Portrait Art Then and Now – A Special Roundtable at the Dorothea Hotel

Participants included Ráhel Orbán, Managing Director of BDPST Koncept – who envisioned and brought to life the full branding concept of the Dorothea Hotel – as well as Zoltán Tombor, renowned photographer, Gábor Bellák, art historian at the Hungarian National Gallery, and the evening’s host, Zita Kraszkó. Together, they explored a wide range of topics from hotel brand storytelling to the evolution of portraiture across centuries.

The Birth of Dorothea: A Future Inspired by the Past

Why was the hotel named Dorothea, and why didn’t it become just another global chain brand? Ráhel Orbán shared the personal and creative journey behind the concept: the goal was to create a hotel deeply rooted in Budapest’s cultural heritage, while remaining contemporary, international, and unmistakably unique.

At the heart of the branding lies the figure of Princess Mária Dorottya of Württemberg – a cultured and influential 19th-century woman, who, alongside her husband Archduke Joseph of Habsburg, played a key role in Hungary’s cultural and economic development. The hotel’s name, identity, and many interior details are all infused with the spirit of this legacy.

Heritage and Contemporary – A Dialogue Between Eras

The Dorothea Hotel brings together three iconic buildings, each representing a different historical era: the neo-Renaissance Wéber House, the Art Nouveau Mahart Headquarters, and the modernist Münnich House. This architectural diversity inspired the two distinct room types of the hotel: Heritage Rooms, which evoke 19th-century elegance, and Contemporary Rooms, featuring refined, modern design – all within a coherent, unified concept.

The doors of the Heritage Rooms are adorned with fragments of historic Hungarian portraits from the Hungarian National Gallery’s collection. Gábor Bellák shared insights into how these artworks were selected and how they help guests connect with the city’s past in a meaningful way.

Contemporary Portraits on the Walls – The Work of Zoltán Tombor

What makes hotel wall décor more than just decoration? According to Ráhel Orbán, when it came time to decide what should appear on the walls of the hotel’s 216 rooms, traditional paintings felt too predictable. The team sought something fresher and visually stronger – and so the idea emerged: to commission photographer Zoltán Tombor to create an entirely original visual identity for the hotel.

Nearly 500 artworks now adorn the hotel’s spaces – each created exclusively for Dorothea. The photos often appear in pairs: blurred portraits beside still-life images, creating subtle dialogues between old and new, the living and the inanimate. These visuals go beyond decoration – they act as narrative devices, telling stories about Budapest, the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy, female identity, and the layering of time.

Herbal Walls, Zsolnay Porcelain, and Soda Bottles – Storytelling Through Design

The branding of Dorothea extends far beyond its logo or name. Throughout the hotel, guests encounter a harmonious blend of past and present. A living herb wall greets visitors at the entrance – a nod to Archduke Joseph’s love of botany – while the reception area features Zsolnay porcelain detailing, and rooms are decorated with vintage soda bottles, evoking Hungarian innovation and everyday beauty.

This experience-driven design doesn’t just appeal to the eyes – it resonates emotionally, creating memories that linger long after check-out.

A Hidden Oasis and the Magic of the Pavilon

Where the three buildings converge lies the heart of the hotel – a vast, plant-filled glass-roofed atrium that serves as both a peaceful winter garden and the setting for the Pavilon Restaurant. It’s a tranquil, light-filled space that encapsulates the brand’s idea of a “communal garden” – one of the hotel’s four brand pillars – where guests can relax and immerse themselves in a dialogue between historical and contemporary architecture.

Brand as Experience – Dorothea’s Role in the City

According to Ráhel Orbán, the Dorothea Hotel was envisioned not merely as a place to stay, but as a living cultural hub in the heart of the city – one that reflects the multicultural spirit of 19th-century Budapest as much as today’s. The hotel was built around four core brand values: the history of the future, a communal garden, unexpected journeys, and meaningful connection – each of which is expressed throughout the hotel, from its photography and interior design to its culinary and guest experiences.

A New Language of Portraiture

More than 200 years separate classical portrait paintings from Tombor’s contemporary photographs, and yet they share a common goal: to tell stories and capture the human experience. As the discussion drew to a close, Tombor revealed that each photo contains hidden cultural and historical references – waiting to be discovered by curious eyes.

In the end, the Dorothea Art roundtable was much more than a conversation – it was itself an unexpected journey, from history to the present, from Budapest to the world. And for those who step inside the Dorothea, it’s an invitation to become part of a layered, living story.