VILLA COPENHAGEN
How to rejuvenate a historic gem
NORDIC LIGHT HOTEL Hyper local design
QUALITY HOTEL THE MILL A colourful new hangout
CLARION HOTEL KARLATORNET
Inspired by the golden age of skyscrapers
D E S I G N PO R T R A I T.
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Nordic Light Hotel, Stockholm Andra projekt under 2018: Amerikalinjen, Oslo Comfort Hotel, Kista Quality The Mill, Malmรถ
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EDITORIAL
Concept & production: Atmosfär by Attar
08
A colorful new hangout in Malmö
10
On the drawing board
14
How to rejuvenate an inner-city historic gem
20
Essentials of urban easy living
22
Hyperlocal design (by Stockholm Central Station)
26
Oslo’s most eagerly awaited hotel opening
28
Sustainability lesson learned
30
Picnic among the rooftops of Stockholm
35
Kitchen Confidential Congratulations Sanna Norén
36
Inspired by the golden age of scyscrapers
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Stopovers at CPH Airport
42
Ripe for rediscovery
44
Challenging the norms of #hotelart
49
Let’s go hubbing
51
One to watch in 2021
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Industrial chic hotel in the making
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Increasing the glamour factor in Uppsala
55
Sublime commission for At Six
56-66
Travel & Design Cutting-edge new hotels around the world A few moments with… Book Love
TO DESIGN AND DELIVER
THE BEST HOTELS IN THE NORDICS
They say that time flies when you’re having fun… It feels that 2018 just started, but when you read this it is already 2019, so we must be having fun – a lot of fun! During 2018 NPM has worked on 81 projects in five countries, including 20 new hotels. We have assisted the hotels in the re-certification of ISO 14001 and we have visited and checked the cleanliness and maintenance of 2,000 rooms. A lot of fun, alright!! So – what stories will I take with me from this year? The first thing that comes to mind is that 2018 was the year that the word sustainability was on everyone’s lips. It was a year when everyone (except maybe the American president) understood that we will be in serious trouble if we don’t start to make a change. That is why I am so happy and proud to say that 2018 was also the year when we set a new standard for carbon-neutral hotels and started our first pilot project. If we manage to accomplish what we set out to do, we really will push the boundaries for building and creating sustainable hotels and meeting places. We also set new standards for FF&E – with a special focus on textiles and leather and the amount of chemicals used in production. Other stories could, and will, be told about all the fantastic projects that we have the privilege to work on and we will try to share these with you on the coming pages. During 2018 NPM has grown to match and meet the expansion and the larger portfolio of existing hotels with eight new team members – we feel that we are ready to meet 2019. Catarina Molén-Runnäs CEO Nordic Property Management and CPO nordic choice hotels.
Follow me and my colleagues @nordicpropertymanagement on Instagram Nordic Property Management was founded in 2013 as a member of the Nordic Choice Hospitality Group. NPM is one of the leading hotel property management companies in the Nordics. www.nordicpropertymanagement.se
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QUALITY HOTEL THE MILL
A colourful new hangout in Malmö The soon-to-open Quality Hotel The Mill will rise from the ashes with renewed confidence after a three year “rest” and total refurbishment. The name pays tribute to its location by the old Möllan, which means “mill” in local dialect. Home to a 224-room hotel including two suites on the top 12th floor, conference venues, and Brasserie X, it will target regional businesses and people living in Malmö, as well as visitors. A new meeting place designed by Stockholm-based Spectrum Architects.
WHICH ARE YOUR FAVOURITE HOTELS? “Mena House in Giza, Conservatorium in Amsterdam, Ludlow Hotel in New York, and Hotel Bienvenue in Paris. We also really like the new AtSix in Stockholm.”
“The rather pared-back character of the building increased the importance of adding layers of colours, patterns, and styles to achieve a really good foundation for the hotel to become an inviting meeting place. The floors are an important part of the project: patterned tiles, different kinds of wood, and printed carpets. Quality Hotels wanted to have a colourful interior, and the rooms in particular have lots of colour combinations. We’re very pleased with the result – a colourful and vibrant meeting place inside an austere building,” says Heidi Edholm. New for Quality Hotel is the high-quality art from up-andcoming artists. The art programme has been developed in co-operation with Young Art, an art consultancy agency that has connected companies with young artists since 2010.
Anna Wallerstedt Öberg and Heidi Edholm, Spectrum “We got involved early in the project when the naming process was in full swing. It was a public naming competition that the people of Malmö could participate in. The winning name – The Mill – became our inspiration. The local mill served as a hub in the community and our aim with the design was to create the perfect local hangout - casual, warm, and welcoming. We’ve worked with a rich colour palette and lots of wood. The wings of the mill have been turned into patterns in carpets and rugs, panels, and signage,” says Anna Wallerstedt Öberg.
“The Mill is a new and exciting hotel with a twist. We wanted to emphasise this twist by using colourful photo art by Lina Jelenski in the rooms, where we contrast the palette of the interior with pink and turquoise colours and motifs that mirror Malmö and its coastline. For the public spaces we’ve worked with glass artist Ammy Olofsson, who has developed a portal with playful glass shapes and neon lights. Liva Isaksson Lund will be showcased in the restaurant with a brass sculpture that is both soft and sharp,” says Lisa Läckgren, project manager at Young Art
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QUALITY HOTEL THE MILL
Lina Jelenski, Rosa, photography
THE PROJECT 224 rooms Brasserie X The Mill Bar 10 event & conference spaces Gym Property owner: Skandia Fastigheter Architecture: Liljewall Arkitekter Interior design: Spectrum Arkitekter
Lisa Läckgren and Antonia von Euler, Young Art
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ON THE DRAWING BOARD Some of the up and coming new projects in the universe of Nordic Property Management.
DRAGONS AND VIKINGS With 34 floors Clarion Hotel Draken will make an impressive presence. The name Draken– which means dragon in Swedish – derives from the dragon viking ship that is the emblema for the movie theater that will be a part of the hotel. The hotel rooms will be in the 34 storey newbuild and the conference and congress will
be in the historic building that houses the iconic movie theater, that will be meticulously restored to its former glory.
Name: Clarion Hotel Draken Location: Gothenburg, Sweden Due to open: 2022 Number of rooms: 453
URBAN VIBES IN NORTHERN NORWAY Urban design and easy living at this new cool hotel in Bodø, located 90 km north of the Arctic Circle. Go here to enjoy the midnight sun in the summer or Aurora borrealis in the winter. Nature is close in Bodø. Name: Comfort Hotel Bodø Location: Bodø, Norway Due to open: 2020 Number of rooms: 160
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DREAM YOURSELF AWAY AT THE WEAVER When there was a naming competition for the new hotel located in a former textile industry area there were many good suggestions for the name. But one of them stood out – The Weaver – it alludes to the past but also has a definite positive future ring to it. Destined to be a central player in the community it will be an important platform for local business as well as residents of Mölndal. Name: Quality Hotel The Weaver Location: Mölndal, Sweden Due to open: 2021 Number of rooms: 369
DOWN BY THE RIVER IN SUNDSVALL Right by the river will this new Clarion hotel be located in a new urban development area. A business and leisure hotel with meeting venues, spa, restaurant, bar and the famous Clarion Livingroom – open to locals as well as visitors.
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Name: Clarion Hotel Sundsvall Location: Sundsvall, Sweden Due to open: 2020 Number of rooms: 270
ON THE DRAWING BOARD Some of the up and coming new projects in the universe of Nordic Property Management.
A NEW CITYBLOCK DEDICATED TO NORDIC CHOICE This is not only a hotel – it’s a cityblock that will house a hotel, longstay apartments and a new headquarter for Nordic Choice Sweden. Innovative in its sustainable design this will prove to be a new standard for Comfort hotels.
Name: Comfort Hotel Arenastaden Location: Solna, Sweden Due to open: 2021 Number of rooms: 336
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A NEW EPICENTER IN THE NEWEST CITY DEVELOPMENT OF OSLO A modern and colourful hotel in Hasle Linje, the urban development area that sits right north of the center of Oslo. The hotel will be an integrated part of the district with beautifully designed rooms, conference venues, restaurants and bars.
