STORIES 2020 by Nordic Property Management - Issue 3

AMERIKALINJEN

New Maiden Voyage for Golden Oldie

AT SIX RESIDENCE

Setting a New Benchmark

CLARION HOTEL THE HUB

No Big Thing - 800+ Rooms in Oslo

VILLA COPENHAGEN Soon a Second Act

WAL LA M P : LE S DO UB LE S DE G R A S No 2 0 4 D O UB LE

Agent Sweden | smakdesign.se

WE CREATE A UNIQUE IMPRESSION INTERIORS AND DESIGN SINCE 1963

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Proud supplier of all fixed and loose furniture to the Amerikalinjen Hotel.

SIFAB | PHONE + 46 31 17 08 30 | www.sifab.eu

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W W W.L AUFE N.SE | I NFO@SE . L AU F EN.COM CO L L ECT ION L IVIN G CI T Y _ D ESI GN BY PH OENI X D E S I G N L AUF EN 1892 | SWI T Z ERL A ND

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An annual publication from Nordic Property Management with intel and inspiration on hospitality projects, travel and design from a Nordic perspective.

A Year to Remember

EDITORIAL

Concept & production: Atmosfär by Attar

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New Maiden Voyage for Golden Oldie

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Soon a Second Act for Villa Copenhagen

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Helsinki Briefing

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House of Choice: Building a House for Life

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Artsy Ambitions in Oslo

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The Dragon’s Nest

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All Aboard the Quality Hotel River Station

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Picture Perfect at Sea U

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Urban Attitude in Airport Flagship Hotel

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High-Flying Meeting Place

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At Six Residence - Setting a New Benchmark

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No Big Thing - 800+ rooms in downtown Oslo

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Yet another year has passed - and what a year! On the following pages you will read about all the fantastic things that we have worked with during the past year and some appetizers on what’s in the pipeline.

Our focus on sustainable design and technology has also become more visible, and in House of Choice we will be able to show that the ”proof is in the pudding”: Zero Energy, Sustainable FF&E, co-living and co-working all in one building. This is really planning for the future!

Being part of the Nordic Choice Hospitality Group means constant change and development. In the coming year we will open Comfort Hotel Arlanda Airport, Villa Copenhagen, Comfort Hotel Copenhagen Airport, we will design and plan for more than 1,500 new rooms in Finland, we will renovate more than 2,500 rooms and who knows what the Ving adventure will bring - and on top of that all the things that we still do not know anything of… It is really exciting times ahead!

Nordic Property Management has during the last years developed from a small department to a full bodied property management company. We have during the last years opened more new hotel rooms, renovated more hotel rooms not mentioning the restaurants and bars than any other property management company in the Nordics - I would actually say in Europe - at least!

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For me personally this issue of STORIES is very special since it is my last.

It has been a truly fantastic journey looking back and I am sure that the future is even more exhilarating .

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CEO Nordic Property Management and CPO Nordic Choice Hotels

Ima - The Bohemian Little Sister of At Six Sustainable Targets for the Future On the Drawing Board

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Bathroom & Spa Special

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Travel and Design

Catarina Molén-Runnäs

Follow me and my colleagues @nordicpropertymanagement on Instagram Nordic Property Management was founded in 2013 as a member of Nordic Choice Hospitality Group.

NPM is the leading hotel property management company in the Nordics.

www.nordicpropertymanagement.se

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AMERIKALINJEN

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AMERIKALINJEN

The impressive inner courtyard atrium that houses the garden has preserved its original yellow tiles and serves as a green oasis.

New Maiden Voyage for Golden Oldie

Old buildings have better stories to tell than new ones.

At the former Amerikalinjen headquarters the journey began for thousands of hopeful Norwegians who were going to travel to the land of opportunity. This grand dame has history hanging heavy on the outside while the inside focuses on being a gateway to the present and future.

You can’t miss this vibrant new hotel. Dating from 1919 the stunning landmark building sits heavy in front of Oslo’s Central Station. Neo-Baroque elements on the facades, decorative reliefs and sculptures, ornate timber cornices, large windows and robust doors and a monumental staircase make the building unique. Its 122 rooms exude modern design appropriate to the bones of the building. Interior designer Jaako Puro and the team at Helsinki-based Puroplan put together the impressing interiors preserving many of the original features

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Jaako Puro, Interior Architect Puroplan

AMERIKALINJEN

mixed with modern design. “We wanted to create something more than just a hotel, we wanted to create an experience. The aim was to balance the relatively heavy exterior with a light, glamorous and airy interior. An eclectic mix of contemporary furniture from Scandinavia, France and Italy intervowen with Norwegian design classics. All our design elements subtly reflect Amerikalinjen’s seafaring history, bringing to mind its heyday,” says Jaako Puro. With Norwegian manufacturer Eikund, Torbjørn Bekken’s Veng Armchair from 1960 was brought back into production, produced specifically for the project.

Norwegian lighting manufacturer Hadeland has produced the bespoke pendant lights in the guest rooms as well as the special occasion champagne glasses. Another revived classic is the Birdy Lamp designed by Birger Dahl in 1952, now produced by Northern. The project has a great variety of materials: natural stone, warm wood, different glass surfaces, multitude of textiles. The building is listed which presented some challenges for the project. Ceiling, floor and wall colors of the main entrance were protected, but through playing with the lighting it was possible to create the right mood and atmosphere in these areas.

As in most other hotels within Nordic Hotels & Resorts there is an ambitious art collection dotted throughout the hotel.

Amerikalinjen has a US-focused collection with art by figurative painter Alex Katz, a 2.5m tall sculpture, called Towers – by British artist Julian Opie – that refers to the modernity of America, and pieces from former street artist Shepard Fairey known for his campaign posters for Barack Obama.

