Hiltons were designed in the American-modern style developed from pioneering European ideas by the New York architectural partnership of Skidmore, Owings and Merrill.

ECONOMIST: Ideology of hotels

Over five decades Baus, 79, built Bauhaus AG (not to be confused with the design school or modernist architectural style) into a chain with 220 stores in 16 European countries.

FORBES: German DIY Chain Founder Heinz-Georg Baus Joins Billionaire Ranks