Name: Quality Hotel Hasle Linje Location: Oslo, Norway Due to open: 2020 Number of rooms: 217
BEST-IN CLASS CONFERENCE HOTEL BY THE RIVERSIDE Now it’s time to get some serious conference capacity in Drammen, 60 km south of Oslo. The ballrom will take 500 people and in addition to the rooms and restaurant there will be killer views from the rooftop bar over the river.
Name: Quality Hotel River Station Location: Drammen, Norway Due to open: 2019 Number of rooms: 249
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VILLA COPENHAGEN
HOW TO REJUVENATE AN INNER-CITY HISTORIC GEM
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VILLA COPENHAGEN
Villa Copenhagen, the city’s most anticipated hotel opening in 2020, is going through a meticulous renovation that will bring its 25,000 square metres right into the 21st century. The iconic post office building was designed in 1912 by architect Heinrich Wenck as a grand and imposing Central Post Office & Terminal. Located at the intersection of Bernstorffsgade and
Tietgensgade – marking the boundary between middle-class Copenhagen and working-class Vesterbro – in an area that, until now, has been overlooked by visitors. The Neo-baroque mansion is a late addition to Copenhagen’s iconic palatial mansions from the 18th century that are scattered all over the inner city. Neo-baroque was a popular style in the late 19th century in metropolises like Paris and Vienna, although it arrived a little later in Scandinavia. Despite
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VILLA COPENHAGEN
the building’s neo-baroque exterior, the inside was high tech for its time, constructed on a pillar framework that cost an eye-watering DKK 2.5 million. The building was located right by the railway station, since Denmark’s state postal service (Post Danmark) was the railway’s largest customer at the time. It remained Post Danmark’s headquarters until 2012. When stumbling upon Copenhagen’s former post office headquarters for the first time in 2016 there was a clear vision of what it could become. “When I heard that the postal buil-
ding was for sale, I thought it was the perfect foundation for a hotel,” says Petter A Stordalen. “Postal services are about communication between people, so I love the thought of the central postal terminal being resurrected like a phoenix as a hotel.” Architects Krook & Tjäder are working closely with the city architect of Copenhagen to oversee the ambitious renovation, since the entire exterior is protected. Roofs, facades, and windows all have to be replaced exactly as they are. The roofs
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VILLA COPENHAGEN
are being painstakingly restored to their former glory with black glazed roof tiles that have the exact design as the originals they replace. “Unfortunately the Danish producer of the roof tiles went bankrupt in the 80s but we found the exact tile in Germany,” says architect Lars Gunnarsson of Krook & Tjäder. “The property owner Strawberry is also investing in a lot of advanced copper work around the windows. The window shades are being clad in new copper sheets made by skilled Danish tin-smiths. This is a craft that takes time and
that needs to take time. We want the end result to be as close to the original facade as possible. This building is a real gem.” Designed with the guest experience in mind, the hotel will contain a multitude of spaces and experiences. The inner court yard will be a pleasant lounge and bar, there will be a rooftop pool for exercising, two independent restaurants and bars, and rooms that have that Hammershøi quality in terms of their atmosphere and materials.
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VILLA COPENHAGEN
Do it because you love it. Roofs, windows, and drain pipes are being re-created according to their original shapes and materials.
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VILLA COPENHAGEN
The windows allude to the iconic Danish painting “Dust Motes Dancing in the Sunbeams” 1900, by Vilhelm Hammershøi.
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COMFORT HOTEL KISTA
ESSENTIALS OF URBAN EASY LIVING The new Comfort Hotel Kista shows how even an 80s office building can become a warm and happening hotel for the cooler crowd. Although Kista is Sweden’s Silicon Valley, it hasn’t yet been home to a forward-thinking hotel. But this is all set to change with Comfort Hotel Kista – a new type of business hotel acting as a home away from home and simultaneously as an office away from home, with generous and flexible public spaces that act as relaxed and inviting extensions to the room. “When we work with Comfort it’s important to use their concept of ‘urban easy living’ as our starting point and to reflect this in the interiors, functions, materials, and atmosphere. Public areas are now much more in focus and have a more varied role than before. The lobby should serve as a social meeting point and workplace for when you’re working and as a cool hangout in the evenings. This development affects both the design and the layout and it has been important to ensure that the furniture and interiors feature a degree of inbuilt flexibility so that you can use them for different purposes,“ says Nina Hæg, interior designer. “Authentic and genuine materials are very important to Comfort, and we have chosen a material palette that includes oiled crude steel, coloured through MDF, as well as cork and rope. These are quality materials that are sustainable and won’t go out
of fashion. Our thoughts regarding sustainability are also reflected in our choice of surface materials that should stand the test of time and also feel relevant in terms of their design for many years to come. Materials that need to be changed more often have to balance with and complement the other, more longterm, materials,” says Hæg. The public areas are divided into zones that can be screened off without permanent walls. They should work both when there are a lot of people and when it’s quieter, for both groups and individuals. The floor has different levels and there are sofas that form a lounge, as well as nooks for more private work. The artist Lina Rincon has worked with transparent rope screens from floor to ceiling to divide the lobby into smaller spaces.
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COMFORT HOTEL KISTA
THE PROJECT 194 rooms Barception Pod-cast studio Gym Laundromat Property owner: Klövern Interior design: Nina Haeg Interiør
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NORDIC LIGHT HOTEL
HYPER LOCAL DESIGN (AT STOCKHOLM CENTRAL STATION)
When the Nordic Light Hotel opened in 2001, it was one of Stockholm’s first design hotels, focusing on the ever-changing shades of Nordic light. The hotel reopened in May 2018 after an extensive renovation encompassing a new concept that deepens and emphasises Nordic design, culture, and lifestyle more explicitly.
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NORDIC LIGTHL HOTEL
The visual concept was developed by architect Todd Saunders, whose Bergen-based studio Saunders Architecture has won a number of accolades, including awards for renowned works such as the Fogo Island Inn. “Designing Nordic Light was all about using natural, locally sourced materials to create a unique design. The result is a space that celebrates traditional Scandinavian design through a distinctive, modern vernacular,” he says. In all his projects, Saunders works using simple materials such as wood and stone, which fits perfectly with the hotel’s vision. The Nordic concept features both in the choice of architectural building materials such as Swedish ash and marble and in details such as local leather and hand-painted textiles. The furniture is minimalistic, in true Scandinavian style. “From the off, the hotel’s ground floor was in need of a radical facelift,” explains Saunders. “When we went over to Stockholm, we found the hotel just to be a bunch of divided rooms. I asked that we take down all the walls and create a really big room, with a 60-metre long bar in stone. The most important thing was to make the lobby work better. Now it feels like you’re entering a large living room.” Saunders emphasises the importance of making a breathtaking first impression. For instance, when you meet someone for the first time, you make a judgement in seven seconds.
“It’s the same with architecture. And it’s not so much what you see that matters but what you feel.” The Gothenburg-based Studio Markus Bergström was responsible for designing the hotel’s public spaces. Saunders has known Bergström for ten years and they worked together on Fogo Island Inn, where they struck upon the idea of involving several designers. The nine Scandinavian designers who adapted the hotel’s furniture and interior design represent different working methods as well as different generations. “It was a creative puzzle where we found ourselves in a constant process of finding alternative solutions,” says Markus Bergsström, who is especially pleased with the lobby sofa designed by Johannes Norlander as an interpretation of a Karl-Johan sofa. The sofa is not only contemporary but also has many historical design references. Saunders sees this type of collaboration as essential if you want to create truly original architecture. “Big teams make big design,” he says. “All over the world every freaking hotel and restaurant looks the same. I want the design to be hyper local, with furniture and details created for the specific space in the specific location, as we did for the Nordic Light Hotel. There’s nothing creative about ordering a sofa from Italy.”
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NORDIC LIGHT HOTEL
The following designers have made specially commissioned furniture, lighting and textiles for the project: Markus Bergström, Mats Theselius, Johannes Norlander, Fredrik Paulsen, Amanda Karsberg, Sami Kallio, Jenny Nordberg, Jennie Sundin, Uglycute
THE PROJECT 169 rooms Lykke & Löjromsbaren Lobby & reception Property owner: DNB Architecture: Saunders Architecture Interior design: Saunders Architecture (public areas)/ +tong-tong (rooms) In this project NPM also managed the owner’s part of the project.