Not short on ambition, the hotel has a French bistro inspired restaurant (Atlas Brasserie & Café), a cocktail bar (Pier 42), a year-round garden (Haven) and a jazz club (Gustav).

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AMERIKALINJEN

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AMERIKALINJEN

By placing full wall size mirrors and lit-up bathroom walls a sense of space was created in the relatively small rooms.

The gym is inspired by an old-school boxing ring.

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AMERIKALINJEN

The Vista Heritage Room is a masterpiece of joinery by maker Damian Williams, founder of Artisan Tech.

THE PROJECT 122 rooms Atlas Brasserie & CafĂŠ Cocktail bar Pier 42 Jazz club Gustav Courtyard garden Haven Gym Property owner: Fremtind Architect: Kritt Arkitekter Interior designer: Puroplan

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VILLA COPENHAGEN

Soon a Second Act for Villa Copenhagen The red brick buildings are emblematic for Copenhagen and dotted all over the city with its striking mix of historic and contemporary architecture. The beautiful and imposing 1912 Neo-Baroque building housing Villa Copenhagen, originally the Central Post Office, will soon rise to its former glory as a new destination for conscious luxury. A world-class hotel that brings together the best of the past and the future, with the greatest of Danish design, but with a larger outlook on Europe and beyond. A story of historic context, sustainable luxury and contrast runs throughout the 25,000 sqm project that has three design studios working on different parts of the interiors, each giving their creative vision of the Villa.

café, an inner garden room for relaxed seating and a popup retail space. “We want to create a space that becomes a destination. Inspiration comes from the historical center of Copenhagen and its charming, old streets. The center of the courtyard is, with its lush trees and greens, a nod to Glyptoteket’s winter garden. References to old details in the building itself can be found in the new design as well – for example we’ve reintegrated a rococo ornament from the grand staircase,” says Olga Krukovskaya interior designer at Shamballa. The Marble Bridge with its darkly patinated Gjellebaæk marble and the limestone of Christiansborg influenced the architectural palette of the lobby. The color palette is characterized by earthy hues, with touches of saffron, terracotta and burnt orange, inspired by some of the old Copenhagen buildings, such as the ochre facades by Nyboder. The design also includes a rich variety of natural stone, including pieces reminiscent of Shamballa’s precious jewels.

THE COURTYARD

THE OLD BOARDROOM

The courtyard will be a social hub and multiuse space for different scenarios: the reception area, a city square-like

This is one of the most preserved rooms in the building with ornamented ceiling, mahogany wall paneling, tapestry and

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VILLA COPENHAGEN

Villa Copenhagen opens on April 1, 2020

chrystal chandeliers. It will be converted into an intimate bar and multipurpose lounge to host jewellery viewings, intimate chamber music concerts, lectures and private dining.

“The most dominant feature of the room, besides the ceiling, is the tapestry. For this project we developed a custom tapestry to serve as backdrop for the new bar. The inspiration comes from the first original Verdure tapestry - tapestry decorated with a design based on plant forms - of this room, which we recovered from the archives.”

SHAMBALLA SUITE

The former corner office of the director of the Central Post Building will be turned into the Shamballa Suite. It has be-

autiful stucco ceilings and wall paneling that will be kept.

The rest is being re-imagined by Mads and Mikkel Kornerup, founders of Shamballa Jewels. “Shamballa means ‘a place of peace and tranquility’ in sanskrit. We always had a dream of translating that atmosphere into a hospitality project.

The suite is characterized by a meeting between rough and refined materials that create a strong first impression. The color palette of the suite can be described as dark and earthy, with stone-colored leathers, luxurious marble surfaces and rough, stuccoed walls that define the space.”

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VILLA COPENHAGEN

Designing For the Villa Community

ritage elements. Original timber paneling, beautifully crafted doors and marble columns all remain. Purples, pinks, dark red, blue and olive and heavily patterned rugs and slightly oriental fabric to complement the eclectic furniture selection.

THE BRASSERIE

With a vision to create destination restaurants and bars that introduce something new to Copenhagen, at the same time as it honors the Scandinavian design sensibility. Unique and informal venues that each offer something extraordinary.

The brasserie faces town and is designed to be a buzzy allday restaurant. “It channels mid-century Danish design and juxtaposes the past and the present with contemporary interpretation. Central to the scheme is a large, open kitchen and bar providing theatre and all-day interaction,” says Jo Littlefair, director at London-based Goddard Littlefair. “We put a lot of effort into understanding how Danes dine and socialize – Villa Copenhagen has to be a place where you can live life like a local. Sustainability is also key in this project.

We have reused lots of original items discovered in warehouses. Doors have been re-hung and brass grills and door handles have been reinstated. The majority of the original copper stripped from the roof has been reimagined as wall cladding in the Brasserie and other parts of the hotel. The Brasserie has a nostalgic palette of warm orange, navy blue and white paneling.

THE SATCHEL BAR AND THE PLAYROOM

THE BREAKFAST ROOM

Placed on the lower ground floor, adjacent to a set of railway tracks, it used to be the sorting room of the post building.

“We discovered old photographs from when it was a working sorting room. The mail was taken off the trains and into the room, before being loaded onto horses for distribution. This inspired the design process. We were able to reference original archways and paneling, transforming the space into a flexible restaurant space. We also introduced a bakery to provide fresh bread for the hotel and as well as locals. We have reinterpreted many of the original features in contemporary materials, juxtaposing historical references in a unique style. For example, freestanding raw copper arches are positioned where original stone and timber arches would have been. The material palette focuses towards an industrial palette of rich yellow bricks, grey expose ducting, tan and grey upholstery. A mix of walnut and oak in joinery to reference traditional Danish furniture manufacture.”

