COPPERHILL ÅRE
A mountaintop design hotel Clarion Hotel Bjørvika A new art hotel for everyone
COMFORT HOTEL
Predicting the future by creating it Jan Gradvall Check into other people’s lives
Bend-Sofa, seat system designed by Patricia Urquiola. www.bebitalia.com
Verkstedveien 1 / Drammensveien 134, Skøyen Norway 23 13 13 40 - expo-nova.no
D E S I G N P O R T R A I T.
TOTALLEVERANDØR AV HOTELLINNREDNING
EDITORIAL Writers Josefin Forsberg (p 10, 14, 16, 22, 24, 35, 38, 46) Jules Attar (p 6, 19, 20, 27, 30, 32, 36, 40, 42, 44, 45) Art Direction: Philippe Attar Concept & production: Atmosfär by Attar AB
The hotel industry’s leading Comfort Hotels predicting 06 environmental campaigners 32 the future by creating it At Six is high class without 10 the snobbery
Five trends to look out for 35 in 2018
Year round views of the 14 Stockholm skyline
38 Nordic Light is shining bright Clarion Hotel Bjørvika 40 A new art hotel for everybody
The heart of Hobo is 16 having fun
It’s about choosing art for 42 the location
19
Clarion Hotel SeaU to be a hub for Helsingborg
Nordic Choice expands 44 in Copenhagen
20
Hotel Christiania Teater: Historic hotel and theatre
Gardemoen takes inspiration 45 from the Nordic region
22
The breakout architects of NPM and Choice
24 27 Skt. Petri continues to evolve Nordic Choice brings 30 New York to Oslo A mountaintop design hotel
46 Up Next Jan Gradvall: 54 Checking into a hotel is to
check into other people’s lives
info@nordicpropertymanagement.se | www.nordicpropertymanagement.se | Instagram: nordicpropertymanagement 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.
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A PASSION FOR CREATING MEETING PLACES
When I started working on hotel projects my only experience of hotels was staying at them. Twelve years and many hotel projects later it’s become much more than work – it’s a passion. A hotel is like a small society – a community – a small world on its own. It’s a place where people meet for work, to go on holiday, to have dinner or a drink with friends, and to do so many other things. It’s a true privilege to build these new worlds, but it comes with a responsibility. It’s a real challenge to create the best possible guest experience, one that does not undermine the efficient operation of the hotel, and to create aesthetically pleasing environments and still ensure functionality. We put a lot of thought into logistics solutions and into finding the right look and feel for the interior of each and every project. The quest for new ideas is a continuous process. When we started NPM it was with the intention of creating a company where everything related to the building of hotels was united under one roof. Everything from designing and building hotels, safety, accessibility, facility management and sustainability, energy efficiency, and quality assurance, with the fundamental idea being that gathering knowledge in one place would benefit the projects and the project process. We’ve now laid the foundation for the future and we have the systems to enable us to take what we’ve learnt in quality assurance and facility management into our new projects and so lay the foundation for continuous improvement. In 2018 we’re planning to cash in the benefits from these systems and I’m really looking forward to seeing the results. The completion of every new hotel is like the birth of a new baby and so much effort and love goes into each and every one. And just like any other children, they are very different and some births can be more challenging than others – but we love them all just as much regardless. In this magazine, we’d like to take the opportunity to tell the story of some of our “children” and we hope that you’ll enjoy reading about them and maybe take some inspiration from it. CATARINA MOLÉN-RUNNÄS, CEO Nordic Property Management / CPO Nordic Choice
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The hotel industry’s leading environmental campaigners: “We want to help increase awareness” Since 2008, Nordic Choice Hotels has been Scandinavia’s only ISO 14001-certified hotel chain. NCH has more than ten years’ experience working with the environment, improving energy efficiency across millions of square metres of real estate. Much of the success is measured by way of its environmental impact and social responsibility. “We want to help improve the environment and to raise awareness in this area,” says Erik Killie, Manager Sustainability & Energy at NPM.
High environmental awareness standards are set for all of Nordic Choice’s projects – not just for its own work, behaviour, and values, but also for all its suppliers and partners. The sum of what ERIK KILLIE you do creates a more sustainable Manager Sustainability & Energy hotel company, allowing it to continue to contribute to a better society. Erik has worked with these issues for ten years and has a background in facility management.
to conduct effective and structured environmental work using a documented environmental management system.
“We have an owner that is more involved in this than others in the industry. Fortunately we place considerable emphasis on energy conservation measures, which we systematised in 2007 with our We Care programme. This covers everything from people and food to the environment and social sustainability.”
WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO REDUCE CONSUMPTION?
WHAT GOES ON BEHIND THE SCENES AS PART OF YOUR ISO CERTIFICATION? “We wanted to systematise all our work in the field of the environment. Then you can routinely work towards continuous improvements. This was vital for being able to certify each hotel.” ISO is a joint organisation for national standardisation organisations in 162 countries. Its head office is located in Geneva. The aim of ISO 14001 is to help companies and organisations
With We Care, we want to take a holistic approach in several areas where they have the ability to make a considerable impact. “There are five main areas in the spotlight: water, waste, chemicals, energy, and transport. All hotels have to work with these over time and measure data. We have an energy monitoring programme called Mestro and we’re now working to find an effective system for measuring data from other areas as well,” says Erik.
“Since 2009 we’ve halved the amount of waste per kilo and per guest night, but this can be improved upon further. We’ve been tackling food waste for five years and have adopted new approaches to reducing portion sizes and measuring all portions manually, for example. We’ve learned that everything that gets measured gets done properly. This alone actually reduced food waste.” Energy is an area that has a huge impact on the environment, and it is a key development area for NPM. By conducting energy audits the company can review its consumption. “We co-operated with Scandic in our energy audits. Right now we’re studying how energy-efficient our buildings are. We can
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Fäviken in Jämtland, Sweden
now see how airtight our walls and windows are and the types of energy sources we use. Wherever possible, we want to use green energy sources to heat our hotels.” WHAT DO YOU DO TO MAKE SURE YOU’RE ALWAYS EVOLVING? “We get a lot of good ideas from both within and outside the company. For example, a hotel in Bergen uses ozonated water so we’re not dependent on the use of chlorine and other agents that harm the environment. We’ll try to implement in more hotels this next year. It’ll make a huge difference, and we hope to see a substantial decline in the use of agents that are harmful to the environment.” The latest ISO certification took place in 2008, and efforts to implement the 2015 model are already underway. But there is some work still to do.
“We have been audited but have some anomalies that we’re working hard to address. The model has brought about a lot of new things for us. Thanks to our ambition and commitment, we’re learning all the time,” says Erik.
FACTS
Through We Care we want to do more for people, society, and the environment. All hotels are certified according to ISO 14001. Water, energy, chemicals, waste, and transport are in the spotlight at each hotel. Between 2008 and 2016, water consumption fell by 23,1% per guest night. Between 2008 and 2062, waste fell by 51% per guest night. Between 2013 and 2016 energy consumption has fallen by 4,5%. Four out of five hotels use 100% renewable electricity with a guarantee of origin provided by Ishavskraft.
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At Six is high class without the snobbery
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With great, timeless materials, a focus on the dining experience, and with a bit of art on the side, this new classic on the Stockholm hospitality scene has gone off with a bang. It’s simple - At six is where it’s at!
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Although Hobo and At Six are part of the same project they’re more like cousins than twins. Right as you step through the front door you’ll notice a big difference. While Hobo is more playful and relaxed, At Six has a sophisticated elegance in every detail. Even the scent, which is custom to the hotel, is oozing of luxury. Not to mention the marble stairs with the artist Jaume Plensa’s bust, the “Mar Whispering”, that welcomes you up to Dining Room – the in house restaurant. But according to the project manager, Anna Rosén, the real key behind the air of sophistication and feeling of luxury is the staff. ”They really set the tone for the guests. They’re welcoming and really give the hotel an international feeling. Of course the choices of material, the art, and the design is the foundation for creating that luxurious feeling, but I think the staff is the heart.” It all started back in 2014 when Nordic Choice Hospitality Group came out victorious against other hospitality operators to head up the hotel and restaurant projects in AMF’s properties at Brunkebergstorg. After having been appointed the project, an international architecture competition began to find the designers. The choice for At Six finally fell on the London based firm Universal Design studio. They have worked with the already existing elements of the building and the character of the city block and have managed to create something that feels new and fresh, but without sacrificing that timelessness. The collaboration between the different operators has been like a rollercoaster according to Anna. ”It’s that feeling when you want to scream and laugh at the same time. At the end of the day, when the ride is over, you’re happy that you did it and you realise what an exciting experience it was.” Like any other thing worth anything, the At Six project had its ups and downs. One of the most difficult things was navigating all of the different opinions and voices, both internal and external. In a project like this communication is key. ”Working with so many companies and entrepreneurs was essential to create the feeling we wanted for At Six, but of course there are some issues with that. Communication is so crucial, and that was probably our biggest challenge.”
Today At Six is a hotel that offers so many different experiences, and every single one is worth trying. Both a weekend stay in one of the beautiful rooms, as well as something as simple as a lunch in the Dining Room. ”One of my favourite experiences is the concept of Tipsy Tea. It’s like an afternoon tea, but with some cheeky gin. It’s absolutely a concept I’d like to try myself.”