Markus Bergström
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Todd Saunders
MO O O I P R ES EN T S A LIF E E X TRAO RDINARY! MOOOI STOCKHOLM · Norr Mälarstrand 26 · 112 20 Stockholm 25 | STORIES | 2019
HOTEL AMERIKALINJEN
OSLO’S MOST EAGERLY AWAITED HOTEL OPENING With the arrival of the 122-room Amerikalinjen, housed in the former headquarters of the Norwegian America Line, Oslo will gain a hub aimed at experienced globetrotters as well as locals. Originally built as an office building in 1919, Amerikalinjen – that will boast the Atlas Brasserie, Haven
While Amerikalinjen remains intact on the outside, inside there will soon be a modern luxury hotel. The landmark neo-baroque building has been sensitively restored with interiors that reflect the past, the present, and the future in an eclectic mix. The interior design features some Norwegian designs from the 50s that have been specially adapted for the project, as well as design elements from Scandinavia, Italy, and France, along with bespoke light fixtures designed by Pu-
courtyard bar, Pier 42 bar, and Club Gustav – will introduce something that has been missing in Oslo until now. A vibrant boutique hotel designed for the modern explorer on the doorstep of Oslo. The interiors have been designed by Puroplan of Helsinki.
roplan. Amerikalinjen used to serve as a connection between Oslo and New York, and in a nod to this the hotel will feature art by contemporary American artists throughout the building. “Our aim was to balance the relatively heavy and imposing exterior of the building with a light, airy, and fresh interior. We wanted to create a fun, inspiring, and surprising hotel that will make its mark in the heart of every guest, encouraging them to return time and again, and to sha-
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re the story of this place. We’ve worked with a variety of materials: natural stone, warm wood, different glass surfaces, soft, high quality and safe textiles – you name it. In our work, we always try to exceed expectations by designing in a way that is bold. In this project this will be manifested in floor patterns, pieces of furniture, lighting choices, and above all in the colour palettes,” says Jaako Puro, interior architect at Puroplan.
HOTEL AMERIKALINJEN
In this project NPM also managed the owner’s part of the project.
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QUALITY HOTEL GARDERMOEN
SUSTAINABILITY LESSON LEARNED Large refurbishment projects are part of every hotel chain’s day-to-day operations. In 2017 and 2018, it was the turn of Quality Airport Hotel Gardermoen to undergo more than just a routine revamp. The overhaul included a 7,000 square-metre extension with 109 new hotel rooms and new conference spaces – hardly a small project even for an experienced project organisation. And then there were concerns about sustainability.
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QUALITY HOTEL GARDERMOEN
Even early on, when the refurbishment was at the planning stage, questions were raised about the amount of waste that would have to be processed, from both a logistics and a sustainability perspective. Could the renovation be completed in an innovative and more sustainable way? The project and hotel management team decided to go the extra mile and tackle the project from a new angle, looking at every possibility for reusing old furniture and minimising the amount of waste. “There are a lot of interiors that have to be removed when you expand and renovate an entire hotel. That is a big cost in terms of labour, containers, waste processing, and the environment. We sat down and discussed how we could lower that cost and reduce the stress and strain for the hotel staff. We started to check with local charity organisations and found a charity, Kirkens Bymisjon, that we felt we’d like to help. They work with people who, for whatever reason, don’t have somewhere to live – they get help getting a home and also furnishing it. Our old furniture was the perfect donation for them. The mission and some of its homeless members were invited to dinner and a night’s stay at the hotel. The next day they started emptying the hotel of furniture. This was a big thing for them and we were so pleased to be able to give them this experience. The mission also has furniture shops and we were able to donate a lot of furniture to them as well. They repair the furniture before selling it so nothing has to go to waste. I hope to use similar methods in future projects. In this way our logistics are smarter, our costs lower, and our environmental footprint smaller. By putting in some extra effort at the beginning of the project you can really make a big difference when it comes to sustainability,” says Hege Foss, project manager at Nordic Property Management.
THE PROJECT 455 rooms Addition of 7000 sqm Brasserie X 1 bar 21 conference rooms 500 sqm exhibition space 700 sqm congress hall Property owner: KLP Eiendom Architecture: Kosberg Arkitektkontor Interior design: Scenario Interiørarkitekter
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UNDER STJÄRNORNA STOCKHOLM UNDER STJÄRNORNA
PICNIC AMONG THE ROOFTOPS OF STOCKHOLM 30 | STORIES | 2019
STOCKHOLM UNDER STJÄRNORNA
Roof tiles, sailcloth, glued laminated timber beams and natural stone create an outdoorsy palette of materials that enhances the atmosphere of a festival and beach party.
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STOCKHOLM UNDER STJÄRNORNA
The newest addition to Brunkebergstorg is Stockholm Under Stjärnorna (SUS), which hovers 50 metres above Stockholm and Brunkebergstorg. The extra-large rooftop bar is spread out over 1,200 sqm and unlike typical fancy rooftop
bars its design is inspired more by urban parks. Rich in colour, it’s home to street food, yoga, gym, music, an outdoor cinema, lawn and four bars. It’s like a festival in continuous motion, with happenings that will be open all year round.
THE PROJECT 1200 sqm 4 bars Outdoor cinema Property owner: AMF Interior design: EgnellAllard
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Series 430.
www.verpan.com VERPAN offers an exclusive range of lighting and furniture by Danish designer Verner Panton. Every product is certified and approved for contract applications worldwide.
KITCHEN CONFIDENTIAL: ADVENTURES OF PLANNING THE INSIDE When most people think of hotel design, guest rooms and plush sofas are what springs to mind. But there is one space that not only eats up a large chunk of the budget, it also requires military-style planning and project management to become a functional workplace – the hotel kitchen. We sat down with Richard Stibeck, project manager for F&B areas. Q: TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF?
A: I’m 33 years old and have worked for 16 years in restaurants and hotels. Before joining NPM I was F&B Manager at Hobo in Stockholm.
Q: WHAT DO YOU DO AT WORK?
I am a specialist in all our F&B projects – new-builds, as well as refurbishments. My role is to guarantee functionality, logistics and efficiency in the F&B spaces. I am also responsible for procurement of F&B equipment.
much in fokus, especially fridges, where new techniques give a lot smaller environmental effects.
Q: WHICH ARE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES WHEN PLANNING A NEW KITCHEN?
A: To find the perfect balance of back-of-house space and commercial spaces. To make the most efficient use of the commercial spaces, the supporting back-of-house spaces have to be well planned.
Q: WHAT ABOUT SUSTAINABILITY?
A: Climate smart machines are very
CONGRATULATIONS
SANNA NORÉN, MANAGER FOR SUSTAINABLE OPERATIONS, TO THE NOMINATION AS “ONE OF THE 33 MOST INTERESTING SUSTAINABILITY TALENTS UNDER 33” BY THE MAGAZINE AKTUELL HÅLLBARHET (CURRENT SUSTAINABILITY)
WHY DO YOU THINK YOU WERE NOMINATED?
I am a driving force concerning sustainability within Choice. I try to set up and be part of projects that have an effect and this has produced results, which is really great!
WHAT’S YOUR BACKGROUND?
After a high school education within F&B I trained at a bartender school, which led me to a two-year, round-the-world trip that took me to Australia and New Zealand while working in restaurants and hotels.
In Thailand I worked as a diving instructor and I saw first-hand the devastation of the coral reefs, which sparked my interest and commitment to environmental issues – I had to do something! I went back to school to get a bachelor’s degree in environmental science and some further courses in project management and tourism. And now I have been at Nordic Choice for two years!
WHAT’S THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE IN THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY WHEN IT COMES TO SUSTAINABILITY?
The biggest challenge is that we have to change our mindset concerning sustainability. We can’t look at it as something separate, it has to be part of the core business. We have to able to look at things from a longer perspective and ask ourselves the question: ”What does sustainability mean for our organisation and how do we reach our sustainability goals?”
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WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED SO FAR?
