The coolest city living . . . Just for the weekend

If city living has always appealed but lifestyle doesn’t permit it full time, here’s the answer. Book a super cool apartment for a weekend…or longer. Staying Cool, hip independent operator of four and five start serviced apartments, has taken over the top two floors of Birmingham’s much loved and most famous landmark, the iconic sixties cylindrical tower, the Rotunda.

Here, fifteen new serviced apartments will open for business on 17th May, ready for guests in search of retail therapy, culture, sport or simply to enjoy the city’s eclectic mix of bars and restaurants.

A mix of studios, one beds, two beds and a stunning penthouse radiate from the natural curve of the building. Each has a wall of floor to ceiling glass giving great views of Birmingham and, if you book the penthouse, you get your own open air balcony on the top floor.

Design wise, the apartments combine contemporary cool with swinging sixties style. Lounges feature stylish sofas by fab Brit furniture team, Naught One, in grey felt with bespoke coloured stitching, as well as Pierre Cardin’s colourful 1960s chairs. Furniture designer of the moment, Lou Rota, has produced Staying Cool versions of her Polymorph chair – an environmentally friendly rework of the sixties Robin Day classic. Staying Cool has also commissioned a series of fashion photos that invoke the decade, to hang larger than life on the walls. Lighting is by Tom Dixon and Artemide.

As well as the kudos of staying in the reborn Rotunda – which has been given new life by developers Urban Splash and top architect, Glen Howells – guests will enjoy the most up to date technology and gadgets, including free, secure wifi, Apple computers, iPod docks and Baby Gaggia espresso makers. They can order a range of organic and locally sourced breakfasts, champagne and other drinks.

Although Birmingham’s vibrant night life is right on the door step, if guests prefer to eat in, meals from selected city centre restaurants can be delivered through Staying Cool’s concierge service. They can also help with theatre and cinema tickets and advise on the best places to go and things to do.

Staying Cool’s Rotunda apartments open on Saturday 17th May and will be available seven days a week, 365 days of the year. Prices range from £125 to £375 per night. Further information and bookings can be found at Stayingcool.com.