BRUNKEBERGSTORG’S GOLDEN BOY! With no less than two first places and one second place in the esteemed hotel design competition, AHEAD, At Six is Brunkebergstorg’s current golden boy. AHEAD is a hotel design award that’s established in Asia, the United States, and Europe. At Six was nominated in five categories: Bar, club or lounge. Guestrooms. Lobby & Public spaces. Restaurant, and Urban Hotel Conversion. At Six swooped in, claiming the first prize in the categories Guestroom and Urban Hotel Conversion as well as an honourable second place as best hotel overall. According to reliable sources they had a very hard time choosing the winner for the overall award. It isn’t the only time that At Six walked away as a champion. The hotel was also awarded a prize in the hotel category of the FX Award gala in London and the International Hotel & Property Awards. The dual prizes in the AHEAD awards and the win at the FX Award are cause for celebration. ”It’s such a nice feeling. We’re so happy; it’s like a receipt on our hard work” ,says Jennie Hahmann Håkanson, Managing Director of At Six. The awards are a result of being somewhere in between modern and timeless. Sober, beautiful elegance – but without the snobbery usually associated with that kind of hotel.
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Interior design by Wingårdhs, Gothenburg.
Year round views of the Stockholm skyline At Brunkebergstorg there’s a lot more to experience than just the hotels. On the very top floor of Brunkebergstorg 4 rests Stockholm’s coolest year round rooftop bar and restaurant, TAK, with a fantastic fusion of Nordic ingredients and Japanese cuisine. That there would be a separate sky bar and rooftop was an early decision in the Brunkebergstorg project, but it took a while before it was decided that it would be a detached restaurant. With the working title “The roof” it didn’t take a lot of discussion until the name TAK, which means roof in Swedish, was set in stone.
NOMINATED FOR
The name was a given thanks to its location and the amazing views of the Stockholm sky line. But, the restaurant wouldn’t have been such a success without the amazing chef Frida Ronge who’ve put TAK on the international food-map. Having a skybar in Stockholm is a difficult task. Especially considering that the climate is very different from southern Europe where most cities are notorious for their luscious roof top watering holes. It is however easier to run a sky bar in the norther regions as one would think. Both the inhabitants of Stockholm as well as the visitors have been yearning for something like TAK. Great drinks, fantastic views, and maybe some sun. They’ve welcomed the restaurant bar with open arms. But, as one would suspect, the business is very dependent on the seasons. The restaurant and bar down size during the winter. There’s less activity as the temperature drops, but they have the winter terrace open which serves warm drinks and has heaters around the outside area. And the drinks are something that absolutely sets TAK apart from the rest of the Stockholm restaurant and bar scene. Their bar
chief, Charlotte Halzius, has been named the best bartender in the world, the first female to get the title. She won the title in London competing in the championship Diplomático World Tournament. The food is another part of what makes TAK special. Frida Ronge is the wonderful food creator. She has an amazing ability to mix Nordic ingredients with traditional Japanese cuisine. But there’s more to TAK’s restaurant than first meets the eye. UNN is a separate room having only 8 seats, being a restaurant within the restaurant. ”All of the seats are gathered around our teppanyaki where the chef cooks your dinner right in front of you. Teppan means “iron surface” and yaki means “to fry” or “grill” and that’s exactly how your food is prepared.” ■
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@ CLARION HELSINKI AIRPORT HOTEL
DIN LEVERANTÖR AV INREDNING TILL HOTELL OCH RESTAURANGER SIFAB.EU / 031-17 08 30
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NOMINATED FOR
The heart of Hobo is having fun. An old bank office turned into a watering hole for the world’s most fun loving nomads – meet Stockholm’s new favourite playground, Hobo.
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For years Brunkebergstorg in Stockholm, Sweden, has been a social wasteland. Amongst corporate skyscrapers, rush hour fastfood restaurants and people in a hurry the block has been forgotten. Not anymore. Today Brunkebergstorg is exploding with life as Swedbank’s old headquarters have been turned into two hotels and a restaurant – filled to the brim with joie de vivre. Anna Rosén, the project manager for Hobo, explains what it’s been like giving new life to a part of the city that has been dormant for so long. ”It’s been an interesting work process. We’ve been very mindful of what we’ve wanted to create here. It’s supposed to be a meeting place for innovative individuals, somewhere that breathes youthfulness but without any of the exclusion that we might relate to it. Playfulness. The heart of Hobo is having fun.” With the opening of Hobo, At Six and the award winning restaurant TAK, life has been brought back to Brunkebergstorg. Once again the square is pulsating with people from all over the world, but Hobo is global in more ways than just the patrons visiting. There was a competition to find the architects for the project. NCH wanted to work with someone international, who could bring new ideas and a new perspective to Swedish functionalism. In the end the Berlin based design studio Aisslinger was chosen. The award winning studio, headed by Werner Aisslinger, works on a broad spectrum of art focused projects and if Hobo is
anything, it’s a hub for art. There is nature photography in all of the corridors, to bring back life to what’s generally regarded as dead space. On top of that theres is a pop-up space, and a number of different collaborations with artists and companies. The pop-up space is part of what makes Hobo unique. The hotel isn’t just a place where you spend the night, it’s a living organism – ever evolving and changing to fit the people currently residing in its rooms. With 201 rooms and one suite the hotel has dedicated itself to be a meeting spot for urbanism and naturalism. To be located somewhere in between the cement jungle and the deep Nordic forests. A central part of that meeting is the room design where the beds are facing the windows with the urbanism of the Stockholm skyline outside. ”To enter a hotel room and discover that the bed is located dead centre, with its headboard towards the door, and to look out at the sky. That’s something that surprises and creates a creative and memorable atmosphere”, says Werner. And if there’s something that Hobo hotel will continue doing it’s just that. To surprise, and create a creative and memorable atmosphere for anyone that visits. ■
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B O O K
L O V E
STAY WITH ME:
THE MOST CREATIVE HOTEL BRANDS IN THE WORLD (2017)
CATHERINE HARVEY The past decade has seen an explosion in the number of boutique hotels the world over. Through clever branding and unique interiors, they capture our dreams and yearnings, providing refuge for vacationers and weary business travelers alike. Stay With Me features some of the most brilliant brand strategies of recent years campaigns that integrate mission with material expression.
MORNING NOON NIGHT
CHIC STAYS:
(2017)
CONDE NAST TRAVELLER’S FAVORITE PEOPLE ON THEIR FAVORITE PLACES (2016)
MELINDA STEVENS From Jeremy Irons’s historical Palacio Belmonte escape in Lisbon, to the beaches of Kate Winslet’s secret Scottish hideaway of Eilean Shona, to Kate Moss’s favorite beach in the Maldives, each of these thirty-five personal tales of the loveliest spots around the globe is packed with anecdotes and lyrical descriptions to transport readers.
SOHO HOUSE Morning Noon Night charts the Soho House journey in design, food, and drink, from the perfect burger to how to light a room. Whether you want create your own bathroom style, or host the best parties—everything you need to live the Soho House lifestyle is here.
JOSEPH DIRAND: INTERIOR (2017)
JOSPEH DIRAND & YANN SILLEC The first monograph on one of today’s most celebrated architects, renowned for designing interiors that combine minimalism with classic French style. This book focuses primarily on Dirand’s residential interior design work in Paris and New York, while also featuring some of his acclaimed designs for the interiors of hotels, restaurants, and fashion houses worldwide.
(2017)
LET’S GO OUT AGAIN: INTERIORS FOR RESTAURANTS, BARS AND UNUSUAL FOOD PLACES
KARL FORNIER & PIERRE BERGE
(2015)
The first monograph dedicated to Studio KO, this book spotlights a diverse array of their work, from private residences in breathtaking scenery, ranging from the Moroccan mountains to Provence and Brittany in France, to the highly anticipated Yves Saint Laurent Museum as well as the Chiltern Firehouse Hotel in London. A must read!
GESTALTEN & MICHELLE GALINDO
STUDIO KO
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Interior designers and architects worldwide are using new concepts to make going to a restaurant a multisensory experience. Read about some of the latest and most interesting new restaurant designs around the world.
CLARION SEAU TO BE A HUB FOR HELSINGBORG SeaU Helsingborg is the name of the coastline development area in central Helsingborg. In the coming years the site will see the construction of a new hotel, conference facilities, over 150 new homes, and public meeting spaces In late August 2017, work started on pouring the concrete for the hotel’s foundations. “SeaU will be something you look forward to, and when we welcome our first guests, we’ll surpass all their expectations,” said owner and chairman of Nordic Choice Hotels Petter A. Stordalen. Emma Olofsson is the project manager for SeaU Helsingborg. “Above all it’s really fun to work on a project that has such high standards of the finished products. This is something for the whole city. Everyone involved in the project shares the same view. It’s quite inspiring!” A new, vibrant, central hub is being created in downtown Helsingborg with far-reaching views across the Sound. A new venue for meetings and get-togethers, new businesses, new homes for the people of Helsingborg, and a new hotel for visitors. WHAT SORT OF REACTIONS HAVE YOU HAD FROM THE LOCALS? “The name has been the subject of a lot of discussion – some people thought it was a little too cliched, and others didn’t like the fact that it’s in English. But this shows that this location is well-known, and people are passionate about it. We have a firm belief that the development will be appreciated.”
WHAT WILL SEAU HELSINGBORG BRING TO THE CITY? “Its location provides a natural waterside space, where you can meet friends and family. It’s also a centrally located hub, just a few minutes from Helsingborg’s transport interchange, Knutpunkten. This is unique for Helsingborg.” According to Emma, the project is in the middle of a very hectic phase. “We’re in the middle of the construction process right now, which must be finished by the end of the year. There’s a lot of design planning going on right now – materials for the floors and walls and things like that. Concept work is always great fun,” she says. The residential area of SeaU Helsingborg consists of four buildings with a total of 155 residential units, most of which are tenant-owned. The new hotel and conference complex has 250 hotel rooms and the conference facility can accommodate around 1,300 people. The complex offers conference rooms, restaurants, a bar, a gym, and a car park with 228 spaces. Clarion Hotel SeaU Helsingborg will open its doors in the first ■ quarter of 2020.
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Hotel Christiania Teater, Oslo
Historic hotel and theatre paganda Minister Joseph Goebbels ran the theatre as a propaganda machine for the Nazi regime.