It is so important to have the entire organisation behind you, primarily by decentralising and giving people the possibility to make an impact and discuss sustainability issues.
WHICH ARE YOUR PERSONAL GOALS?
To continue my development and do what I do to create a sustainable world. The deeper I dig into different sustainability matters, the more I realize how much there is to learn!
AND WHAT ARE CHOICE’S SUSTAINABILITY GOALS FOR 2019?
During 2019 we will focus even more on food from different perspectives. We will work with our suppliers to push forwards on sustainability and we have goals to reduce our energy, water and food waste by 5% compared with 2018.
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CLARION HOTEL KARLATORNET
INSPIRED BY THE GOLDEN AGE OF SKYSCRAPERS
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CLARION HOTEL KARLATORNET
After the mass closures of yards and industries, Norra Älvstranden in Gothenburg, Sweden was long a wasteland in the city centre. It was no coincidence that the site saw the start of 90s rave culture in Scandinavia. In the deserted expanse of dilapidated harbour and industrial buildings, parties could last for days on end because the area was just devoid of people. But that was then. Here now stands Göta Älvs strand, a brand new neighbourhood that soon boasts Karlatornet, the tallest building in the Nordic Region at 245 metres tall with 73 floors. Developer Ola Serneke calls the tower his dream project. Norwegian hotel magnate Petter Stordalen, whose Nordic Choice Hotels will be moving into parts of the tower, says that hotel guests, residents, and visitors will be able to “travel halfway to heaven”. And not just in the figurative sense. Not only will the view be magnificent, but so will the architecture and design. Wingårdhs arkitekter are responsible for designing the hotel’s public areas. The concept is called “The Golden Days of Skyscrapers” and will bring the ideas behind the iconic Art Deco skyscrapers of 1930s New York, such as the Empire State Buil-
ding and the Chrysler Building, right into the 21st century. “We’ve used the exterior shapes, materials, and details of the building to create interiors as they would have been at the start of the last century. It has been our aim for the interior to give people the same ‘wow’ feeling that they get when they look at Karlatornet from the outside,” says Sara Helder, lead architect at Wingårdhs. Karlatornet houses a hotel, apartments, and offices. The aim has been to blur the boundaries between the different parts. The hotel, which is sandwiched between the apartments and offices, is a natural place to congregate. The lobby is shared by hotel guests, office workers, and conference participants, and there is a reception desk, a foyer with a bar, and two restaurants, as well as a breakfast and lunch room which can be accessed directly from the street. “The size of the building is exciting in itself. But the size can be a little overwhelming, so we wanted to strike a balance between space and intimacy. The generous flows of people contribute to the sense of life, movement, and exciting encounters. The materials and colours should be inviting, even in details like the patterns in the rugs and the reliefs in the cupboards. It will be an attractive environment with authentic materials that stand the test of time, both aesthetically and in their durability. The
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CLARION HOTEL KARLATORNET
materials relate to the exterior of the tower and the interior facade materials of the shorter building, Podiet, which gives the design originality and a self-assured expression.” The Golden Days of Skyscrapers concept enables art and beautiful shapes to come to the fore. The challenge has been to create a functional environment in a large new building that exudes intimacy, welcoming warmth, and international flair. “In terms of the building’s height and its large areas and volumes, we’ve tried to bring things down to human proportions. We’ve been inspired by feminine shapes, such as in the design of the reception desk’s rounded surfaces. We’re also working with an idea for a series of light fittings for the building, taking the shape of the tower as inspiration.” Karlatornet and the hotel will open in 2021, the same year that Gothenburg celebrates its 400th anniversary.
FACTS: Karlatornet is being built on Norra Älvstranden in Gothenburg - one of Scandinavia’s most expansive and knowledge-intensive central urban projects. Here you’ll find the Lindholmen Science Park, the University of Gothenburg’s Lindholmen campus, Sweden’s state television broadcaster SVT, and the Gothenburg Studios film cluster. There are also homes, restaurants, and prominent cultural institutions such as the Backa theatre - one of the most renowned and innovative Swedish theatres from the last decade. Across the river is the city centre, which can be reached by taking the Älvsnabben ferry or, beginning in 2021, a cable car. Both modes of transport are part of the municipal public transport system.
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CLARION HOTEL KARLATORNET
WingĂĽrdhs arkitekter is working on an idea for a series of light fittings inspired by the shape of the tower. Light fittings just for this location and this building. 39 | STORIES | 2019
COPENHAGEN AIRPORT PROJECT
Stopovers at CPH Airport
Having a stopover at Copenhagen Airport is generally a very pleasant ordeal. It has been ranked one of the best airports in the world several times, but the hotel side has been less exciting, with the former Hilton hotel, now a Clarion, practically the only option. But change is on the way. With the addition in 2020 of a 619-key Comfort Hotel, a new 3,000 sqm hub for conferences and meetings, and a revamped Clarion Hotel there will be enough excitement to turn some heads before take-off. The rule-breaking Comfort Hotel will feature a vibrant ground floor with a 24/7 barception, a co-living lounge for working and hanging out, and cool and efficient rooms with all essentials. And if you’re going on a friendcation there will be plenty of XXL-rooms that can house up to 8 people. The two hotels will be joined by a massive 3,000 sqm multipurpose event space. The neighbouring Clarion Hotel is already going through a revamp, starting with the top suites. The hotel was built in 2001 and was a Hilton until the takeover in 2017. It was renowned as a very good business hotel with clean lines and classic design. Now it’s time to launch a new era and tell a new story. The entire ground floor contains undefined spaces that will become more defined spatialities.
“As an important hotel for meetings, we want to make the conference element visible as soon as you step into the lobby. The Kitchen & Table brasserie will become a natural part of the ground floor. By installing screens in the ceiling, we can divide the different parts of the rooms into zones for different purposes. As with all refurbishments, you have to take into account the existing materials in the walls, floors and ceilings and make them work with the newly added materials and furnishings. The hotel already has high quality natural materials - stone, wood and metals - and they form the base for the new design. The hotel already has high quality natural materials - stone, wood and metals - and they form the base for the new design,” says Birgitte Mordt, interior designer at Semrén & Månsson.
Comfort Hotel Copenhagen Airport - opening 2020.
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The challenge of the double ceiling height became a strength of the top suites at Clarion on floor 12. Elegant, snug and classic with a twist. 41 | STORIES | 2019
RIPE FOR REDISCOVERY
THE PROJECT 5000 sqm Japanese spa 4 restaurants Break out spaces 5 suites Property owner: Strawberry Properties Interior design: DAP (spa, restaurants, break out) Joyn Studio (suites)
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SPAHOTEL YASURAGI
Nestled in an inlet to Stockholm, the no-sohidden gem of Yasuragi has undergone an eight-month interior revamp that really needs no introduction. Guests will be welcomed with an entirely new Japanese bath that focuses on experience, recovery, and inspiration. The new spa has been created by a team of Swedish architects at DAP. After an extensive study tour of Japanese onsens, the result is an asymmetric interpretation of a Japanese emperor’s courtyard, with a large swimming-pool as its architectural heart. Several small concrete huts with trellis-clad components were created around the pool for different purposes. The experience of cold and warmth are constantly in focus, with everything from a salt steam sauna to a carbonated bath, rain showers, and alpine tub. “The fundamental idea has been to reinterpret Japanese bathing culture and adapt it to a location in Sweden and the Stockholm archipelago. The material palette is based on the existing building with all its amazing concrete. Other materials such as black-stained oak, light oak, patterned tiles, and specially designed ceilings of metal screens also feature heavily. We have kept in mind the keywords of tradition, balance, nature, contrast, enjoyment, and stillness throughout the process,” says Mats Hansson.
Five suites have been refurbished under the direction of Joyn Architects. “Our ambition has been to create a harmonious and calm atmosphere with inspiration from Japan and the surrounding archipelago nature. The color palette is based on indigo and nature. The bed sits directly on the floor and rests on soft tatami rugs. There is a specially commissioned kimono by Alice Fine in each suite,” says Lisa Grape, interior architect at Joyn.
Lisa Grape, Helena Eliason and Ida Wanler at Joyn Studio
Mats Hansson, creative director at DAP.
