The new Hotel Yasmin is primed to attract major tourist business. Tucked away just behind Wenceslas Square on the parallel-running Politickych Vězňů, the building features modern design, a unique restaurant concept and almost 200 rooms. And if that isn't enough to attract the out-of-town crowd, the hotel's back garden will soon be connected to Pasáž Jalta, which leads directly to Prague's main tourist thoroughfare.

Construction on the 30 million euro ($1.3 million/847.8 million Kč) hotel, funded by Kappa Estates, began in October 2004. The project was a combination of reconstruction and new build. Yasmin's front-facing building formerly hosted bank offices; the back is a newly built extension to provide space for conference rooms and dining facilities.

Opened March 1, the hotel currently offers 187 rooms that include 11 penthouse suites, a fitness studio with a sauna and massage facilities, conference space for up to 130 people and underground parking for up to 22 cars.

For all that, one of Yasmin's best selling points is its frivolous, unusual design. "We wanted something fresh and unique, with a little bit of an Oriental flavor," says Managing Director Ivan Chadima. "We started off with a name and a concept, and of course we had to work within this space. It's shaped a little bit like a drawer, so the challenge was to bring light into it and make it nice and bright."

Chadima hired Barbora Škorpilová and Stanislava Svobodová of Studio Mimolimit, whose past projects have included the Holiday Inn, Zahrada v Opeře Restaurant and the Kampa Group restaurants, to bring Yasmin's interior design vision to life.

The hotel's common areas are the most visually exciting, painted from an earth-tone-inspired, but edgier, modern palette of greens and tans. Funky leaf prints liven up the walls and bring contrast and depth to the lobby floors. Large hanging silver balls wrap around bare bulbs to light up the downstairs space, reflecting movement and tying the contrasting areas together.

Some of the most intriguing design features are located in Yasmin's restaurant, Noodles — an expansive space that accommodates a variety of seating, from diner-style booths to funky brushed-steel chairs. Tall, furry tree-shaped sculptures in a fiery orange-red hue are placed around every corner, curling at the top to climb along the ceiling. None of the hotel staff can find words to describe these mysterious pieces. Nor is anyone exactly sure why they are there or what they are supposed to be. But there's no denying that they're lighthearted, fun and oddly attractive.

"Everyone calls them something different," Kachera says. "We wanted something very out of the ordinary, and I think we've got it."

In keeping with the light and airy feeling the design conveys, Yasmin will be an almost completely nonsmoking hotel. One floor is designated for smoking rooms, but lighting up is prohibited on the other five floors of guest rooms, and in the lobby and restaurant. Smokers will be able to pop outside to the summer garden area behind Noodles to have a puff.

When asked about the clientele the hotel hopes to attract, both Kachera and hotel manager Klára Dytrychová say they expect to see a lot of tourist traffic, mostly due to their optimal location in the city center. But both are quick to add that Yasmin is well-placed to cater to corporate clients as well, with its two large conference rooms, business district location and ability to block out up to 80 rooms at a time for groups of guests.