The hotel building at Stortinget 16 was originally built as a theatre and office building in 1918 in a postmodern Nordic Renaissance style. Here you can see traces of not only German occupation but also the history of theatre and opera. The building was designed by Henry Fearny Coll in collaboration with Danish architect Hack Kampmann, known for Marliseborg Palace and the Ny Carlsberg Glypotek art museum in Copenhagen. The Norwegian opera icon Kirsten Flagstad played her first lead role at the theatre, which is also where Det Norske Teatret staged one of the most famous performances of Henrik Ibsen’s Peer Gynt. Hotel Christiania Teater still shares the building with Oslo’s Christiania Theatre. The revue and theatre scenes began to emerge around Oslo’s Studenterlunden Park at the turn of the century, and by the early 1900s Stortinget had become a hub for many theatres. The theatre was first named Opera Comique but struggled to attract decent audiences. The opera stage
was decommissioned after just three years and was transformed into an operetta and revue venue under the name Casino, but that didn’t work either. It was then turned into a cinema. It had become easier to sell tickets for films than for performances. Norway was occupied by Nazi Germany in 1939. In 1941 the operation of the building was then taken over by the Deutsches Theater. During the Second World War, Reichskommissar Josef Terboven and Pro-
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Dictatorship is now a distant memory, the building has been listed as a cultural monument since 2015. The building is of great national value thanks to the influence it has had during key periods of the Norwegian capital’s culture and entertainment scene. The building also serves as a reminder of the propaganda policy that was conducted in Norway and evidences the role played by culture during the power struggles of the Second World War. Today, Hotel Christiania Teater is a unique boutique hotel in the heart of Oslo, a short walk from the city’s main thoroughfare, Karl Johans gate. Aker Brygge, with its many restaurants, bars, and shops, is just a few minutes’ stroll away. Attractions such as the National Theatre and the Palace are also within walking distance. The hotel currently has 102 rooms and the accalaimed restaurant Teatro, and was renovated in 2015-2017. ■
”Honesty and confidence. They have to trust that we’re the best choice.” With 20 years of experience working in the world hotels and travel business in Scandinavia, Daniel Stenbäck is a very important part of Nordic Choice Hospitality Group – and by default NPM. The CEO of Nordic Choice Hotels, Torgeir Silseth, has previously called him a key player for the company’s growth and that is certainly reflected the Daniel’s everyday life. What does a normal day for you look like? ”I usually wake up around 5 am and then I probably travel somewhere to look at a new project, company, or to take part in a negotiation. When I travel, in between meetings and site visits, I follow up other projects that need to be handled internally and externally. I always have the office with me handy in my pocket – my phone that is. I do however have a physical office space at our HQ in Oslo, but I’m rarely there. ” So what does a Chief Development Officer do? ”I’m responsible for establishing business relations for the group, and I’m part of the board. I work with all of our brands in Scandinavia and the Baltics.” What’s your background within Nordic Choice Hospitality Group? ”I’ve been at Nordic Choice since 2005,
”There is no normal day when you work for NPM”
with a short detour of three years working elsewhere. Up until 2011 I was responsible for what’s known today as Nordic Hotels & Resorts. From 2011 until 2013 I was the CEO of the Clarion Hotel Post, amongst other things.” So how did you end up as the CDO? ”Last summer our CEO, Torgeir, asked me to fill a new position in the company. It was an exciting opportunity to entirely focus on developing the business, which I’ve always liked and been very interested in. I wouldn’t have accepted if it hadn’t meant working close to Petter and Torgeir again.” How do you procure the different projects? ”Every way imaginable. From real-estate owners, brokers, land allocation competitions, internal channels, and actively searching personally.” What’s the most important in the contact with real-estate owners? ”Honesty and confidence. They have to trust that we’re the best choice.” What’s the most important for you when you start up a project? ”I’m part of the projects until a contract is signed – after that NPM takes charge. There
Meet Frida Oddsdottir, we talk about how she went from a farm on Iceland, all the way to a key role in one of the biggest hospitality companies in the north. Tell us a bit about your background! ”I grew up on a farm on Iceland that’s been in the family for 200 years. It really helped me develop my work ethics that I have today, learning responsibility and hard work at a young age.” So what is it that you do at NPM? ”I’m responsible for the procurement strategy and process in our projects, as well as the Quality Assurance that we do each year for Nordic Choice Hotels and Nordic Resorts. I’ve been a part of the NPM management team since we started back in 2013 and it has been a great ride!”
FRIDA ODDSDOTTIR
Director Procurement & QA
are a lot of projects on the market right now, almost too many one could think. We’re starting to focus more on existing possibilities, rather than creating new ones.” What’s the most important thing for you, personally, when a project takes off? ”The most important thing for me, along with all of my colleagues, is to procure a deal and a contract that is profitable and strategically right for both NCHG as well as for the real-estate owners.”
What does a normal day look like for you? I’m tempted to say that there is no normal day when you work in NPM! When I’m in the office in Oslo my day will often be spent in meetings with suppliers and project managers and I usually have 3-4 days each month in Stockholm. Depending on which projects and contracts we are working on I travel to various locations through the year.
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Daniel Stenbäck is the Chief Development Officer (CDO) at Nordic Choice Hospitality Group.
How did you end up working at NPM? ”I’d worked in retail for 15 years when I first got the opportunity. I was excited about trying something new, working within the hospitality industry. It’s funny though… I actually said no when I first got the offer, but changed my mind very quickly. I haven’t regretted that decision even once!” What is the most important part of your job? ”To ensure that we put the best possible product in our hotels within our set budgets, but without losing loyalty to our brands and to ensure that we meet our sustainability goals. It’s all about balance between budget, design, and quality – which I find immensely exciting!” When you go travelling, what do you look for in a hotel? ”That depends on what type of trip it is. I mostly stay in our own hotels for business, but it’s so important for me to try and experience different hotels to gain new inspiration and see how different brands work with design, quality, and sustainability. But, when I’m on holiday a good breakfast is often top priority!”
The breakout architects of NPM and Nordic Choice If there’s something that NPM and Nordic Choice knows best, it’s the importance of unique hotels. We had a sit down with two of the architecture firms that bring their visions to life.
Universal Design Studio
Richard McConkey Associate Director
This award winning architecture and interior design practice is based in London. With their international work on commissions, centred on boutique hotels and restaurants amongst other things, they were the perfect choice to bring At Six to life.
Wingårdhs
Helena Toresson & David Regestam Interior architects
Wingårdhs is a Swedish design office, specialized in architecture, urban planning, interior design, and landscape planning. The office is among the five largest architect groups in Sweden, and the masterminds behind TAK.
How would you describe working with NPM and Nordic Choice? ”Working with them was very inspiring. They’re both trusting and highly ambitious, and they have a wealth of experience in delivering great hotels. They made us push the design of At Six in a bold direction, which made the hotel rise above and beyond.”
How would you describe the thought process behind TAK’s design? ”The building in it self is a rather inward-looking, former 1970’s office building. The top two floors though, covered in glass and with amazing views, endowed the space with opportunities to do so much more and to bring NPM’s and Nordic Choices wishes for Brunkebergstorg to life. We wanted to match Frida Ronge’s, head chef at TAK, cuisine – So the interior is a mix of Scandinavian and Japanese traditions.”
Studio Aisslinger
Werner Aisslinger & Tina Bunyaprasit Interior designers
Studio Aisslinger is a Berlin based design studio at the frontier line of modern and high-tech creativity. With an air of Berlin’s playful spirit the studios front figure, Werner Aisslinger, brought his own free spirited touch to Hobo.
What’s one thing that you’re most pleased about the project you had with NPM? ”Being involved in so many steps from the beginning like the conceptualisation and art direction. But also having a client who was willing to take a risk in doing things the unconventional way.”
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Haeg Interiør
Nina Haeg Interior designer
Haeg Interiør is a boutique interior design studio based in Oslo that is behind many of the new Comfort hotels. Comfort is growing fast at the same time as they are tweaking their identity and concepts towards an easier brand where every hotel interior should feel unique and with a local flavour.
How would you describe working with Nordic Choice and NPM? ”First and foremost, I think it’s a very professional cooperation. Nordic Choice and NPM have a clear vision for the projects at the same time as they provide the freedom to be creative, which I greatly appreciate and which provide good processes and result. The thing I’m most pleased with, and which I have experienced in many other projects with NPM, is their commitment to, and understanding for, design and aesthetics, at the same time as the budget is upheld.”
Anemone Wille Våge Interior Design
Anemone Wille Våge Interior designer
Anemone started out with editorial work for interior magazines as a stylist. Today she has her own studio in Oslo where the focus is both on private and commercial projects with a special love for restaurants and hotels.
How would you describe the thought process behind your design? ”The creative process starts with getting to know the location and the building, existing or new, and the visions from the stakeholders of the project - and envision the guests that will stay in the hotel. We talk about creating unique hotels that can live for a long time.”
“IF YOU WANT A UNIQUE HOTEL THE CHOICE OF ARCHITECT IS EVERYTHING!”
During the last decade or so the hospitality world has been struck by copy-paste syndrome. NPM and Nordic Choice are dead set on changing that and to bring back the uniqueness of travel. That’s where Atmosfär by Attar comes in. Atmosfär is part of NPM’s early stages when it comes to developing new projects. They focus on a lot of different things: concept & design development, brand identity, and graphic design to name a few. Everything that is crucial in the first wobbly steps toward a fantastic hotel.
– If you want a unique hotel the choice of architect is everything. Together with NPM and Nordic Choice we handpick the appropriate pitch. We need to stay relevant as well, so we try and stay up to date with different design practices around Europe, and go to see new hotels, restaurants and different enterprises in the hospitality and retail field.
– We enter a lot of NPM’s projects at an early stage to define and document the project and the concept behind the hotel that is being built. We create a common reference and goal for everyone involved. Part of Atmosfär’s job is to be in close contact with the different architects and designers allocated to the projects. The process behind picking the architects is often rough competition, with three or four pitches per project.