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Marina Abramovic, Serbia/USA, one of the most recognized artists in the world, mainly for her film and performance art. Abramovic was invited to Ekebergsparken in 2013 where she recreated The Scream by Edvard Munch together with 270 volunteering Oslo inhabitants. With Bjørvika in the background, they screamed out all their feelings in a frame which was documented in a film. Abramovic´s own version became this large format photography (detail).
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Challenging the norms of #hotelart
Vik Muniz (Brazil, 1961 - ) detail of The Scream
Sune Nordgren meets me at a café up a side street somewhere between Observatorielunden and Tegnérlunden in downtown Stockholm. He has a brief gap before a meeting with the Royal Swedish Academy of Fine Arts and then jetting off to Madrid. Hectic, but this has become the norm. “I often travel around the world looking for new art. Some periods are more intense than others.” Edvard Munch – and Shephard Fairey. Two interesting but different artists who will strengthen the goal of establishing Bjørvika and Amerikalinjen as “art hotels”. At a pier in Bjørvika, Oslo, Clarion Hotel Oslo will collaborate with the new Munch Museum. “A special agreement has been reached with the museum which allows the hotel to display original works by Edvard Munch
in its lobby. It’s difficult to grasp just how big Munch is in Norway when many of his works aren’t so famous. Now more people will get the chance to see him,” Sune says. The hotel has also purchased works of art by artists inspired by Munch, including Marina Abramovic, Andy Warhol, and Sigurdur Gudmundsson.
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What contribution should art make? “Both Petter and I share the idea that art should stimulate reflection. That it’s not something you see in the periphery but something you stand in front of and think about.” Art and hotels are converging more and
Shepard Fairey, USA, detail of Hope
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Shepard Fairey, USA detail of Eat the Rich
Alex Katz,USA, detail of Tracey more. At Wynn in Las Vegas there is a sculpture worth $30 million by Jeff Koons. At The Surrey on Upper East Side in New York you can find Chuck Close’s photorealism. “We don’t want to be rebels such that everything we do is about evoking a reaction. Art should encourage guests to stop for a moment and reflect on what they’re looking at. That’s important. Creating an overall experience of the hotel.”
Shepard Fairey USA, detail of Welcome Visitor that they remember the hotel with all the art, and then come back. For others it runs deeper. Being able to give something to everyone who experiences the art is important - much more important than judging their reaction,” says Sune, laughing. At Amerikalinjen, guests will come across art by artists including Alex Katz, Julian Opie, and Shepard Fairey.
Is there a specific way that the guests react?
Sune Nordgren
“Sometimes it can be as simple as the fact
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” Kvalitativa lösningar för
kostnadseffektiv renovering av hotellrum och publika ytor. @Clarion Hotel Post
multimontage.com +46 (0)522–388 00
W8_NY.indd 1
2018-12-14 16:13:30
engagemang, kompetens och passion ”Med står vi vid din sida hela inredningsprocessen och tillsammans gör vi visionen verklig!
@Yasuragi Spa
hotelconcept.se
CLARION HOTEL THE HUB
LET’S GO HUBBING
When Clarion Hotel the Hub opens in March 2019 it will become the largest hotel in the Nordic region with 810 rooms. In addition to being able to host conferences of up to 1,850 people, the hotel will boast suites with balconies and terraces, three high-security floors, and a rooftop garden – the GrowHub – where the hotel will grow vegetables and herbs for the guests. We managed to get a sneak peek of the rooms before the official opening. Different shades of blues and greys make for a soft and pleasant impression, while a generous lounge chair complements the interior.
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Kvadrat Kvadrat designs designs high-quality high-quality upholstery, upholstery, window window coverings, coverings, rugs, rugs, andand other other textile textile related related products, products, andand hashas been been leading leading thethe field field in textile in textile design design andand innovation innovation since since 1968. 1968. WeWe areare an internationally an internationally renowned renowned andand progressive progressive design design company, company, committed committed to continuously to continuously pushing pushing thethe boundaries boundaries of aesthetic, of aesthetic, creative creative andand technological technological advancement advancement in in textile textile design. design. WeWe have have an extensive an extensive hospitality hospitality portfolio portfolio andand work work closely closely with with leading leading hospitality hospitality chains chains all over all over thethe world. world.
HOTEL SOMMERRO
Adam Greco and Alice Lund, GrecoDeco
One to watch in 2021 There’s no question about it: Sommerro will be a spectacular addition in Oslo following its transformation from an office building into a hotel featuring a cultural venue, rooftop restaurant, pool, and much more. It will have 236 rooms and is situated just a stone’s throw from the Royal Castle. The interiors are designed by British firm GrecoDeco. The 1931 building by architect duo Andreas Bjercke and Georg Eliassen has influences from functionalism and Art Deco and features an original in-house pool featuring works by sculptor Asbjørg Borgfelt and painter Per Krogh. The interior designers embarked on in-depth research into Norwegian architecture and design from the interwar period. The aim has been to retain as much as possible of the building’s historical and architectural values and to create a sensible interior in keeping with both the original design and the more contemporary setting. The new Sommerro doesn’t scrimp on looks in order to appeal to cool customers. Due to open in the Spring of 2021 it will reanimate unique aspects of Norwegian design and architectural history.
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EnEn stark affärspartner En stark stark affärspartner affärspartner inom sovkomfort inom inom sovkomfort sovkomfort Som ledande sängtillverkare med Som Som ledande ledande sängtillverkare sängtillverkare med med enen stolt historia sedan 1939 en stolt stolt historia historia sedan sedan 1939 1939 Europas, Rysslands och Asiens Europas, Europas, Rysslands Rysslands och och Asiens Asiens största sängtillverkare största största sängtillverkare sängtillverkare
CLARION HOTEL GILLET
Increasing the glamour factor in Uppsala Hotels with tired-looking guest rooms are commonplace in the hospitality industry. Renovations for all 116 rooms at Clarion Hotel Gillet were earmarked for 2017 and many questions came with that. How to do the refurbishment without disrupting the smooth running of the hotel too much and without breaking the bank? The hotel and the project management team together decided that the main goal was to instil some glamour into the hotel rooms, focusing on the bed and the bathroom.
A GM’S MINI-GUIDE TO REFURBISHMENT
Susanne Boije Fredlund, General Manager, Clarion Hotel Gillet Q: What is most important when starting a refurbishment? A: Good communication. Inform guests and staff in good time about what’s going to happen. Invest in information boards and roller banners that communicate the forthcoming changes – possibly with 3D images so people can see the end result.
An easy way to ring big changes in an out-dated hotel room is to change the textiles and add layers of fresh tactility. Older rooms often have a hard feeling and lack sensuality when it comes to the fabrics used for headboards, cushions and curtains. In Uppsala all textiles, lighting and freestanding furniture were changed with the aim of injecting a fresh warmth and richness that was missing in the older rooms. New room categories could also be added as a result of the refurbishment.
Q: What about security? A: Security is key. When you have many craftsmen in the building it’s important to have routines for locking up, keys and control of the fire alarms. Q: And how to organize the project? A: Keep it professional with well-defined project roles. Make sure you adhere to the timeline of the project. Once you have made decisions stick to the plan so you can achieve the right quality at the right cost within the set time frame.
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CLARION COLLECTION TAPETFAFRIKEN
INDUSTRIAL CHIC HOTEL IN THE MAKING designs, they instead chose to go down a less obvious design path. Terrazzo, marble, ceramics, wood, textiles, and maybe even the odd piece of wallpaper.
With a name that means “wallpaper factory” you would expect the walls of the new hotel to be filled with wallpaper and patterns. Although interior architects EgnellAllard have maintained allusions to wallpaper in their
Identity for hotels. Visit our showroom at Banérgatan 42 in Stockholm or online at infurncontract.se
The building has been torn down but the original façade will be rebuilt brick by brick, using saved original bricks in two storeys.
EST 1978
Sickla was considered to be far enough away from Stockholm to house lepers and halfwits back in the 17th century. In the 18th century it shifted towards becoming one of Stockholm’s most important industrial areas, and Sweden’s first calico factory was established here in 1729. The original hotel property for Clarion Collection Tapetfabriken was built in 1906 and over the years served as a calico factory and housed the Kåberg wallpaper factory. With the city centre within easy reach it’s perhaps surprising that Sickla’s hotels have been overlooked for so long.