THE POOL DECK

The 25 meters lap pool will be situated on the roof of the Villa, a relaxed and colorful haven that includes a bar. Copper from the roof has been used to clad the bar front.

These spaces will be converted into a cozy wine bar and a restaurant with a bold color palette to counter the strong he-

To start the design process old photos were tracked down to delve into the history of the Villa.

The design languages then adopted have authentic and nostalgic groundings, but brought to life with color, energy and dynamism.

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VILLA COPENHAGEN

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VILLA COPENHAGEN

The Quiet Poetry and Beauty of a Grand Residence GUEST ROOMS

The Villa houses 390 rooms spread over 4 floors. There’s a wealth of room types, which is part of the charm of the Villa. Some with 4 meters ceiling height and 3.6 meters high windows, some are under the attic with roof-lights and exposed timber beams. The design reflects this, which is unusual for a large hotel, with every room being a treated as an individual, emphasizing its original character. “Our vision is to complete a design that is unashamedly beautiful, feels good to be in, delights in its historic context, but which is also built for now and the future,” says Richard McConkey, interior architect at award-winning, London-based architecture and design studio, Universal Design Studio. ”It was hard not to feel inspired when we first viewed the building, with its beautiful façade and grand windows. There’s such quality of light in Copenhagen. We were very inspired by the paintings of Wilhelm Hammershøi (who was based just a few miles from the hotel in a residence of a similar period) and his sense of quiet poetry, beauty and experience of light.

We tried to create a series of rooms that captured this sense: calming, beautiful, deep, of real quality, being both timeless and forward-looking.”

Considering the beautiful exterior one would expect there to be many period features, but very little remain in the

interior. “Our approach was to first restore the interior, forensically mapping a series of original period features found elsewhere in the building, then reinstalling window surrounds, paneling, cornices, architraves and doors that feel right for this building and a residence of that period. We then went on to design custom furniture and lighting that feel both contemporary and classic, and mixed with these reissued and customized pieces, furniture, art and objects commissioned from a range of periods, which feels relevant to how people live today.”

“Much of our design choices came from responding to the building, the light, the work of Hammershøi, and the many beautiful buildings of Copenhagen. We’ve developed a series of color stories for the rooms that pick up on themes within the building – the copper of the roof, the tones of the brickwork, the richness and craft of classic Danish furniture, which is rightly known worldwide, so there was a wealth of options, but we’ve tried to create a unique mix”.

CORRRIDORS, HALLWAYS AND STAIRCASES

In a grand residence as the Villa the links between the rooms and other spaces become very important. The design unfolds as a journey. “We’ve refurbished grand staircases, waiting areas and hallways to create this sense of passing through a grand residence, and provide changes of richness, tone and natural orientation.”

Room design is kept focused, not too elaborate with details, but built with a quality that echoes the original building.

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VILLA COPENHAGEN

With sustainable hospitality in mind the focus has been on timeless aesthetics and on using natural materials that are made to wear in and not wear out.

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HELSINKI BRIEFING

Moi Helsinki!

Helsinki is gaining new confidence. Being dubbed as the “The new Copenhagen” the capital of Finland is becoming a new hub of cool. A multitude of new museums, hotels, shops and galleries makes a good excuse for a visit all year round. Here are some of the recent most interesting new venues in the Finnish capital.

AMOS REX

OODI LIBRARY

The new Oodi Library from 2018, designed by ALA Architects, is a flagship building situated across from the Finnish Parliament, aiming at ”embracing technology and progressive values to provide a variety of innovative services alongside its lending collection of books.” The building actually contains a rather small number of books, instead also being dedicated to public spaces including a cinema, recording studios, a maker space, and areas for hosting exhibitions and events. Its location facing the Finnish Parliament is intended to symbolize the relationship between the government and the citizens.

Helsinki’s new art museum, Amos Rex, is the new home to the Amos Anderson art foundation. It is a local cultural attraction – an impressive art gallery under a square - that is 100 percent unique. Designed by JKMM Architect it is a series of underground domed galleries that come bulging up from the ground and create an interesting landscape. Over 2,200 square meters of gallery space has been created in a series of spaces underground, in what used to be a bus station. JKMM additionally oversaw the renovation of Lasipalatsi, a functionalist 1930s building, that is also part of the Amos Rex museum.

HOTEL ST GEORGE

This impressive new hotel is located in the heart of the city right beside the Old Church Park. Combining luxury accommodation with holistic wellbeing, it houses 148 rooms, five suites, treatment rooms, a sauna (of course), its very own bakery, an impressive art collection and Andrea restaurant. At the hotel’s center there is the Winter Garden that recalls the great 18thcentury interior gardens and serves as gathering spot for a community of creative locals and international travelers. St George is a new member of Nordic Hotels & Resorts.

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HELSINKI BRIEFING

LÖYLI SAUNA

Sauna bathing is an essential part of Finnish culture and national identity.

There are only 5,4 million Finns but 3,3 million saunas. The public Löyli sauna opened in 2016 and is designed

by Avanto Architects. It is located in a former industrial area, Hernesaari, on the Helsinki seashore. The structure is shaped like a big stone and has become one of the major tourist attractions in Helsinki. The interior architecture of the restaurant and the sauna lounge is by Joanna Laajisto.