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Ulrika Kjellström Attar & Philippe Attar
A mountaintop design hotel No matter if you’re all about a summer hike through the mountains, or down hill skiing on powdery slopes – Åre’s award winning star hotel is where you need to stay In the north of Sweden the design hotel Copperhill Mountain
Lodge is located with beautiful views over the rolling mountains. Since 2009 it’s been driven by Nordic Choice Hotel, and from the very beginning this hotel has made an impact on the Scandinavian hospitality scene. The year-round hotel can brag with a spa that’s been called the best in all of Europe, being named a “Traveler’ choice” hotel in 2016 by TripAdvisor, and being designed by the architect Peter Bohlin (Who was awarded the prestigious architecture award, The AIA Gold Medal, in 2010.) Now the hotel is becoming an even more attractive destination – with the addition of an outdoor spa, a chapel for the destination wedding of your dreams, and new cabins for leisure filled vacations. But according to the general manager of Copperhill, Eva Ottosson Rask, the location is what makes this hotel special. ”It’s what makes this hotel both special and what makes it a challenge. At 730 meters above sea level the views are unbeatable, but the location and the seasonal dependency can be a bit tricky to handle,” she says. The outdoor spa is one of the big new changes to the hotel. As mentioned before the spa at Copperhill already has quite the reputation, but this new development will push it over the edge. ”It’s supposed to be a calm sanctuary and a place to recharge your batteries close to nature”, says Eva.
Architecture by Saunders Architecture, Bergen
Another thing that will make this destination special is the new chapel, designed by the Norwegian-Canadian architect Todd Saunders. ”This means so much for Copperhill. The chapel in itself will be a destination, seeing the architecture. It’ll also make our hotel one of the most attractive wedding spots in Scandinavia, not only for guests but also for the permanent residents in Åre village - since the local church often is fully booked.” The new renovations and additions to the hotel started even before Eva was appointed general manager. It all started with Todd Saunders being assigned a nature trail project. Creating buildings and with that yet another reason to come visit us and to offer our guests something spectacular. The project has slowly developed from there. It’s been organic, as we’ve discovered new needs that the hotel, our guests, or the locals in Åre have. ■
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IDENTITY FOR HOTELS & RESTAURANTS
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Flos Norge as 0278 Oslo tlf +47 22 12 86 00 info@flos.no 26 | STORIES | 2018
SKT. PETRI CONTINUES TO EVOLVE In the heart of Copenhagen, with its classic lobby combined with a colour scheme designed by Danish artist Per Arnoldi, Skt. Petri continues to inspire its guests.
The hotel has recently been renovated. Its new design reflects a desire to offer a timeless feeling of at-ease luxury. “Basically everything at Skt. Petri has been renovated, including all the rooms. An additional 20 rooms have also been added. We’ve renovated the restaurant on the ground floor, the lobby, and the hotel restaurant. Right now we’re building a new gym,” says project manager Emma Olofsson. Vilhelm Lauritzen’s now listed hotel building, which dates to 1928, is home to works from renowned contemporary Danish artists including Bjørn Nørgaard, Tal R, Adam Saks, and the artist collective Superflex. The new interior was created by the award-winning Norwegian designer Anemone Wille Våge. In 2017, the agency made it onto Condé Nast’s gold list for the interior of Oslo hotel The Thief. Although the design of Skt. Petri is more international than classic Danish style, the hotel is still inspired by Lauritzen’s original choice of colours and materials. “It’s important to be open and adopt influences from different places. We often work with a variety of interior designers. Together we have to be sensitive to how we develop our hotels and concepts.” For almost 15 years, Skt. Petri has welcomed guests from around the world and offers them a refined sense of luxury. “As soon as we opened, I noticed how guests took out their cameras and went up and down the escalator just to take pictures. Guests at Skt. Petri simply appreciate the experience of going up the escalator into this impressive space. We offer something unique, and I think that’s what our guests appreciate and notice,” concludes Olofsson. ■
FACTS ABOUT HOTEL SKT. PETRI Hotel Skt. Petri is located in architect Vilhelm Lauritzen’s heritage-listed building from 1928, which previously housed the Daells Varehus department store. After being vacated in 1999, the building underwent complete refurbishment between 2002 and 2003. A large glass facade atrium was added in the hotel lobby area. Later in the year, Skt. Petri opened as a hotel. Today, the hotel offers 288 rooms of which 26 are suites. There are also a restaurant and bar, a lounge area, seven meeting rooms, a garden courtyard, and a fitness studio.
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GUIDING BRANDS FORWARD
There’s one essential thing behind every great achievement. That’s visualisation. NPM’s brand specific design manuals create the best foundation to make the most of every amazing Nordic Choice Hotel experience. Every great explorer has had a guide to keep them on track. Lewis and Clark had Sacagawea. Sir Edmund Hillary had the sherpa Tenzing Norgay. Even though NPM aren’t literal explorers, they are in the figurative sense exploring the world of modern hospitality. And like any explorer they have a guide – The NPM guidelines.
different branches. Our hotels aren’t all created from the same mould”, she says.
Catarina Molén-Runnär, CEO of Nordic Property Management and CPO of Nordic Choice, is part of the team that works on the guidelines. She explains how every hotel chain gets their own manual. The manuals themselves are a way to communicate between project leaders, architects, interior designers and real estate owners.
”The emotionally based decisions are really important since that is centred on our guests. Around how they feel when they enter the hotel lobby and what they experience in the rooms.”
”They’re made to clarify the brand, concepts, and what each chain wants to communicate. To give a look and a feel of what the finished product will be like. It’s so easy to go ahead too quickly without knowing exactly what it is you want to create.” The clear decisions made in the guidelines aren’t a way to halt creativity though, but rather a foundation to stand on. ”The manual is sort of a brief for everyone involved, but they’re still fluid enough to be innovative. They work towards creating unique hotels within the set boundaries of the
And like she points out the guidelines create a common platform that says a lot about the respective brands. With everything from concrete decisions about what type of material should be used to the “lighter” more emotionally based ones.
Catarina has been part of the development process behind the NPM guidelines for a long time. ”It only gets more exciting as time goes by. The different brands are more and more defined as new projects are being developed”, she says. She finds the definition and description of the different parts of a concept to be the best part of her job. ”It’s amazing when you get to see a look and an expression take form right in front of your eyes. When everything falls in to place. That’s ■ what makes this job so exciting.”
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Nordic Choice brings New York to Oslo “The America Line brought Norwegians to New York and now we want to bring New York to Oslo. Anyone who’s set foot in Manhattan has felt the energy and diversity that make the city so special – the food, the art, the music, the experiences. Our ambition is to recreate that feeling here in the heart of Oslo.”
Amerikalinjen, opening early 2017
These were the words of Petter Stordalen when he presented the news that the former headquarters of the Norwegian American Line at Jernbanetorget in central Oslo are to be turned into a hotel. The brick building erected between 1916 and 1919 in the new baroque style was designed by architects Andreas Bjercke and Georg Eliassen. Jørgen Hveding Eeg and Eva Steinwall are managing the project what will become Oslo’s new elegant boutique hotel.
“There’s a lot of history in the building, but we don’t want only American trunks and boats. We want to show its history, and this should be apparent as soon as you walk into the hotel.”
How will you achieve this? “We’ll be able to achieve a lot just by restoring the building. There are some breathtaking rooms with high ceilings and beautiful stucco, and several wonderful windows. We’re using a lot of natural materials that emphasise the history of the buil-
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ding. It will be a unique and impressive hotel with a real New York feel.” Finnish interior design agency PUROPLAN will design the hotel. “Our shared goal is to make respectful use
“The hotel concept is based on Alice in Wonderland!” Quality Hotel Ekoxen has been in the hospitality game for a long time. With old, twisting corridors, the scattered rooms, and the public spaces being a little out-dated it was in need of some renovations. Now this oldie but goldie now feels shiny and new.
It took three years to outfit the Swedish hotel Quality Hotel Ekoxen in Linköping with its new, updated image. Together with the property owners, Pandox, Nordic Choice and NPM got going with the renovation of the hotel’s 209 rooms, winding corridors, and well worn facilities. Today the hotel, located in two buildings, have improved logistics and a modern image. The project manager of Quality Hotel Ekoxen, Eva Steinwall, tells us a bit about the process: ”The hotel was in dire need of renovations and better logistics.”
of the America Line’s past cultural value in order to create the best hotel in Oslo,” says the CEO of PUROPLAN, interior designer Jaakko Puro.
The inspiration behind the renovation was gathered from Linköping’s beautiful city garden. ”It had an Alice in wonderland feel. A mix between structured chaos and the flowers in the garden next door. That became the foundation of our concept when we remodelled the hotel. We wanted to entice a sort of playfulness and curiosity as well as a homely environment.”
PUROPLAN can be seen in a lot of what they do, such as their shiny black and white floors, which we’ll also be having in the hotel. I think the guests will truly ■ That sense of wonder and amazement is appreciate this.
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oozing through every detail of the renovation. ”The colours are warm and rich, with a correlation to the Swedish seasons. In the main building’s hotel rooms we’ve used wallpaper with a dream landscape based on Linköping. The carpets in the hallways are all landscapes and over sized flowers. Very much a wonderland.” The hotel has a rich history, but you don’t have to look far through the ages to find interesting stories. As in most fairy tales and wonderlands there has to be a queen. Right as the renovations were taking place, being far from finished, the queen of Sweden wished to come and eat in the hotel’s restaurant. ”We went from something that resembled a war zone to a representable entryway, lobby and restaurant in less than three weeks. There were builders from the cellar to the roof. They really deserve an award for their efforts.” It’s easy to say that the fairy tale of Quality ■ Ekoxen has just begun.