“We chose to work with a design concept that focuses on authentic materials and furniture, and the meeting between decorative and minimalistic elements. We don’t embellish a property’s story. Instead we let the property and the location establish the feeling and the atmosphere. The idea behind the design concept comes from the building’s past as a factory. The industrial craft from those days melds with today’s industrial revolution 4.0,” says Helena Allard.
“Wool and cashmere are important sources of inspiration. They stand for quality, they’re both soft and sensual, and the material is superior in its function. Natural and simple luxury that endures over time. Craft is also an important inspiration: wood, stonemasonry, and textile weaves. We’ve seen that people have a desire to see and touch things that take time to make. The area itself is also a great source of inspiration. Look at Brooklyn, Copenhagen, and Shoreditch, where the old brick buildings create cosy urban areas that set the perfect atmosphere for a hotel like Tapetfabriken,” says Egnell.
HOTEL ATSIX
A sublime commission for At Six Carina Seth Andersson is a celebrated Swedish designer known for her distinctive yet purposeful glass and ceramic work. Her design process is about scaling -back, finding the balance between simplicity and meaningful form to result in pieces that have a timeless quality. At Six commissioned Seth Andersson to do a unique series of glass objects for the lobby - adding softness and poetry to the stark interior. The handmade vessels are produced at Skruf Glassworks in SmĂĽland, Sweden.
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TRAVEL & DESIGN
Reimagining
contemporary Swedish design On 13 October 2018, the National Museum in Stockholm reopened after an extensive five-year renovation. In line with the museum’s public mission and vision to make art and design widely accessible, the restaurant’s new interior design took the form of an artistic project. The museum assigned a team of Swedish designers and interior architects to play a part in the NM& initiative, an artistic collaboration to foster contemporary Swedish design and to reimagine its public spaces and the 300-seat restaurant. The team worked together, exploring materials and methods, discovering old and new producers, and ultimately providing visitors with insights into the design process, while creating a new, inspiring space for public use. The NM& project was produced by Matti Klenell, Carina Seth Andersson, Stina Löfgren, Gabriella Gustafsson and Mattias Ståhlbom. About another 30 designers and 20 producers have participated in the project. The result - NM& - A new collection – is a contemporary collection of furniture, light fittings, tableware and other decorative objects that celebrate the unfinished and uncertain in a museum filled with artistic masterpieces. All the finished products can be viewed in the museum restaurant.
environmental sustainability. The century-old interior is complemented with fresh design, and the fixed bookshelves feature new display units for small exhibitions. Inspired by old reading rooms and the traditional shade of green used in libraries, Olbers has created a room for rest and reflection. To make the interior more dynamic, Olbers invited the design agency Front and the designer Monica Förster to each create a product.
Carina Seth Andersson, Matti Klenell, Stina Löfgren, Gabriella Gustafson, Mattias Ståhlbom
Quality craftsmanship and environmental concern guided New design in the Old the project. The furniture is built to last and to age well, and Library The designer Emma Olbers can be both repaired and easily has decorated the Old Libra- recycled. ry, paying special attention to
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TRAVEL & DESIGN
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TRAVEL & DESIGN
MADE TO LAST
Bosnian craftmanship meets worldclass Scandinavian design We’re almost alone on the roads heading south out of Sarajevo. The route goes through tunnels, along winding roads that hug the sides of mountains - it resembles Cortina and the Alps in northern Italy. “Alta Badia is one of my favourite places to go skiing,” says Orhan Nikic laughing.
Orhan Nikic, (to the right) founder of Zanat, checks the wood quality The impressive Prenj mountain range rises majestically around the Neretva river, around which the city of Konjic has grown. The brown colours stand out clearly against the blue sky, and during the car journey from Sarajevo, Orhan starts to tell a story that stretches right across generations and families. “Everything started almost by chance. Wood carving has been a popular hobby for generations. It began back in the Middle Ages, before 1463, when the Ottoman Empire invaded the country from the east, so there have been many influences.” The car journey continues. We’re driving along a deep mountain ravine when Orhan tells us how, when Bosnia was ruled by Austria-Hungary, a few enthusiasts were given the opportunity to study
their art in more detail and develop their woodcarving skills. They also learnt carpentry, which opened the door to furniture making. “That’s our own forest, by the way,” says Orhan pointing to the mountain just before we enter the factory site.
three years. But you have to have artis tic ability too,” Orhan points out.
Konjic has often found itself in the midst of history. Just outside the city is Josip Broz Tito’s bunker, known as Armijska Ratna Komanda D-0, kept a secret from the inhabitants of former Yugoslavia until 2001. The political and military leadership would gather here in the event of war or crisis. Thankfully, the threat of nuclear weapons is no longer present. Furniture making, entrepreneurial spirit, and sustainability characterise Konjic, where Zanat plays a leading role. But Orhan is charmingly modest when he describes the company. “Wood carving has strong support from all of Konjic, and all of Bosnia. This is a requirement to become a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It’s not Muslim or Christian art - it has come from different ethnic backgrounds, and that makes me proud. It means a lot, especially for young people who see that you can do something creative and meaningful.”
“In part, we invest in employee trai ning, with different certificates accor ding to their skills. We also have very clear quality goals, which allows us to expand. But this has also posed a challenge - how should we train people, and who should we employ? We’ve en tered into partnership with a local fa culty to open an academy. This has made the process more rigorous, and we can train people on site at the factory.”
Inside the factory is the first room where employees work, to finish carving the wood before the surface is painted or finished. Skilled hands work methodically to cut, hammer, and plane various patterns and shapes. – “It takes a long time to become an expert. Some things can be picked up quickly, but others can take as long as
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How do you maintain a high level of expertise among your staff without sacrificing the requirements of your products?
Orhan takes a break to speak with some of his employees, who are treating the surface of a table - he is unhappy that a knot remains. Knowledge and passion runs in Orhan’s blood. “My family opened one of the first stores in 1919, by my grandfather’s oldest brother Salih. In 1927 his health deteriorated and my grandfather, Adem, took over the company. He was an entrepreneur who exported a lot together with his brother Meho, and until 1939, when another war broke out, the company was well regarded. After 1945, private companies were banned under the new socialist regime and an attempt was made to start state production, which went bankrupt after a few years. Finally, Orhan’s father, Mukerem,
TRAVEL & DESIGN
Nera Bowl, Monica Förster Design Studio
Zanat pledges to work with Universal Sustainability facilitating sustainable socioeconomic development. The company creates jobs for craftsman and university graduates, offers continuous training to all employees, and pays better-than-average wages.
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Orhan studied in the US in the 1990s, before working at the World Bank in Sarajevo and then in Jerusalem for a Palestinian relief organisation, but he often discussed the company with his family. “When the concept of Zanat was born, the idea was that we would make modern designer furniture but still incorporate the craft and the tech nique. Some see carving as a texture, others as a pattern. We’re attached to the craft, not to a folkloric motif. The motifs have always evolved. Another idea behind the business, aside from preserving the craft and cultural he ritage by creating a unique brand, was to create more jobs in Bosnia by actu ally making the whole process more labour intensive, at a time when things are increasingly being produced by robots. In Bosnia, unemployment is very high, but labour costs are low compared with Sweden, for example. In this way we can add value to wood
TRAVEL & DESIGN
Bosnian design industry might be small but the entrepreneurial producer Zanat is punching well above its weight. They collaborate with a-list designers such as Ilse Crawford, Gert Wingårdh, Monica Föster and Harri Koskinen.
Touch Bench by Ilse Crawford
carving and still be competitive.”