GAME ON FINLAND With the 2019 acquisition of Kämp Collection and its 10 hotels NORDIC CHOICE now has a large portion of the entire Finnish luxury and lifestyle hotel market segment. Legendary Kämp Hotel is one of the most well-known luxury hotels in Europe, dating back to 1887. Hotel St George has set a new benchmark for boutique

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hotels in the Nordics with its arrival in 2019. With 2 new hotels at Vantaa airport Nordic Choice has been chosen as the operator of the largest hotel project ever in Finland. But it doesn’t stop there. The ambition is to add another 2,000 rooms in Helsinki the coming years. Things are looking bright out east.

HELSINKI BRIEFING

Joanna Laajisto’s Insider Guide to Helsinki Interior architect and designer Joanna Laajisto is the founder of Studio Joanna Laajisto, a Helsinki based design office which works internationally in the fields of hospitality and retail as well as product design. In September 2018 Joanna was designated Interior Architect of the year by The Finnish Association of Interior Architects. The studio has worked on interior design projects such as WAY Bakery and Wine Bar and Löyly sauna.

What’s the city’s dress code?

It´s very casual. You can get away with sneakers pretty much everywhere.

Where’s the best hotel to wake up?

I love the park view rooms at St. George Coolest neighbourhoods worth exploring?

Kallio district has the most interesting restaurants, bars and nightclubs.

Most beautiful place to spend a Sunday?

The islands just outside of the city where you can take a ferry in the summertime and even walk to a few of them on the frozen sea during the coldest winter months.

What’s the best way to explore the city?

Everything is pretty much within walking distance, but I also like to take a tram or use my bike.

Where can we go for a sauna?

There are many options! Löyly and Kulttuuri Sauna are my favorites since you get to go swimming in the sea from both of them.

Atljé Finne

Where should we go for a low-key lunch?

WAY Bakery and Wine Bar in Kallio has a very nice lunch and turns into an atmospheric wine bar at night.

Where should we go for a big night out in Helsinki?

Post Bar has the best international line up for the club scene.

And for a true Helsinki dinner experience?

Ateljé Finne, which was originally a studio for sculptor Gunnar Finne since the 1920s and operates now as a wonderful restaurant run by renowned chef Antto Melasniemi.

One misconception about Helsinki is…

That the locals don’t talk much. People are actually very friendly here.

Are there any good hotel bars?

I like the glass veranda of Brasserie Kämp.

The best place to treat yourself?

Yrjönkatu swimming hall has a beautiful original interior, good restaurant upstairs and you get to swim naked (men and women are split into different days).

Your favourite Helsinki stores include…

The Artek store is always very inspirational. I also like Stockmann department store, you can find everything there. If you’re interested in Finnish design don’t miss Lokal. Its collection is mostly homeware, in particular high-quality ceramics.

WAY Bakery and Wine Bar

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For some culture head to…

There are many nice museums, but my favorites are the smaller and not so well know Didrichsen and the Kunsthalle.

Underrated spots worthy of a visit…

The Hakaniemi open air market where you find a very authentic atmosphere and great vendors for fresh produce like fish and vegetables.

What one thing should we bring back as a souvenir?

Peace of mind.

A great out-of-town spot is…

Fiskars Village about 1 hour away from Helsinki with nice little restaurants, cafés and artisan shops.

Fiskars Village

The Fluffy lounge chair by Fredrik A. Kayser.

Designed in 1954.

Amerikalinjen, Oslo 23 | STORIES | 2019

HOUSE OF CHOICE

House of Choice: Building a House for Life

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HOUSE OF CHOICE

The facade will be covered with more than 2,500 sqm solar cells, giving electricity equivalent to an electric car driving 40 times around the globe.

The building will be a Zero Energy building. Property owner: Fabege. Interior architect: EgnellAllard

The physical workplace is no longer at the center of working life. Much work is done at home or while travelling, meetings are online and documentation has moved into the digital cloud. So what do we need the office for? When the new headquarters of Choice and Comfort Hotel Arenastaden will move into House of Choice it will be an entirely new framework for community and experience – a sustainable house for life.

Located in Arenastaden, a new urban development just a few kilometers outside Stockholm, the new HQ and hotel will be housed in one of the most energy efficient commercial buildings in Scandinavia. Apart from offices and a hotel it will also be home to long-stay apartments. The 11-storey building by White Architects will be split into three parts: a 336-key hotel, headquarters for Nordic Choice Sweden, 88 long-stay apartments and restaurants and other communal spaces such as conference, gym and lounge. House of Choice is expected to open in 2021.

House of Choice will inspire to a sustainable lifestyle in all parts of the building: interiors, facade, food, furniture, lighting, co-working and co-living.

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CLARION HOTEL OSLO

ARTSY AMBITIONS IN OSLO 26 | STORIES | 2020

CLARION HOTEL OSLO

This eclectic art hotel with 255 rooms, 1,100 sqm of conference space, living room lobby, Kitchen & Table Fishery and the Shutter Bar is located in the vibrant new Bjørvika neighborhood and near the Central Station and the Barcode area with its interesting new architecture and skyline.

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NORDIC LIGHT CLARION HOTELHOTEL OSLO

CLARION HOTEL OSLO

The newly redeveloped Bjørvika is destined to be the new cultural center with several institutions such as the Opera House, the Munch Museum, the Stenersen museum and the Deichman Main Library. Through a unique cooperation with the nearby Munch Museum opening in 2020 there is a never publicly exhibited original painting by Edvard Munch on display in the lobby. While unique, the painting is in many ways typical of Munch. It shows two women on a beach that resembles the landscape in several of Munch’s most famous artworks. The pillarlike moonshine is also characteristic of Munch and appears in several of his works. Due to its fragile state, it was kept in storage but has now undergone 200 hours of restauration. There will

be a new painting rotating every nine months in the lobby.