PREDICTING THE FUTURE BY CREATING IT Comfort Hotels are expanding and using a whole new look and design to meet the future. New hotels are added in Kista, Västerås, Örebro and at Copenhagen and Arlanda airports. ”Comfort wants to expand and find new ways to attract guests,” says project manager Fredrik Palmgren. ANNA SPJUTH IS SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT FOR COMFORT HOTELS. ” We get inspired all the time. From trends, chefs, interior designers, musicians, youtubers… But our key source of inspiration is of course our guests. And based on that we created a guest promise - which has guided us through all the strategic work we’ve done over the last year,” she says. ”Our goal is to create a perfect combination of rational and emotional benefits. On the rational side we say that we should be basic, but basically the best place to say. This means that we will only use items where design and function goes hand in hand, and is selected for a reason. And regarding the emotional side we’re very dedicated to create an atmosphere that is bursting of life, creativity and productivity.”
FREDRIK POINTS OUT THAT THE WORK PROCESS IS CONSTANTLY CHANGING. “You always try to find out new ways to make your work process more efficient. It demands a lot from you, but it is also very fun.”
HAS SOMETHING BEEN MORE DIFFICULT, OR EASIER, THAN EXPECTED? ”Previously Comfort Hotel has suffered a bit of wanting to do too much, wanting to be this, and this and bit of that. Now we have a super clear focus for the first time in ages - which makes it much easier to say no to initiatives that falls outside of our brand idea. So at the stage we’ve reached now it actually feels pretty easy to make the right calls,” says Anna.
WHAT IMPRESSIONS HAVE YOU DISCOVERED DURING THE PROJECT?
times very complex. It’s a creative and iterative process where WHY is our main question. Why are we doing this? Why is alternative X better than alternative Z? Why would this action be beneficial for our guests? So it is difficult to pinpoint an exact impression that stands out from the rest… The biggest aha-feeling would be that it requires hard and dedicated work to position a brand as easy. And with easy we mean easy on the wallet, easy access, easy on the planet and easy to enjoy. But we feel that we’ve come far and we’re sure that we’ll make it.”
HOW DO YOU MAKE EVERY HOTEL UNIQUE? ”Comfort is growing fast. And we’re striving to keep the brand tight, meaning that you should instantly understand that you’re in one of our hotels. You shouldn’t have to step outside to read the signs. At the same time we need to make every hotel feel unique, we are not interested in creating McDondald-ish clones. Our method is to always include our key concepts and then mixing it up with local flavors when it comes to interior design. We’re constantly looking for new inspiration, making sure we are up to date and that we’re in it for the long run.”
HOW DO YOU COMMUNICATE, AND MAKE SURE TO NOT MISS ANYTHING IN YOUR PROJECTS? ”We talk. A lot. And we make sure to listen to each other. And of course it’s crucial to put everything on paper, setting routines and be pros when it comes to administration.
WHAT’S NEXT FROM COMFORT? ”There will be more. For sure. New hotels. Additional concepts. Tweaking the current services so we make sure to be relevant to our guests. A smart guy once said that the only way to predict the future is to create it. And yes, we think it’s easy to agree with him,” says Anna.
”Crafting a semi-new brand out of an existing brand is some-
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Comfort Hotel Bergen Airport
Comfort Hotel Västerås 33 | STORIES | 2018
IDÉ DESIGN PROSJEKT Lin og fløyel i støvete toner kombinert med marmor, stål og eik, har skapt en lun og behagelig atmosfære som det er enkelt å trives i.
SIAS Contract har som stolt samarbeidspartner til Choice, mer enn 35 års erfaring i å skape attraktive og funksjonelle miljøer for hotell- og restaurantbransjen.
CLARION COLLECTION HOTELL ATLANTIC SANDEFJORD
www.sias.net 34 | STORIES | 2018
FIVE TRENDS TO LOOK OUT FOR IN 2018 The hotel business is ever changing - that’s part of the thrill. New concepts, ideas and designs rewrites the rules,and keeping on trend is more important than ever. We have chosen 5 trends to highlight! ONCE UPON A TIME… IT’S ALL ABOUT CO-EVERYTHING Yes, you heard that right. Even though the concepts of pod hotels, poshtels or co-living spaces won’t be flooding the hospitality scene anytime soon, the ideology behind it - emphasizing collaboration and community - will be everywhere.
30 years ago the way hotels communicated was through over-the-top messages, in-your-face luxury, and branding through logos. Today all of that has changed. Branding in general has come to rely more on story telling. Travelers are no longer just contempt with a big brand name, but they want the story behind it and for that story to seep through every part of their stay. What will set a hotel brand apart is their story. It’s all about finding your ”Once upon a time…”
It’s all about the communal areas looking forward, because if there’s one thing that hotels have that home shares lack it’s the sense of community. Co-spaces doesn’t have to mean that you’ll share your room with a stranger, it can simply be an aspiration to create spaces for strangers to gather together. To create a heart to the hotel, where everyone is welcome.
of icates Ce r t i f nticity Au t h e
NO LONGER DOWN TO THE THREAD COUNT For long the general notion of luxury within the world of hospitality has been in the details. Today it’s all about luxury that is leaner and smarter, it is no longer limited to 1,000-count-thread sheets och the finest champagne. Of course the corner stones will remain, but today’s traveler has learnt to except certain things. Instead they’ve started to focus on everything else. Today a lot of travelers expect something more, conscious choices in everything from eko friendly thinking to a more authentic and genuine experience of the local environment.
TECHTENDENCIES
The next big step that the hospitality industry is making is the same one as the rest of the world Implementing the amazing technology that has been developed during the last couple of years. Nu, robot -butlers and holographic TV:s are still situated in a far away future, but smart speakers, revised communication between the guests are just a couple of smart hotel concepts being developed.
When it comes to design, trends have been diverse over the years. Uniformity is hard to spot when today’s hotels strive to set themselves apart from the norm. One tendency within hotel design if the portrayal of longing back to our roots and out in to nature, but without loosing the luxuries of a 5-star hotel. Glamping, a form of glamorous camping, has taken the hospitality scene by storm over the last five years. But, the trend is also slipping in to the urban hotels, creating a sanctuary of natural peace within bustling cities. With everything from more wooden materials to a conscious selection of earthy tones as well as healthy and hearty food is all an embodiment of this trend.
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BACK TO THE ROOTS
CLARION HOTEL HELSINKI & SIGN
The rooftop poo at Clarion Hotel Helsinki
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You learn a lot from working in other countries
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Clarion Hotel Sign, Stockholm 36 | STORIES | 2018
Anders Buchardt, together with his father, Arthur Buchardt, and through the company AB Invest, owns the Clarion Hotel Sign in central Stockholm and Clarion Hotel Helsinki. For over 25 years, the Buchardts have worked closely with Petter Stordalen. They’ve now built Clarion Helsinki and renovated the flagship Clarion Sign. “We’re used to working with Nordic Choice and we know their requirements and what’s expected of us,” says Buchardt junior.
CLARION HELSINKI IS THE FIRST HOTEL YOU’VE WORKED WITH IN FINLAND. “Finland has its own culture, which we have to adapt to. This includes the way we work, how we interact with people, our way of thinking, and our management structure. There’s a different climate there,” he says. “You learn a lot from working in other countries. We take with us the things we do well, and bring back new ideas.”
YOU WERE ALSO INVOLVED IN THE HUGE RENOVATION PROJECT FOR CLARION SIGN. “Sign was an incredibly important project for us and Choice. It’s the flagship, and it’s essential that it’s absolutely top of its class. For example, we wanted to try to operationalise the hotel’s flows and logistics to increase its capacity. That’s why we embarked on the project.” Planning and implementing a project of this scale pose a major challenge that rewards accuracy. “We worked for almost a year just on planning. We got great support from Wingårdhs as well as from other contractors and
key suppliers. An extremely important goal was to complete the renovation as quickly as possible. Every day that the site is not fully operational means lost revenue. We started at the end of June and everything was complete during the second half of August. It was an extremely intense project,” says Anders.
WHAT’S THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE TO IMPLEMENTATION IN SUCH A LARGE COMPANY? “You’ve got to be on the ball and extremely focused at all times. We were always on site, following up and supervising the entire process. But it was very exciting – nothing beats the fun of the last ten days before reopening. Nobody thinks it’s going to be ready, but then you succeed. The emotional rollercoaster – and the ability to inspire and motivate others when the going gets tough – is hugely rewarding. We’ve become a strong and tightly knit team with a truly unique spirit for everyone involved. Sure, you’re exhausted at the end. But above all else, you’re happy.”
WAS THERE ANYTHING THAT SURPRISED YOU? “When Sign was first built, nobody expected the site to be quite as big as it is. Things then had to be scaled up afterwards. There are 558 rooms and during the weekends, there may be two people staying in each room. And 1,200 guests for breakfast requires that you have not only the capacity to cater for them all, but also the logistics to pull this off. How do we furnish the hotel to cater for this? How do we size things? We have to make sure there are no conflicts. So we’ve searched long and hard and found many improvements, big and small. We have to combine increasing sales with increasing guest satisfaction.” ■
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NORDIC LIGHT IS SHINING BRIGHT IN STOCKHOLM CITY The independent hotel Nordic Light was a star in its own right during the early 2000’s. Now it’s time for this supernova to shine even brighter. Nordic Light has been a staple on Stockholm’s hospitality scene since 2001, when Einar Söder first opened up the hotel’s doors. The impressive hotel took the Swedish hospitality scene by storm. Nordic Choice is now restoring this turn of the millennium star to its former glory, if not beyond that. The project manager, Eva Steinwall, remembers when the hotel first opened. ”I remember Nordic Light back in 2001, and how impressed I was back then. Since then it’s gotten a bit worn down, but now we’re working to restore the hotel. We’re even having furniture specially designed for our interiors”, she says. The Norwegian-Canadian architect Todd Saunders, from Saunders Architects in Bergen, heads the design team. He’s an architect who specialises in housing and has some interesting reference projects. He decided to bring on his friend, John Tong, from Tong Tong architects in Toronto, to design the interior. The international duo is what will set the hotel apart from what it once was. Nordic Light aims to reclaim the position as Stockholm’s leading design hotel.
