Ruby Hotel’s Düsseldorf flagship takes inspiration from the Space Race
‘We choose to go to the moon,’ said President John F Kennedy, and reaching for the stars is something the Soviets, JFK and the city of Düsseldorf have in common. For architect Paul Schneider-Esleben, 1962 – which serendipitously is the year the former American president made his address – was the year in which he designed and built the German Commerzbank office there (now downtown Düsseldorf’s tallest building).
Today, the building is home to Ruby Luna — the Ruby Hotels’ flagship in Düsseldorf. Inspired by the technological possibilities thrown into orbit by the Space Race, the hotel’s design reflects the imaginative thinking of the Atomic Age. A weightless rocket greets guests as soon as they step through its revolving doors. Stardust grey marble tabletops and space memorabilia, a novelty space suit, Google‑style interplanetary clocks and hand-sourced vintage rocket lamps can be found in the bar — the longest in all of the Ruby portfolio.
It’s not just retro souvenirs that are interwoven throughout Luna’s design. Take the elevator up to the 13th floor and you will arrive at the Observatory Roof Terrace. The night sky becomes part of the fabric of the hotel, allowing guests to soak in views of the Rhine Tower and Rheinkniebrücke bridge under a canopy of stars after dark.
The 13th floor Observatory Roof Terrace
‘Ruby Luna is our tribute to the bold spirit of the 1950s and ’60s, an era defined by space-age optimism, rapid innovation, and a fascination with technology and futuristic thinking,’ says Kristin Lingner, group senior manager public relations at Ruby Hotels. ‘From gleaming metallics to orbital curves, every detail in the hotel echoes the countdown to the moon landing. Ruby Luna’s interior doesn’t just nod to the future, it immerses you in a moment when design, science and imagination were driving us forward.’
The hotel’s 206 rooms follow Ruby’s signature style, which is minimal with high-end finishes. Think crisp linen bedding, full soundproofing and aromatherapy care products, while nods to Luna’s individual character can be found in small details in each room, such as moon wall art.
‘Our philosophy is to honour the building’s original soul and bring it into the present with intention,’ Lingner continues. ‘Every Ruby Hotel grows from the character of its past, preserving its essence while reimagining it through a modern lens. That contrast creates something uniquely Ruby – spaces that feel grounded, thoughtful and quietly unexpected.’
The hotel’s 206 rooms are minimal with high-end finishes
Across the southern border in Zürich, Switzerland, Ruby Mimi is also set among the stars. But mainly of the Chaplin, Bow and perhaps even Reagan, variety. Once one of Zürich’s earliest cinemas, Mimi draws upon the Art Deco building’s cinematic history with plush red velvet bar stools, neon signs and early film posters. Its glamorous past is not simply considered in its design elements, but also the experiential. Classic movie screenings and live gigs are part of the guest experience.
No two Rubys are the same, and yet there is a degree of storytelling that is unmistakable across its hotel destinations. While not all of the hotels have a cosmic connection, you are sure to find celestial levels of story-led design.