In addition to this painting there are also Munch-inspired works by Marina Abramovi´c, Vik Muniz og Huma Bhabha, in the hotel’s art collection curated by Sune Nordgren.

The interiors by Semrén + Månsson is inspired by the colors from Edvard Munch’s artistry. Contemporary Nordic and European design with focus on elegance and warmth.

Wood, iron and natural stone are used throughout the hotel. Contrasting objects and furniture are seen both in the rooms and in the public areas to enhance the eclectic ambiance. Rectangular boxy shapes versus rounded ones make complete compositions that trigger the senses.

THE PROJECT 255 rooms 1,500 sqm conference spaces Kitchen & Table Fishery Shutter Bar Property owner: Hav Eiendom Architect: LPO Arkitekter Interior designer: Semrén + Månsson

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CLARION HOTEL DRAKEN

The Dragon’s Nest

Opening in 2022. Architecture by Erséus Arkitekter. Property owner: Balder.

Room design by Bornstein Lyckefors.

This stirring up discussion tower in once working class neighborhood of Järntorget in Gothenburg will offer 34 floors of hospitality wonders and a new hub for meetings and culture. Parts of the original Folkets Hus building will be incorporated in the hotel such as the

iconic movie theater Draken. The hotel rooms will be in the 34 storey newbuild and the public areas and the large meeting spaces will be in the original structure, a yellow brick building from the 50’s by architect Nils Einar Eriksson. The top floors will house a spect-

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acular rooftop restaurant and bar featuring a giant dragon art installation.

When you walk into the new Clarion Hotel Draken you will be reminded of what this place has been through the years, but now reimagined through a contemporary lens.

Designed by

Stripe

Egnell Allard

Made for Clarion Collection Tapetfabriken, opening in 2021

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QUALITY HOTEL RIVER STATION

All Aboard the Quality Hotel River Station

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QUALITY HOTEL RIVER STATION

Drammens’s brand new Quality Hotel River Station has opened by the river, just a stone’s throw from the train station. The 247-key property aims to target regional businesses with a series of new meetings and events spaces, as well as families and leisure guests.

In a nod to its location the interior architect Nina Haeg took inspiration from trains and stations, as well as the neighboring river Drammenselva.

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QUALITY HOTEL RIVER STATION

The train will take you to Oslo in 25 minutes and then straight to Gardermoen Airport

Local roots. Since the river has a history of log driving and paper mills the project commissioned a paper pergola by artist Lina Rincon to be placed by the entrance.

THE PROJECT 247 rooms Conference space with 9 meeting rooms and 1 ballroom Brasserie X Bar x Property owner: Bane NOR Eiendom Architect: NSW Arkitektur Interior designer: Nina Haeg Interior & Ine BangĂĽs, Intark

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QUALITY HOTEL RIVER STATION

“We wished to use the design references in a subtle way, like shift of tracks in the corridor carpet, the board room has its own coupé sofa, there are informal coupé meeting nooks in the break out areas and the closet in the rooms has a design that is inspired by hat racks in old trains,” says Nina Haeg.

For the ground floor public areas inspiration was drawn from industrial design, as used in train stations, with visible ventilation, steel staircases, concrete pillars and terrazzo flooring. The raw materials are combined with tactile materials in furniture and textiles to give a warm impression.

Scandinavian design is primarily used for the furniture in the hotel with an emphasis on simple, clean shapes that contrast with the roughness in the base build materials. Throughout the hotel there are materials such as walnut,

owatrol treated raw steel and bronze metals. Reflections in mirrors and glass reference the water in the river outside. Dark earthy tones with streaks of blues make up the color palette.

One of the greatest challenges was to create an intimate lounge space in the middle of the large entrance, reception and elevator area. By placing a steam fireplace between the sofas and shelves from floor to ceiling around the elevators you get a framed and secluded lounge that feels warm and inviting – part of the briefing key words for the project. Featuring Spaces has provided art for public areas and rooms.

This hotel is sure to make waves in Drammen achieving to bring a design-forward alternative to the market that sets a new benchmark for Quality hotels in the future.

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Nina Haeg, Haeg Interiørarkitektur

CLARION HOTEL SEA U

The 250 rooms have a pampered feeling and spa inspired bathrooms.

Picture Perfect at Sea U From the upcoming Clarion Hotel & Congress Sea U you will have postcard-perfect views of Öresund and the Danish coastline. The building is designed by local Jais architects and with the interiors designed by MOD Arkitekter. It occupies all 8 floors of a modern tower and its adjacent congress center with restaurants and bars with equally glorious views of the water. The congress center will target a new type of meeting demographics and open up Helsingborg for hosting large meetings and events.

In a nod to its location the new hotel is all about water. The design concept is based on it in all its shapes and forms: liquid, frozen and steam, the reflections of water and its colors, and life around water. If you have ever visited the Öresund area the blues of the water is a powerful presence that changes daily and throughout the year and is bound to make the waterfront hotel a standout. Special features will

be the outside pool as well as the rooftop on the 8th floor – both with views over the water.

“The unique position by the water in the center of Helsingborg gave away the inspiration for the design. We have worked with materials that age well and that are timeless like limestone, oak planks, leather, copper, bronze in different shapes and structures. Materials with visual as well as tactile qualities - sustainable design that will last long. The building is quite complex with many different ceiling heigts, lots of pillars and different angles of the facade. It has been quite a challenge to convert it into a well functioning hotel building with smart logistics. But we are very pleased with the project and look forward to the opening in 2021,” says Marie Ebersdotter, interior designer and partner at MOD Arkitekter.

