published

"Hotelbauten — Handbuch und Planungshilfe", the first German-language reference work on hotel planning, co-authored with Tobias Frey.

2002 bis 2012

Awards — selected

"Hotel of the Year", "World's 100 Sexiest Hotels" and "The World's Best Hotel Bars" — all for the Hilton Hotel Cologne.

2011

Award

"Hotel of the Year 2011" in Romania for Ramada Pitesti; 2012 in Azerbaijan for Chiraq Plaza Baku.

2001

International practice begins

Alongside ongoing German engagements: projects in Ukraine, Russia and Kazakhstan for regional investors, together with work across the Caucasus, the Balkans, Poland, Austria and Switzerland.

Since 1987

Specialisation in hotel planning

More than 200 hotels planned since 1987, together with retail and commercial projects. The foundation was twelve hotels in Germany for the Senator Hotel Group under the Holiday Inn and Best Western brands.

1987

Practice founded

Architecture practice established in Hanover together with Brigitte Ronstedt (1948–2005), interior designer.

Until 1987

Freelance architect and main contractor

Freelance architect in Hanover and managing director of a design-and-build contractor specialising in commercial buildings — offices, retail centres and hotels in structural steelwork.

Handbook Hotel Buildings — Handbook and Planning Guide

The second, expanded edition of the standard reference work. DOM publishers.

German · Russian · English