Why Scandinavian design? “One of the big reasons why we approached Scandinavian designers was that we thought it would be possible to connect our woodcarving with furniture. Scandinavian design is democratic because it made pieces widely available – but today that’s not the case. Large scale means losing individuality – for me individuality is when people can find fulfilment through hard work and involvement. When we first approached Bosnian designers, they were skeptical – but not the Scandinavians, ironically. We managed to break down taboos.” Zanat stands out, and Orhan believes this is the recipe behind the success. – “There are a number of factors, but an important element is that it stands
out and has its own identity in a world that is becoming increasingly familiar wherever you look. It’s not quirky but universally appealing, because the designers understand taste, and pe ople are getting tired of mass-produ ced things. These pieces communica te how they were made and that is what appeals.” The course has been set for the future. “We want Zanat to be an important employer in Bosnia, to be an exemplary business model in terms of sustainability and CRS, and to be a globally recognised brand in the area of interior design. And we’re already on the way – we’ll shortly be hiring five more coworkers.”
They’re certain to succeed
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TRAVEL & DESIGN
BRINGING IN THE PRESENCE OF NATURE Sweden-based German artist, Lies-Marie Hoffmann turns reclaimed elm trees into exceptional artistic works of functional design. Her design for the first Aesop boutique in Stockholm won the Design S Award. The jury’s statement for the prize reads: “Bringing in the presence of nature makes the limited area of the shop seem larger. A conscious, tactile, fragrant framing of the shop’s wares. A loving use of trees that erases the boundary between material and raw material.” After studying in Germany and Italy, Lies-Marie came to Sweden to do her MA at the Swedish College of Art, Craft and Design. She ended up staying and so began her love of elm trees. Swedish elms have been blighted with Dutch elm disease, and many elms in Stockholm have been cut down during the last decade. Seeing an opportunity to work with the wood, Lies-Marie handles these majestic trees and turns them into artistic pieces with her chainsaw.
”I can identify a lot with woodworking and wood sculpting. To me trees represent nature and wood represents culture. As part of both I create a “natural culture“. It is important for me to keep as much as possible of the original shape of the tree, which usually disappears in constructed wooden furniture. With my furniture it is exactly the opposite: you see the wood more than the item of furniture. The tree itself is tangible when I work,” says Lies-Marie.
Hotel At Six sought to weave in stories of Swedish craft and creating. The project team commissioned a table from artist Lies-Marie Hoffman. The 4m-long table made from reclaimed elm now has pride of place in the ground-floor wine bar Blanche & Hierta.
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TRAVEL & DESIGN
CUTTING-EDGE NEW HOTELS AROUND THE WORLD 2018 HAS SEEN SOME VERY AMBITIOUS HOSPITALITY LAUNCHES HERE ARE SOME OF OUR FAVOURITES. BUCKLE UP AND JOIN US!
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#1 THE TOURISTS, North Adams, Massachusetts USA
From one-star 48-room motorlodge to an eco-friendly hotel that offers an “austere luxurious experience”. In an area that has a long legacy within tourism being a part of the Mohawk Trail the new owners – a diverse group of musicians, property developers designers, chefs and a brewer wanted to tie into that past and remind people of all it has to offer. Designed by architect Hank Scollard the rooms have built-in king beds, high-vaulted ceilings, and picture windows looking over the forest behind the hotel.
#2 OMAANDA, Windhoek, Namibia
Not your typical safari holiday but better. Omaanda is a luxury lodge on a private nature reserve north-east of Windhoek. The lodge is set on the 90km2 former Onderkaremba cattle ranch at the edge of the Kalahari. The aim of the reserve is to release animals that have been rehabilitated in the N/a’an ku sê Wildlife Sanctuary into the wild habitat. The 12 huts are built in a style that tries to echoe the traditional architecture of the Ovambo people. Outside, the walls are ochre with each hut crowned by thick, cooling thatch.
#3 THE ROOMS OF ROME, Rome, Italy
If you are interested in architecture, interior design and art this is a must. Owned by the Fondazione Alda Fendi, 24 apartments have been created by French megastar architect Jean Nouvel in 17th century Palazzo Rhinoceros. Located in imperial Rome it overlooks the Forum Boarum, the Arch of Janus and the hills of Rome. The Fondazione’s ground floor gallery is conceived as a bridge between Italian history and art, and contemporary perspectives presented as audio and visual installations. The rooms are furnished wiht
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untreated concret, steel finishes, trompe l’œil panels and midcentury inspired furniture. #4 AL SEEF HOTEL BY JUMEIRAH, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
In a city known for its flashy decor and high-tech highrises, the understated interiors of this 200-room hotel, which are spread across 22 traditionally designed Arabian bayt homes, are a pleasant surprise. Rough plastered walls, wooden ceiling beams, and pale wood furniture set a low-key tone, while lux white linens and local touches give the feeling of laid-back luxury.
TRAVEL & DESIGN
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#5 LINDEBORGS ECO RETREAT, Nyköping, Sweden
A new crop of more conscious hotels and retreats are finally coming to the Nordics. Lindeborgs Eco Retreat just 120 km from Stockholm is situated by a serene lake that will give you peace of mind. It offers eco-suites, sauna & relax, lyengar yoga, 100% organic food as well as conscious meetings in the Ekobarn, designed by White Architects. Sustainability is also practised by innovative agriculture and vegetable gardens, beekeeping, flower meadows, biochar production and a biological water treatment system.
#6 TRUNK HOTEL, Tokyo, Japan
#7 SORIA MORIA SAUNA, Dalen, Norway
A lifestyle boutique hotel that is neither a business nor a luxury hotel and appeals to locals as well as visitors is something totally new in Japan. Trunk Hotel in the lively Shibuya district offers inviting public spaces that include a restaurant, a bar, a convenience store and even a chapel. ”The concept of this hotel is socialising. If you stay at the hotel, you can find many different types of Tokyo people and feel part of Tokyo.”
Not a hotel but a collaboration sauna project between the Telemark Canal Regional Park, which owns the canal on which the sauna is located; the local Tokke municipality; and local landmark hotel, the Dalen hotel, the operator. Named after a Norwegian fairytale about a gold palace in the mountains, the sauna with its polygonal silhouette is a striking example of Scandinavian minimalism. The sauna is open to guests of the hotel, day-trippers, and stray mountain hikers. Designed David Fjågesund of Feste Architecture.
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#8 TREEHOTEL, Harads, Sweden
Husband-and-wife team Kent and Britta Lindvall set up the Treehotel in 2010 to cater to tourists visiting the Arctic Circle in search of the Northern Lights. Completed in 2017 the ”7th room” by Snøhetta is the latest addition to the Treehotel’s suites. The charred-timber cabin is suspended among the crowns of some of the forest’s tallest pine trees. The suite features a stargazing net, which is designed to act as a giant hammock for the more adventurist guests.
TRAVEL & DESIGN
A FEW MOMENTS WITH…
Louvre Abu Dhabi WHICH IS YOUR FAVOURITE HOTEL?
YOUR FAVOURITE DESTINATION?
I just came back from NY where I spent a few nights at the 11 Howard. I liked the paired back aesthetic and effortless Scandi cool in Manhattan. The Blond bar was a big hit, I returned back in two nights in a row, and that doesn’t happen often with hotel bars, especially in a city like NYC.
My projects take me to beautiful destinations worldwide, so this is a difficult one. Last year I visited for the first time both Iceland and the Arctic region in Finland. I fell in love with the landscape and the openness. I am attracted to quiet escapism, wild nature and remote locations, and have made a promise to return and go deeper, off the beaten track.
YOUR FAVOURITE MUSEUM?
CONSTANTINA TSOUTSIKOU
Creative Director at HBA, Constantina Tsoutsikou manages the creative direction of HBA London’s hospitality interior design projects. Since joining the studio 12 years ago, she has worked on award-winning projects around the globe.
I am the type that likes hanging out in museums and galleries. I will find time to visit the Louvre Abu Dhabi during a business trip or take it easy at the Tate Modern in London over the weekend with my children. A RESTAURANT THAT YOU LOVE GOING BACK TO?
If I am in our design studio in Westbourne Grove, I’ll pop into Andina for lunch, a very good Peruvian restaurant with its own bakery and great coffee. In Soho, it’s Lina Stores for the best Italian pasta, and you ll be lucky to get a seat.
A DESIGNER THAT YOU ADMIRE?
I am a big fan of Phoebe Philo’s work at Celine and Jonny Johansson at Acne studios. WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE NEXT BIG THING IN THE TRAVEL & HOTEL INDUSTRY?