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CLARION HOTEL SEA U

Clarion Hotel & Congress Sea U will open in February 2021.

With meeting rooms bathing in daylight and a congress hall that can take 1200 people Sea U will offer a unique new meeting place.

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Dornbracht LifeSpa Aquamoon

lifespa.dornbracht.com/aquamoon

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COMFORT HOTEL ARLANDA AIRPORT

URBAN ATTITUDE IN AIRPORT FLAGSHIP HOTEL

Opening February 1, 2020.

Comfort Hotels continues its expansion into airports with a 503-room hotel right by the terminals in Arlanda, Stockholm. With the new addition Comfort continues to prove that great design can be accessible for everybody and still be easy on the wallet. With the aim to provide urban easy living, the rooms are designed to cater to the connected urban nomad with smart and cool solutions inspired by Scandinavian contemporary design. There are large communal areas on the ground floor for hanging out and a Barception – a combination of a bar and a reception.

The 10 dorm inspired XXL rooms have space for up to 8 people per room. A rooftop bar on the 13th floor will offer spectacular views.

Interior design by Nina Haeg Interior.

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CLARION HOTEL COPENHAGEN AIRPORT

THE PROJECT Top floor suites Lobby and reception Living Room Kitchen & Table Ballroom Property owner: Copenhagen Airports A/S Interior designer: Semrén+Månsson

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CLARION HOTEL COPENHAGEN AIRPORT

High-flying Meeting Place This former Hilton hotel built in 2001 has been a longtime favorite airport hotel and meeting space for business professionals visiting Copenhagen. Its classic bones with the impressing atrium and long-lasting base build materials and design have made it stand the test of time.

“The ground floor areas are vast and were very undefined – our concept was to start with defining the spaces and create distinct spatialities,” explains Birgitte Mordt, interior designer at Semrén+Månsson. This is an important meeting and conference hotel and the designers made the conference area visible already from the reception as you enter the hotel. Integrating the Clarion restaurant concept Kitchen & Table was also crucial in making

The recent revamp of the public areas and suites had the mission of making it a true Clarion Hotel – a vibrant meeting place for a relaxed lifestyle, to mark the transition from Hilton to Clarion.

the vast areas more welcoming and attractive. The Clarion Living Room offers generous meeting places with different types of seatings. Since the base build materials were of such high quality – stone, wooden floors and metals - they were kept as a foundation.

Newly added materials have been chosen for their durability and sustainability, materials that age well and with patina. “Renovating an existing space can actually be much more complica-

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ted because of the aspect of existing materials and architecture. You don’t want the hotel to be stuck in 2001 when there is a need for renewal and looking forward, at the same time as you aim at respecting and enhancing what’s good with the existing design,” says Morch.

The end result is a seamless integration of then and now with accessible, more defined spaces that reflect the vibrant Clarion brand.

ATSIX RESIDENCE

Nordic Choice Hospitality Group today has more than 2, 200 long-stay apartments in Stockholm, Göteborg, Malmö, Lund, Helsingborg, Linköping, Karlskrona and Älmhult.

AT SIX RESIDENCE: Setting a New Benchmark

Since forever long-stay apartments have been equivalent to sparsely decorated and soulless spaces targeted at someone who supposedly doesn’t care about “design” and just wants a place to sleep while working away from home. Fortunately, change is on the way and a more segmented market is appearing which is proven by the new At Six Residence that opened during the Fall of 2019 in central Stockholm, right by the At Six Hotel.

The new residencies are the boutique

long-stay apartments that the capital has lacked until now and has already found a great position on the market aimed at a more discerning guest. The 32 apartments come in sizes ranging from 50 to 55 sqm, all having one bedroom and a living room with an integrated kitchen. Some even have terraces overlooking the central parts of Stockholm.

The design is inspired by the pared back aesthetics of contemporary luxury hotel At Six but with a more home-

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ly feel, with more wooden and textile surfaces. Rugs from Kasthall, chairs from Carl Hansen and lamps from Brokis dot the soft greige interiors. The kitchen is fully stocked with well-designed glasses, china, pots and a wine cooler to make it possible to have people over for dinner. The four suites have a special styling cupboard – a steam cleaner - that makes sure that suits, dresses and tops can be refreshed without having to go to the dry cleaner.

ATSIX RESIDENCE

Guests can stay from 2 weeks to 6 months depending on their needs.

Terrazzo tiles with oak cabinets and wash machines achieve the right standard for the bathrooms.

THE PROJECT 32 long-stay apartments 4 Suites 4 Superior 12 Standard 12 Basic 8 with terraces Property owner: AMF Interior designer: MOD Arkitekter

CLARION HOTEL THE HUB

NO BIG THING

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CLARION HOTEL THE HUB

800+ ROOMS IN DOWNTOWN OSLO

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CLARION HOTEL THE HUB

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CLARION HOTEL THE HUB

The ”Think outside the Box” meeting room was developed as part of a design contest with over 80 contestants. Eilén Benedikte Brenne and Hanne Lassemo Buøen, interior design students at Høyskolen Kristiania, won the contest with an innovative and creative room design.

Central Oslo has a multitude of hotels, but nothing can be compared to the grandeur of Clarion Hotel the Hub – former Clarion Hotel Christiania - which re-opened after a 3-year total renovation and extension. It is the largest hotel in Oslo and not short of ambition it features 810 rooms, 3 restaurants and bars, a massive 3,000 sqm meeting arena with 22 meeting rooms and a congress hall, and 200 sqm rooftop urban farming.

by the elevators that showcase weather elements typical of the Nordics: a waterfall transitioning into ice, snow and back to the waterfall. The living room lobby has a glamorous and soft touch with strong colors, velvets and plush seatings mixed with minimalistic expressions. The library is more understated – a dimly lit lounge for reading, working and relaxing. The ground floor Hub Bar is an industrial designed bar with copper tones, leather and wooden chairs, dark iron and plants. The top floor restaurant Norda and bar Bon Bon are a colorful explosion with wooden floors, generous nooks, expressive table lights and chandeliers.