The work is in full throttle, and by the end of December 2017 they have completed the renovations of the 169 rooms. The work is being conducted in four phases, and the overall renovation is calculated to be done on the 20th of May 2018. In the public spaces Saunders has focused on innovative form and feeling, focusing on light Nordic wood as his material of choice. Todd Saunders and Tong Tong aren’t the only designers on the project. They have contacted 10 or 12 different designers who’ve designed new, unique furniture or detail each that will make out the interior of Nordic Light hotel. And with that really set the hotel apart. The staff is also part of what makes Nordic Light special. They’ve got something they call the “Light Family”, and it’s very apparent when you visit. There’s a familiarity there that welcomes the hotel’s guests with open arms. With everything combined - the new design, the modern choices of materials, as well as the friendly staff – the new and renovated version of Nordic Light hotel will shine brightly on ■ the hospitality night sky.
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A NEW ART HOTEL FOR EVERYONE Just around the corner from Oslo’s Karl Johans gate is the new neighbourhood of Bjørvika. Nordic Choice is now making its mark on the neighbourhood with the new art hotel Clarion Hotel Bjørvika. “The hotel is rooted in the notion that art has to come to the people. This is a unique approach,” says Sune Nordgren.
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Clarion Hotel Bjørvika, Oslo
The plans for the hotel include 256 rooms with two suites, a gym, 1,100 m2 of conference space, and the Kitchen & Table restaurant concept. “The challenge is to find suitable art and give it a space so that everyone can enjoy it, as well as to integrate art into the overall concept. There are many large installations that can’t just be placed anywhere. Everything has to fit together, and this has been a challenge. We also have to be able to attract many different age groups, young and old alike,” says project manager Hege Foss. Intense artistic expression must integrate with the rest of the interior in a way that inspires. In addition, a permanent art collection will be complemented by exhibitions and events, often in close collaboration with cultural institutions in Bjørvika. The hotel will breathe energy and provide an experience that many guests may not be used to.
ce in a hotel is incredibly inspiring. The whole area will breathe culture,” says Foss. Sune Nordgren has been involved in the process together with Petter Stordalen. “The hotel will of course offer something for those living in the area as well. We’ll help to breathe new life into the whole city. You’ll be able to borrow books from the hotel thanks to our collaboration with a nearby library nearby,” Nordgren says. “This will be a meeting place for the many people who appreciate good art and culture.” The hotel is deeply inspired by the nearby Edward Munch Museum and will work together with several local cultural institutions. The hotel is right behind the Oslo Opera House, for instance. The ■ hotel is due for completion in July 2019.
“I think the guests will appreciate the atmosphere. The whole combination of a high-end design hotel with a gallery experien41 | STORIES | 2018
Antony Gormley, Clarion Hotel The Edge, Tromsø
IT’S ABOUT CHOOSING ART FOR THE LOCATION Petter Stordalen wanted to combine art with luxury. It was the former head of the Norwegian National Museum, the Swede Sune Nordgren, who opened his eyes. ”Petter wanted to redefine the concept of hotel art,” he says. Nordgren, from Lund, Sweden, worked as the head of the Norwegian National Museum from 2003 to 2006 and is very familiar with the Norwegian art world. ”I was a controversial boss, even if I say so myself. I put forward many ideas for how we could merge five different museums into one national museum for art. I got a lot of support, including from Petter, which really encouraged me. Although we didn’t know one another at that time, we started to meet up afterwards.” WHAT DO YOU THINK HOTEL ART SHOULD CONVEY? ”The first thing I want is for the art to have an effect on you as soon as you enter the hotel. For it to evoke a reaction. For example, if you see a work by Richard Long or Jaume Plensa, you’ll be impressed. I want it to feel almost like a museum, not like a run-of-the-mill hotel. Each location should be unique. It’s about choosing art for the location. You can’t just shoehorn whatever you like into the place. The public will be impressed if they experience the art, not just observe it. It should work on different levels for different visitors.” WHAT SORT OF CHALLENGES DOES THIS PRESENT YOU WITH? ”I always strive to have artwork that’s as interesting as possible – artwork that encourages discussion. I have to think about the whole, and the earlier I’m involved in the design process of the hotel, the easier it is for me.” Sune appreciates his co-operation with Petter and has a great sense of freedom in his responsibility. ”I have no boss, it’s just dialogue between me and Petter. I get to continue working with art like I did when I worked at art galleries and the way that I’m able to buy art makes me feel free. That’s what motivates me to carry on – being able to work as I always have. Petter picks out the hotels that should be notable for their good design and good art and then gives me lots of freedom to make my own decisions.” ■
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SUNE GREGER NORDGREN
BORN 1948 IN LUND, SWEDEN. Art critic at Dagens Nyheter, Stockholm, Swedish Radio and several art magazines. Director of Malmö Konsthall in Malmö, Sweden Founding Director of IASPIS – International Artists Studio Programme in Sweden. Founding Director of BALTIC, the Centre for Contemporary Art in Gateshead, England. Founding Director of the National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design in Oslo, Norway. Project Manager for Vandalorum – Centre for Art and Design, Värnamo, Sweden Project Manager for Kivik Art Centre, Sweden Columnist for newspaper Dagens Naeringsliv, Oslo Arts Advisor and Curator for Strawberry Art & Design / Petter Stordalen Collection, Oslo, Norway
Dawid, At Six, Stockholm
Tacita Dean, At Six, Stockholm
Tim Noble & Sue Webster, Clarion Hotel Live, Malmรถ 43 | STORIES | 2018
Nordic Choice expands in Copenhagen In April 2017, Clarion took over the former Hilton hotel building at Copenhagen airport. At the same time, a new Comfort Hotel is being built with 6more than 600 rooms and a 3,000 square-metre conference centre. A lot is being invested into the design of these two new hotels. The price tag for the new hotel is expected to be around DKK 800 million, and the former Hilton – now the Clarion Hotel Copenhagen Airport – is being renovated at a cost of almost DKK 70 million.
lot on this. We’re keeping the rooms pretty much as they are, but adding five new rooms with a slightly different concept.”
“Copenhagen is already an internationally popular conference city, and the new conference centre will only increase its popularity. With the airport, motorway, and railway on your doorstep – strategically located alongside the two hotels – you won’t find a better or more central location for an international conference,” Petter Stordalen said before work started on the project.
“We’re really trying to offer a range where the guest is at the centre, and to give them greater choice. The Comfort Hotel and the Clarion Hotel Copenhagen Airport will appeal to different customer groups. They will complement each other well. The new Comfort is expected to open in 2019 or 2020.
Emma Olofsson is project manager for Clarion Copenhagen Airport. “The former Hilton is an amazing hotel building. It’s great fun turning it into a Clarion. It’s also really exciting to be a part of this journey and to overcome the challenge of showing the guest that they’re staying at a Clarion,” she says.
WHAT CHALLENGES HAVE YOU FACED? “The hotel is open, so there are high expectations in terms of the planning and execution of the various stages in the conversion – things need to be done in stages, not all at once. Our Kitchen & Table concept will be extended to the lobby and restaurant, and we’re refurbishing the breakfast room and bar. We’re focusing a
WHAT’S IT LIKE DEVELOPING A NEW COMFORT HOTEL AT THE SAME TIME?
CLARION HOTEL & CLARION COPENHAGEN AIRPORT HOTEL Nordic Choice Hotels officially took over the operation of the hotel at Copenhagen Airport on 1 April 2017. The hotel became part of Nordic Choice Hotels’ high-end brand Clarion under the name Clarion Copenhagen Airport Hotel. Nordic Choice Hotels operates 190 hotels in the Nordic and Baltic countries, of which 78 fall under the Clarion brand. A Clarion Hotel is now available at all of the leading airports in the Nordic region: Clarion Hotel Copenhagen Airport, Clarion Hotel Arlanda Airport, Clarion Hotel & Congress Oslo Airport, ■ and Clarion Hotel Helsinki Airport.
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GARDERMOEN TAKES INSPIRATION FROM THE NORDIC REGION Quality Airport Hotel Gardermoen has been renovated, and the hotel takes inspiration from the environment of the Nordic region. “It’s as though a fairytale land has evolved inside the hotel to become part of the interior,” says project manager Hege Foss. The hotel is growing from 326 to 455 rooms by way of a new 7,000 square-metre extension. With its two sister hotels Comfort Hotel Runway and Clarion Hotel & Congress Oslo Airport, Nordic Choice Hotels will offer a total of 1,187 rooms and over 14,000 square metres of conference space at Gardermoen. “We’ve been watching the capacity of Gardemoen airport increase for some time now. So we really needed to step up to meet this capacity, and this renovation has enabled us to do just that.” The hotel is close to a natural area, and it’s this Nordic nature that has served as the inspiration for the hotel.
“We wanted to develop a Nordic concept, one which alludes to the nature of the area. There’s a large forest just behind the hotel which is a great area for recreation. This is the basis of the concept, so ash features heavily in our choice of materials, for example. We’ve also tried to stick to Nordic suppliers as far as possible in order to get the right feeling,” says Foss. Although the strong colours of the hotel exude warmth, there are a lot of cool contrasts. “We’ve used strong colours and photographs featuring forest motifs, for example. We’ve tried to create an atmosphere that is very faithful to the Nordic environment.” Much of the hotel will be ready by 15 March 2018, with the remaining 142 rooms complete during the summer of 2018. ■
VI VILL GE VÅRA KUNDER BÄSTA MÖJLIGA SERVICE
C&M Projekt arbetar med projektledning för hela byggprocessen. Vår affärsidé är att med engagemang och kompetens utgöra drivkraften i fastighetsprojekt. Just engagemang och service är viktigt för oss - vi vill ge våra kunder bästa möjliga service. I detta engagemang ingår även att se till att våra kunder får det bästa resultatet med hänsyn till ekonomi, estetik och teknik - allt efter kundens önskemål.
www.cmab.se
UP NEXT
A HOTEL THAT SPEAKS TO YOUR HEART Clarion Grand Hotel Helsingborg is one of the oldest hotels in Helsingborg. Initially planned to become the headquarters of a bank, but with a new owner the plans changed and it opened as a hotel in 1926. More than 90 years later the grand old dame will undergo a careful restoration that will combine the legacy with contemporary design.
