Michael Kaune – The Vision Behind THE QVEST

“It all started with a visit to an art school.” A simple statement, yet one that perfectly encapsulates the journey of Michael Kaune, the creative mind behind THE QVEST Hideaway. As a passionate collector of contemporary photography, former publisher of the renowned Qvest Magazine, and an expert in design and architecture, Kaune has long been shaping the cultural landscape beyond the borders of Cologne.

His love for aesthetics and hospitality was sparked during his travels, particularly in New York, where he discovered The Paramount, a hotel designed by Ian Schrager and Philippe Starck. It was there that he first experienced the fusion of art, design, and hospitality—an inspiration that would later manifest in THE QVEST.

With its neo-Gothic architecture, curated selection of mid-century design classics, and a collection of photographic and contemporary art, THE QVEST is more than a hotel—it is a reflection of Kaune’s lifelong passion for design. “Almost everything in the hotel is connected to me personally,” he explains. “For me, an environment shapes perspective. It connects people—sometimes unconsciously, but always effectively.”

Despite spending time in major design capitals like New York and Miami, Kaune chose Cologne, his hometown, as the place to realize his vision. “When guests step into THE QVEST, I often hear them ask, ‘Am I really in Cologne?’ To me, that’s the greatest compliment.”

In THE QVEST, Kaune has created a space where history meets contemporary culture, where design is more than decoration, and where every detail tells a story—because, as Charles Eames once said, “The details are not the details. They make the design.”