The hotel occupies an entire block with a unique combination of architectural heritage and modern architecture.

The combination of reconstruction, renovation and new construction has created an unusually complex project – a project that was initiated already in 2009. Facing the square is the original building designed for the 1952 winter Olympics by architect Knut Knutsen. The new facades are made of inclining aluminum sheets, offset with variations in depth and color. The inclined surfaces all point one way, towards Oslo S and Bjørvika, and in this way are reminiscent of a shell structure as found in armor. Depending on time, weather and light, a game of light and reflection is formed, which gives lightness and life to the facades.

Rooms are restful with different shades of blues, greens and greys. The iconic Gatto lamp by the Castiglione brothers is featured in all rooms, as well as a generous armchair for lounging and reading. The bathrooms have a soft industrial ambiance with grey concrete ceramic tiles on both walls and floors. The magnificent top floor Master Suite has views all over the city and the Oslo fjord.

The interior designer of the public spaces and restaurants Anemone Wille Våge describes the interior design as “a mix of early design classics and pioneering design of the future”. On the ground floor you are greeted by an installation

Anemone Wille Våge, founder and interior designer of the studio that bears her name.

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CLARION HOTEL THE HUB

The elegant Master Suite has spectacular views over Oslo and has design from Italian brands Poltrona Frau, Minotti, Arketipo and Porada to name a few.

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CLARION HOTEL THE HUB

THE PROJECT 810 rooms 3 security floors Hub Bar Norda Restaurant Bon Bon Bar GrowHub urban farming Lobby shop

Pop-up store Library Gym 22 meeting rooms Congress hall 900 sqm Pod-cast room

Property owner: Strawberry Brothers Architects: Lund + Slaatto Architects Interior designer: Anemone Wille Våge (restaurants and public areas), Björkén Architects, (hotel rooms & suites, congress and meeting space)

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UNDER BAR IMA STJÄRNORNA

The Bohemian Little Sister of At Six

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BAR IMA

The newly opened cocktail bar Ima occupies the 14th floor rooftop next to restaurant TAK in Stockholm’s urban development of Brunkebergstorg.

Named after the Japanese word for living room it serves Japanese inspired drinks in a relaxed cocktail lounge inspired by sunny pergolas.

With windows from floor to ceiling and fantastic views over the iconic City Hall Ima is like a love letter to summer: a pergola with mindful design in bright colors, tactile sustainable materials and lots of plants. Organic and sculptural shapes in natural materials such as limestone, rattan, wool, sheep skin, brass, linen and oak are the foundation of the interior and mirror

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Ulrika Kjellström Attar och Philippe Attar Atmosfär by Attar

BAR IMA

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BAR IMA

the ambitions of the Japanese inspired drinks. Iconic design classics are mixed with contemporary design in a relaxed and elegant mix that gives an intimate character to this oasis on the roof.

“The brief was to design a sophisticated international cocktail bar and we set out to create a calm and comfortable place contrasting to the high voltage of central Stockholm. This is a place where you can go to relax and feel private. We wanted to have the same warmth in the interior as in restaurant TAK - an interior we like very much - and decided to keep that feeling in the interior both on the inside and the terrace, but in softer, more organic shapes and with more variation in materials and in a brighter color scheme, to create the character of a contemporary Nordic living room pergola. To us Ima is the bohemian little sister of Hotel At Six, “ say Ulrika and Philippe Attar of Atmosfär by Attar, the studio behind Ima.

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THE PROJECT 115 sqm Cocktail bar Open kitchen Terrace 56 seats Property owner: AMF Interior design: Atmosfär by Attar

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

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SUSTAINABLE OPERATIONS

Sustainable Targets for the Future To choose sustainable materials that stand the test of time and at the same time are relevant from a design perspective can be a challenge. We met for coffee with Karin Sjövall, Manager Sustainable Operations at Nordic Property Management, and Emma Olbers, product designer and sustainability expert, for a discussion about the challenges for the future on a rainy November day at Café Pom & Flora in Stockholm.

Kairn and Emma sitting on the Greta sofa. The sustainanble interior of café Pom & Flora is designed by Emma in 2017.

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SUSTAINABLE OPERATIONS “My interest came gradually and in a very natural way,” says Emma. “I grew up on a farm and maybe the closeness to nature gave me a greater understanding for the circular way of thinking; I have been part both of planting trees and cutting them down. I was the fifth generation on the farm where I grew up and a lot of furniture went from generation to generation, so it was easy to see what lasted and what did not.”

Also for Karin the interest started at a young age. “Already as a small child I had a very big interest in animals and I thought it was horrible when I heard about bushfires where animals remained without a home. When I started my university studies I met a professor, a former UN Climate Negotiator, who inspired me deeply. Sustainability is about values and is connected to who you are as a person and your personal morals.”

To Emma, facts and evidence based knowledge is vital in order to develop more sustainable thinking within the design industry. In year 2016 she made a trend exhibition at the Stockholm Furniture Fair and saw an opportunity to spread the word about sustainability.