If there’s one thing that’s sure it’s that the cogs and gears at Nordic Choice Expansion never stops. Here are the hotel’s that are up next!
Location: Helsingborg, Sweden Restoration: 2018 Number of rooms: 158
CLARION KARLATORNET A ROOM WITH A VIEW. With this new Clarion hotel project the sky isn’t the limit. At an astonishing height of 245 meters this hotel, due to open in 2021, will supply truly angelic views to its patrons. But, Clarion Karlatornet is so much more than a hotel. Within its walls there will be room for the hotel, apartments, and offices. It’s an ambitious project to erase the boundaries between vacation and everyday life.
THE NEW STANDARD IN BUSINESS TRAVEL Quality Hotel The Match is everything every professional could dream of when it comes to travel on the job. Great meeting spaces, a spa to regain your energy, and 229 rooms with everything you need for your business travels. The 60-meter-tall building with its 18 floors will transform the Jönköping skyline, making the most of its placement on the beaches of Sweden’s second largest lake, Vättern. That means undisturbed, amazing views over beautiful water.
Location: Gothenburg, Sweden Due top open: 2021 Number of rooms: 300
Location: Jönköping, Sweden Due top open: 2020 Number of rooms: 229
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”Guests expect high standards” Quality assurance is important when running a hotel. This involves maintaining a desired product quality level and is achieved by paying close, careful attention at every step of the work process. But what is quality assurance specifically?
A NEW LANDMARK IN THE GOTHENBURG REGION Nordic Choice Hotels and NPM are always searching for new interesting locations to create amazing hotel experiences. A new addition to their ever expanding list is Quality Hotel Mölndal outside of Gothenburg, Sweden. The hotel is part of actively working to transform
the industrial area known as Krokslätts Fabriker into a new block full of life. The guests of the hotel will be able to choose from 370 rooms as early as year 2021. Location: Gothenburg, Sweden Due top open: 2021 Number of rooms: 370
POST NORD COPENHAGEN TAKE A HISTORIC BREATHER IN THIS FIRST CLASS HOTEL. For over a hundred years this landmark building has housed the Danish Post Office (Post Nord). Now it will be turned into a first class hotel, with a central location and neo-baroque flair. This building will be a destination in itself, distinguished by its Location: Copenhagen, Denmark unique history – reflected in the Due to open: 2020 interior design and the artwork. Number of rooms: 380
Sigurd Lindland has worked for Nordic Choice Hotels since 1998. He has experience in hotel operations, pre-openings, new hotel projects, and hotel renovations. Sigurd started at NPM in September 2016 and is responsible for Quality Control at Nordic Choice Hotels. When you hear the words “quality assurance”, what do you think of? “Choice Hotels International has QA at all its hotels. This enables us to achieve and maintain the quality we want. We have a very high level of QA in Scandinavia. We’re good at reviewing the procedures at our hotels and we have good maintenance practices at the level we aim to achieve. Quality Assurance has not received the attention it should, and we want to change this,” says Lindland. Why do you think that is? “QA should be the result of an activity targeted at improved cleaning and maintenance. It should set the standard and be a tool for improvement, and that’s our goal going forwards. We’re now working hard at putting QA on the agenda and developing it from there.” Can you give some examples of the specific efforts behind QA? “One example is elevating the role of hotel cleaners. They must be given the opportunity to do their job by being given better tools and information about their job. We also have to systematise QA and operationalise it so as to turn it into a tool to improve standards for our guests. We want to create a culture in which our guests’ experience is systematised. We also want to use QA results to a greater extent when planning hotel maintenance.” What sort of demands does this place on you? “We’ll develop QA further. Above all, the management teams of each hotel must focus on it. Although the first step in our new initiative was to create a digital QA platform in 2017, we’ve also reviewed how we pick up discrepancies in our hotels and made it easier for them to identify what they can do themselves. In 2018 we’ll work to deliver better reports and review how we can improve in support and maintenance. Guests expect high standards,” says Lindland. How do you measure QA? “Up to 2,000 rooms are inspected each year. Every year NPM visits every hotel and inspects 10 rooms at each hotel of its rooms as well as other areas. When you perform a QA inspection, you receive a report with the results. If there’s a concern, it’s labelled either as small, medium, or large. Concerns reduce the total number of points scored. The maximum is 1,000 points. No hotel has achieved this... Yet.”
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ANNA ROSÉN
ARVE TEIGENE
CALINE HEIROTH
Project Manager
Project Manager
Project Manager
WHAT IS ON THE TOP OF YOUR AGENDA RIGHT NOW?
WHICH IS YOUR MOST PROUD MOMENT IN YOUR CAREER?
Clarion Hotel The Hub - ”New and old hand in hand”.
Becoming a mother.
BEST RESTAURANT YOU HAVE BEEN TO?
WHAT INSPIRES YOU IN YOUR PROFESSION?
It has to be Daniel Berlin pop-up restaurant at Boo Slott. And Gässlingen, when it still was in business.
To create and give life to a project.
Traveling to interesting places.
WHAT INSPIRES YOU IN YOUR PROFESSION?
To be involved in the entire process –from the initial thoughts to a finished beautiful hotel.
WHICH IS YOUR FAVOURITE BUILDING IN THE WORLD?
WHAT INSPIRES YOU IN YOUR PROFESSION? WHICH IS YOUR FAVOURITE DISH?
Peking Duck.
Sydney Opera House - Architect Jørn Utzon.
CATARINA MOLÉN-RUNNÄS
EMMA OLOFSSON
ERIK KILLIE
EVA STEINWALL
CEO NPM/ CPO Nordic Choice
Senior Project Manager
Manager Sustainability & Energy
Project Manager
WHAT INSPIRES YOU IN YOUR PROFESSION?
WHAT IS ON THE TOP OF YOUR AGENDA RIGHT NOW?
People.
To start the construction at Clarion Copenhagen Airport.
WHICH IS YOUR MOST PROUD MOMENT IN YOUR CAREER?
When we signed Brunkebergstorg/ At Six, Hobo and TAK. WHAT WAS YOUR CAREER GOAL AS A CHILD?
Ballet dancer.
WHAT IS YOUR ADVISE TO A LANDLORD THAT WANTS TO CONVERT A PROPERTY INTO A HOTEL?
Call NPM.
WHO WOULD YOU LIKE TO INVITE TO DINNER?
WHAT IS ON THE TOP OF YOUR AGENDA RIGHT NOW?
Diego Maradona.
Nordic Light Hotel.
WHAT IS ON THE TOP OF YOUR AGENDA RIGHT NOW?
WHAT DO YOU DO DURING A DAY OFF?
Closing the non-conformities from this years environmental audit. WHAT DO YOU DO DURING A DAY OFF?
WHICH IS YOUR FAVOURITE INNOVATION?
The cellphone.
Go for a long walk with my dogs.
FREDRIK PALMGREN
FRIDA ODDSDOTTIR
Senior Project Manager
Director Procurement & QA
WHICH IS YOUR FAVOURITE INNOVATION?
Speakers. WHAT INSPIRES YOU IN YOUR PROFESSION?
Technical problem solving. WHICH IS YOUR FAVOURITE DESIGN PRODUCT/ FURNITURE?
Hans J. Wegner PP225 Flag Halyard Chair.
WHAT WAS YOUR CAREER GOAL AS A CHILD?
I wanted to be a farmer or a fashion designer. WHAT DO YOU DO DURING A DAY OFF?
Spend time with family and friends, go for a run in the woods, cooking and enjoying a good meal with my boyfriend. WHICH IS YOUR PERSONAL MOTTO?
Live-Love-Laugh.
NORDIC PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
Boating or skiing depending on the season. WHICH IS YOUR FAVOURITE BUILDING IN THE WORLD?
My summerhouse in the Stockholm archipelago.
GORAN KOZAREVIC Facility Manager WHO WOULD YOU LIKE TO INVITE TO DINNER?
Bill Clinton and Leonardo da Vinci. WHO WOULD YOU LIKE TO BRING TO A DESERTED ISLAND?
A knife, mosquito repellant and a satellite telephone. And Gisele Bündchen. WHICH IS YOUR FAVOURITE BUILDING IN THE WORLD?
Saint Basil’s Cathedral in Moscow.
HEGE FOSS
JØRGEN HVEDING EEG
MAGNUS STÅLHAMMAR
Project Manager
Director Facility Management
Facility Manager
WHAT IS ON THE TOP OF YOUR AGENDA RIGHT NOW?
Construction, construction..... Quality Airport Hotel Gardermoen, Clarion Bjørvika. WHAT WAS YOUR CAREER GOAL AS A CHILD?
Architect. WHAT DO YOU DO DURING A DAY OFF?
Ski, ski, ski.....
WHAT DO YOU DO DURING A DAY OFF?
WHO WOULD YOU LIKE TO INVITE TO DINNER?
Run, dinner and drinks with friends, night bath!
Charlotte Kalla.
WHICH IS YOUR FAVOURITE BUILDING IN THE WORLD?
Go paddling with my kajak.
Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia – The Valencia Opera House, designed by Santiago Calatrava.