We will see more adventurous concepts but also stronger green and environmental strategies that will be paired with exceptional design credentials. So, not just good, ethical design but confident, stylish and memorable.
LAUREN HO
Lauren is currently the travel editor at Wallpaper* magazine, where she creates and edits their travel content. In addition to her work for Wallpaper, Lauren is also a freelance journalist, writer and editor, specialising in luxury travel for publications like Condé Nast Traveller, House & Garden and Suitcase among others.
Mocaa it can affect your whole experience. The Mandarin Oriental in Bangkok certainly comes in at the top, followed closely by La Réserve in Paris and The Peninsula in Shanghai. YOUR FAVOURITE MUSEUM?
The Photographer’s Gallery in London. A RESTAURANT THAT YOU LOVE GOING BACK TO?
WHICH IS YOUR FAVOURITE HOTEL?
This is like asking me to pick my favourite child! For me, it’s not just about the design, aesthetics or the destination, but the service. If the service is poor,
Rules, London’s oldest restaurant, which was established in 1798. It serves traditional British classics from Steak & Kidney pie to roast venison. The best time to go is around the Christmas period. YOUR FAVOURITE DESTINATION?
To be honest, I don’t have a favourite destination, as I like all destinations for what they are: Bangkok for it’s
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chaotic intensity, Botswana for its wildlife, Penang for its food, Sydney in the summer… A DESIGNER THAT YOU ADMIRE?
Thomas Heatherwick. His transformation of a former grain silo in Cape Town into Zeitz MOCAA (Museum of contemporary art) is a stand out for me. WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE NEXT BIG THING IN THE TRAVEL & HOTEL INDUSTRY?
Technology - both from a business point of view and for improving customer experience - will certainly define the industry.
TRAVEL & DESIGN
INDIA MAHDAVI
Absolutely Louisiana in Copenhagen.
Architect and designer India Mahdavi was born in Tehran and spent her childhood traveling between Cambridge, Massachusetts, New York, Heidelberg, Venice, and Paris. She established her own studio in 1999, designing hospitality and residential projects worldwide. In 2016, India received France’s highest cultural award, Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.
A RESTAURANT THAT YOU LOVE GOING BACK TO?
WHICH IS YOUR FAVOURITE HOTEL?
The Italian designer Martino Gamper.
The eco lodge Adrère Amellal in the Egyptian oasis of Siwa.
WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE NEXT BIG THING IN THE TRAVEL & HOTEL INDUSTRY?
YOUR FAVOURITE MUSEUM?
Sustainable, cultural and responsable tourism.
The one around the corner – the neo-bistro Le Petit Varenne in the 7th arrondissement in Paris. YOUR FAVOURITE DESTINATION?
Iran— my home country. A DESIGNER THAT YOU ADMIRE (AND PRODUCT)?
Adrère Amellal
blow away re-use of space and quality curation. A RESTAURANT THAT YOU LOVE GOING BACK TO?
La Canne en Ville, Brussels. A neighbourhood brasserie set in a former butchery that does a cracking steak and the cabbellid (cod) is excellent too. YOUR FAVOURITE DESTINATION?
Sud Tirol A DESIGNER THAT YOU ADMIRE?
Kerry Hill for his modesty and integrity, impeccable
GUY DITTRICH
Now working from the UK, long term contributor to style bibles Wallpaper* and Sleeper magazines, freelance writer and journalist Guy Dittrich is an independent commentator on design, travel and the hotel industry. WHICH IS YOUR FAVOURITE HOTEL?
There is a time and, most definitely, a place for everything but hotels to which I have returned include Costa Navarino, Greece, Casa Bonay, Barcelona and Faena, Miami. But I cannot reveal my real favourite as it only has 12 rooms and is already too busy! YOUR FAVOURITE MUSEUM?
A gallery rather than a museum, Tate Modern, for the
Casa Bonay
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knack of big picture and eye for detail. He designed quite a few hotels and their furniture too. WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE NEXT BIG THING IN THE TRAVEL & HOTEL INDUSTRY?
An increasingly specialised offer. Not the brand proliferation that is segmenting an existing audience but truly focused offerings that understand and target niche audiences.
TRAVEL & DESIGN
B O O K
L O V E
ALAN FAENA: ALCHEMY AND CREATIVE COLLABORATION
ALAN FAENA Rizzoli Alan Faena is the hotelier of the highly sought-after FAENA hotels in Buenos Aires and Miami. In each of the two cities he built a whole universe of luxury design by working with the best talents of the day: Philippe Starck, Rem Koolhaas, Norman Foster, Damian Hirst, and the film director Baz Luhrmann. In this memoir he details how his ambition to create beauty was realized with gorgeous interiors and restaurants, lavish gardens and pools.
STEVEN GAMBREL PERSPECTIVE
THE GRAND HOSTELS: LUXURY HOSTELS OF THE WORLD
KASH BHATTACHARYA Gestalten Would you like to explore cities with likeminded people when you travel? Live the local life, and take part in communal activities? A new wave of hostels is emerging that offer just that, with an extra shot of service and comfort. From outdoor swimming pools to rooftop dinners, co-working spaces to Spanish cooking lessons. Kash Bhattacharya, aka BudgetTraveller, reveals his secret tips on where to find luxury hostels across the world.
Rizzoli Top interior designer Steven Gambrel’s luxe aspirational cloth-bound tome showcases his latest home interiors. Using a classical approach injected with contemporary touches, he creates spaces for today rooted in the past. A connoisseur of historical styles, his designs feature compelling reinterpretations of the past coupled with a sense of place.
HIDEOUTS: GRAND VACATIONS IN TINY GETAWAYS
Gestalten Spend your holidays in tiny huts, cabins, treehouses, and houseboats in remote places. We no longer want a generic, one-size-fits-all vacation. We want to explore on our own terms and immerse ourselves in local culture. Simply witnessing nature is no longer enough--we want to live in it. A fusion of glamour and camping, you can wake up in a yurt on a mountain top, reside in the forest canopy in a treehouse, or take in incredible panoramic views in an eco-lodge. THE MONOCLE GUIDE TO HOTELS, INNS AND HIDEAWAYS
LIAIGRE PARIS FRANCOISE-CLAIRE PRODHON
Rizzoli The illustrious interior architecture house Liaigre takes us inside its latest international properties. For over thirty years the brand has solidified a visual signature of clean lines, natural materials, and an artful sense of subtle sophistication. The book dwelves into five exclusive interiors of understated beauty and refined aesthetics.
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Monocle This book will tell you where to find a top hotel - and also how to design or run your own. Packed with insight, it will be a must-have guide for the globally minded. Over the past decade, Monocle editors have been staying in plenty of hotels. They’ve put to the test everything from cosy inns in the backstreets of Beirut to cutting-edge offerings from international brands in New York, Tokyo and beyond.
TRAVEL & DESIGN
B O O K
L O V E
ISAY WEINFELD:
THE EYE:
AN ARCHITECT FROM BRAZIL
Workman Publishing They’re often behind the scenes, letting their work take center stage. But now Nathan Williams, founder and creative director of Kinfolk magazine brings more than 90 of the most iconic and influential creative directors into the spotlight. In The Eye, we meet fashion designers like Claire Waight Keller and Thom Browne. Editorial directors like Fabien Baron and Marie-Amélie Sauvé. Tastemakers like Grace Coddington and Linda Rodin. .
Gestalten An inimitable force in the realm of combining modern elegance with tropical vibrancy, Weinfeld thinks of a building as a complete artwork that needs to be not just functional but beautiful. The volume features over 50 iconic projects: from the indoor gardens and bronze-covered private spaces of La Petite Afrique in Monte Carlo to the garden apartments of 360 in São Paulo that blend city landscape with natural surroundings.
Annons ÖRSJÖ
carlhansen.com
every piece comes with a story | E005 |
EMBRACE CHAIR EOOS · 2015
The Embrace Chair is the culmination of a new collaboration between the design trio EOOS and Carl Hansen & Søn. Simultaneously precise and relaxed, the design unites EOOS’ strong sense of modern aesthetics with Carl Hansen & Søn’s tradition of high-quality craftsmanship and outstanding comfort.
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