WHAT DO YOU DO DURING A DAY OFF? WHICH IS YOUR PERSONAL MOTTO?
Life is about spending time with family and friends.
MARTE VAMNES
NINA BJÖRSES
PIA MÖLLERSTRÖM
Senior Project Manager
Financial Controller
Facility Manager
WHAT INSPIRES YOU IN YOUR PROFESSION?
People that are good at what they do, and who truly wants to understand what is important to their customer.
WHAT IS ON THE TOP OF YOUR AGENDA RIGHT NOW?
Budget planing for 2018 and to close the books for 2017.
WHICH IS YOUR PERSONAL MOTTO?
Don’t postpone till tomorrow what you can do today. WHAT WAS YOUR CAREER GOAL AS A CHILD?
WHAT WAS YOUR CAREER GOAL AS A CHILD?
WHAT WAS YOUR CAREER GOAL AS A CHILD?
To be a veterinarian.
I wanted to be a hairdresser.
To become an Expert – it didn’t matter within which field :).
WHO WOULD YOU LIKE TO INVITE TO DINNER?
BEST RESTAURANT YOU HAVE BEEN TO?
WHO WOULD YOU LIKE TO INVITE TO DINNER?
Ellen DeGeneres, because she is both smart and funny.
Lilla Ego in Stockholm.
Barack Obama.
SANNA NORÉN
SIGURD LINDLAND
ULRIKA MALMIN
Manager Environment
Quality Assurance Manager
Energy & BMS Engineer
WHAT WAS YOUR CAREER GOAL AS A CHILD?
I have never seen myself as a ”career type”, I wanted to live in the amazon jungle and save orangutans!
WHAT IS ON TOP OF YOUR AGENDA RIGTH NOW?
Develop QA to become a tool for all hotels to improve quest satisfaction.
WHAT INSPIRES YOU IN YOUR PROFESSION?
WHAT WAS YOUR CAREER GOAL AS A CHILD?
What I do makes a difference towards a sustainable planet!
Become a journalist.
WHICH IS YOUR FAVOURITE DISH?
Fish tacos - it has to include a lot of coriander and guacamole.
WHICH IS YOUR FAVOURITE HOTEL IN THE WORLD?
Eden Roc Miami Beach.
NORDIC PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
WHAT INSPIRES YOU IN YOUR PROFESSION?
To learn something new every day - to become smarter and more efficient. WHAT IS ON THE TOP OF YOUR AGENDA RIGHT NOW?
We can do so much better to save energy and be more efficient - this is always on top of my agenda. WHICH IS YOUR FAVOURITE INNOVATION?
It has to be the smartphone!!
WINNER!
At Six Stockholm – Designwinner from FX Awards AHEAD Awards & Design et al’s The International Hotel & Property Awards
Pronova congratulate the impressive award and at the same time, we are proud to be the supplier of interior.
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WE ARE A COMPLETE PARTNER WHO DEVELOPS IDEAS AND FURNISHINGS FOR HOTELS, PUBLIC ENVIRONMENTS, OFFICES, RESTAURANTS AND BOUTIQUES. +4 6 (0) 4 80 – 7 3 73 00 • I N F O @ P R O N O VA . S E • W W W. P R O N O VA . S E
BUDGET, CALCULATION & TIME PLANS
PROJECT MANAGEMENT & DRAWINGS
CREATIVE IDEAS, RENDERING & VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENTS
ASSEMBLY OF INTERIOR, PAINTING & RENOVATION
COMPLETE BATHROOMS Through Pronova Sailor Bath & Tile we offer complete, certified and quality controlled bathrooms. 51 | STORIES | 2018
AROUND THE WORLD EXCEPTIONAL OPENINGS IN 2018 1
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1 Lutetia, Paris
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intimate lodges, the project creates a Six Senses journey that comprises Thimphu, Punakha, Gangtey, Bumthang and Paro. Opening in Summer 2018, the five guest lodges reflect the heritage and hospitality for which positions this colorful Kingdom as the Happiest Place on Earth.
The historic hotel Lutetia, built in 1910, is a remarkable building and hotel where James Joyce wrote Ulysses and Picasso took up residence. It has now undergone a restoration featuring an overhauled concept that combines the 184-key property’s Art Deco legacy with contemporary elements including a holistic 3 Arctic Bath, Lule Älv wellbeing centre and an update Inspired by the success of Treeto the storied brasserie. hotel Arctic Bath is a floating 2 Six Senses, Bhutan hotel and spa on the surface of Lule River. Arctic Bath will With a total of just 82 guest suites distributed between five be a year round attraction,
summertime free-floating and wintertime frozen on Luleriver. Activities include cold baths, different water activities, several saunas, spa treatments, reception, shop, lounge and restaurant.
of its 103 suites. ”It will all be different, but we will not have lost any soul,” promised the New York-based designer Alexandra Champalimaud, while unveiling some of her plans.
4 Raffles, Singapore
5 The Retreat at Blue Lagoon, Iceland
While the famous pristine white facade of this celebrated national monument will look unchanged there will be internal changes of the public areas, as well as a complete overaul of the interior design
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Located in the heart of an 800-year-old, moss-covered lava flow, the Retreat will encompass an underground spa, a mineral-rich lagoon, a restaurant that reinvents Iceland’s culinary heritage,
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A CONCEPT & DESIGN STUDIO Our experience includes concept development, brand identity and graphic design, storytelling and design matchmaking. We have an integrated view of how to develop and manage a concept and we believe in combining feeling and intellect to create solutions that work across touchpoints and connect with people.
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Proud partner to NPM and NCH in the concept development for: At Six, Hobo, TAK, Post Nord, Clarion SeaU, Clarion Bjørvika, Copenhagen Airport and Comfort Arlanda Airport to name a few. Proud partner to Comfort Hotels in the design of a new brand identity. and 62 guest suites encircled by the waters of the Blue Lagoon.
6 Edition, Bangkok Known as Thailand’s tallest building, The Bangkok EDITION is set within Ole Scheeren’s striking, pixel-esque MahaNakhon building. The hotel features 154 guest rooms and 5 levels of public spaces. Food and beverage outlets include two signature restaurants, a lobby bar and pool bar. A pool, state-ofthe-art fitness center and spa
7 ME, Dubai Designed by Zaha Hadid ME Dubai, taking up residence in her abstract Opus building, is combining a distinct façade with lavish interiors and fivestar amenities. The hotel will have around 93 rooms and suites, a night club, spa, conference, swimming pool, restaurants & cafes, a hotel bar, retail space and more. The building will also house exclusive serviced apartments, which will be located on the upper floors including four penthouses with private roof terraces.
atmosfarbyattar.com | info@atmosfarbyattar.com
Checking into a hotel is to check into other people’s lives
A few years ago, one of Sweden’s most popular artists added a music room to his house – a perfect place to write songs, filled with guitars, a piano, microphones, and recording equipment. But after the music room was ready, he never managed to write a single song in there. The four walls of the room became a prison of expectations and performance anxiety. Instead, he discovered the best environment in which to write... hotel rooms. When the time comes to write a new album, the artist travels to a European city. The actual city isn’t all that important – it’s the hotel room he’s after. He then locks himself in the room for a week, a small room with an unmade bed and room service trays to write songs that could become next year’s hits. I completely understand him. I love staying in hotels and I love working in hotels. There’s nowhere else I can be so creative. As soon as the key card beeps to open the door, it’s not just a door that opens up but a whole parallel universe. Hotel rooms are neither home nor work. They’re undemanding, free, without conventions. The term “think outside the box” is used so often that it has become a cliché. But as Lloyd Cole sings, “The reason it’s a cliché is because it’s true.” Everyday environments do not encourage thinking outside the box – everything is far too familiar – but a hotel room is new enough and exciting enough while also being neutral and comfortable.
When all of these familiar things have been noted and you start to relax, your thoughts can start to wander off to new places. Sometimes I sit at the desk in the hotel room and start working. But usually I sit up in bed, CNN on the TV on mute, with a mountain of pillows behind my back. Many famous reports and books have been written in hotel rooms. Joan Didion has described how well she works in hotel rooms, and how she panics when someone suggests that she tries new hotels. In Los Angeles she always stays at Beverly Wilshire. When Vladimir Nabokov earned enough money, he moved from the United States to Switzerland and checked in at the Montreux Palace Hotel. He never checked out again. The hotel room made Nabokov feel at home everywhere and nowhere at the same time, something which defined his writing. Nothing characterises a hotel as much as its guests. One of the best hotels I have stayed at is the Hotel Alfonso XIII in Seville, built between 1916 and 1928. I liked it even more once I discovered that the actors in Lawrence of Arabia stayed here during filming. Later, the Game of Thrones ensemble stayed here while filming in Seville. Checking into a hotel is to check into other people’s lives and dreams. As soon as I check out, I start looking forward to the next time I check in. ■
JAN GRADVALL
If the environment is too new and exciting, it can be distracting. But all hotel rooms are, in a good way, reminiscent of each other. The phone on the nightstand. The mini bar. The little bottles of shampoo. The bed end that you always remove immediately.
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Astrid had the privilege to deliver the textiles for curtains and drapery to At Six. We are a Swedish textile producer, specializing in double-width fabrics of fantastic quality in a large array of colours. We have a diversity of collections in flameproof fabric such as Trevira CS, a wide variety of high quality linen in different styles and also smooth wool qualities.
STOCKHOLM
STUDIO & SHOWROOM NYBROGATAN 68, SE-114 41 STOCKHOLM TEL +46 8 667 15 33 info@astrid.se – @astridtextiles - www.astrid.se 55 | STORIES | 2018
carlhansen.com
every piece comes with a story | CH88 |
hans j. wegner · 1955
With its thoughtful fusion of wood and steel, the CH88 epitomizes Hans J. Wegner’s characteristic play with materials. The versatile, minimalist chair is shown here with Wegner’s CH338 dining table.
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