When it comes to furniture the material choice is ABOUT 50 percent of the total emissions of THE PRODUCT´S LIFECYCLE. Therefore, Emma asked the Swedish Environmental Research Institute IVL to help her rank the different materials she works with in terms of environmental effect and greenhouse gas emission. It turned out for example that CO2e emissions are 300 times higher from leather than from birch, from a life cycle perspective. This means that a chair with a leather seat has to last 300 times longer than a chair with a seat made from birch if they are to have the same environmental effect.

that are suitable for hotel operations. For example, certain types of natural surfaces can’t be used in restaurants since they get damaged quickly because of the intense wear. We aim at working both with a broad scope as well as a more detailed.”

Is it possible to recycle materials and furniture?

“We try to re-lacquer chairs for instance. But it is often a challenge since it can be hard to fit into the design concept. But we have ways of donating used furniture to those in need, for example to refugee housing. We have also started a pilot project with a company in Norway that keeps track of ongoing renovations and identifies what can be sold and what can be donated, “says Karin.

Emma nods in agreement and continues.

“It would be interesting to design products that already at the sketch table phase are designed according to the criteria you are mentioning Karin, to last long, be easy to repair plus with low CO2e. Specially designed for being maintained and managed for a long life. I guess we also have to create this feeling that sustainability is trendy, which I don’t think really is the case right now. I believe a big impact could be made in the hospitality sector. 80% of the design choices are made on the drawing board.

If you collaborate on these issues from the start it will be easier to have an effect.”

Karin, do you think your competitors in hospitality think the same ways as you do?

“There are few distinct requirements, and I have noticed that is not common to challenge with many parallel requirements. The holistic approach that we are trying to adopt is not mainstream yet. Our ambitions are set high and we always want to do better. There is no prestige involved, it’s driven by genuine interest in achieving better results. We would enjoy helping or working together with our competitors in this matter. The purpose is to design better hotels that have positive effects on the planet.”

“Estrid” armchair, Ire. “Ink” pen holder, Skultuna. Sustainable ranking of materials

Karin, the hotel industry has for long been focused on reducing environmental effects by consuming less water, heating etc. How can the interior design have a smaller environmental footprint?

“This year we have put together a specification of requirements where we identify sustainability aspects from a product’s lifespan. I often sit down with our interior designers to share ideas on more sustainable interior choices. We check the materials used, but also take into consideration the amount and type of packaging, how we transport products and how far they are transported. A major part of this work is to identify materials or functions

Karin has a clear vision of the future and the sustainability work that has to get done. “I’d like to see a circular solution that can work in all our hotels. I want to keep the cycle within our company and make sure we improve our operational capacity to reuse interiors,” she concludes.

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www.kiil.no | Karl Johans Gate 31 | oslo@kiil.no www.kiil.no | Karl Johans Gate 31 | oslo@kiil.no

ON THE DRAWING BOARD Some of the up and coming new projects in the universe of Nordic Property Management.

IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ELEMENTS This new hotel is not just situated by the water – it actually sits in the water and will be the highest building in the city with its 40 meters. Situated in the new city development Kaarbøkvarteret in Northern Norway’s cultural capital Harstad, the new Quality hotel will bring a friendly meeting place to the city with conference spaces for 700 guests.

Name: Quality Hotel Harstad Location: Harstad, Norway Due to open: 2022 Number of rooms: 180 LARGEST HOTEL PROJECT EVER IN FINLAND With 2 new hotels with a total of 718 rooms in Helsinki-Vantaa Airport there will be a totally new vibe coming to the rapidly expanding airport.

The 13-storey building will house a premium Clarion hotel with 507 rooms and a Comfort 211-key hotel for urban easy living.

Name: tbd Location: Helsinki-Vantaa

Airport, Finland Due to open: 2023 Number of rooms: 718

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UMEÅ’S NEW DARLING There aren’t enough hotel rooms in university town Umeå. With 289 rooms, conference spaces and a rooftop bar and restaurant the central part of Umeå will have an eagerly awaited addition: a premium Clarion hotel that will become a living room and meeting place for guests as well as locals.

Name: Clarion Hotel Umeå Location: Umeå, Sweden Due to open: 2022 Number of rooms: 289 AN INDEPENDENT SPIRIT FOR LUND A new Comfort Hotel with both rooms and longstay apartments in a prime location in Lund will change the dynamics of this iconic student city.

Casual urban design with high energy fits the demography perfectly.

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Name: Comfort Hotel Lund Location: Lund, Sweden Due to open: 2021 Number of rooms: 188 Number of longstay apartments: 60

W W W.L AUFE N.SE I| I NFO@SE . L AU F EN.COM CO L L E CT ION VAL _ D ESI GN BY KONSTA NT I N GRC I C L AUFE N 1892 | SWI T Z ERL A ND

Se vår badrumsutställning hos MAKAJO Brännkyrkagatan 82, Stockholm Barlastgatan 2, Gothenburg

BATHROOM & SPA SPECIAL

Ahead of the Game What started as a fast and smart way to produce bathrooms for cruise ships has become a multimillion global industry. According to a report from QY Research the global prefabricated bathroom pods market was worth 770 million USD in 2018 and is suggested to reach 1131 million USD in 2025. The main drivers behind the market are the commercial sector with hotels and offices and the residential

sector. Now the market is also venturing into prefabricated hotel rooms, student rooms and apartments.

It is described as a hassle-free construction that takes less time to produce at a lower cost than a conventional bathroom or hotel room. Perhaps this will even be a part of the solution of the housing crisis in the future?

Glass reinforced plastic pods, steel bathroom pod and others such as concrete bathroom pods. Partab’s pods are made of steel and concrete.

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BATHROOM & SPA SPECIAL

We sat down for a chat with Anton Lundholm, CEO of Part Construction AB, the leading Nordic manufacturer of prefabricated pods.

In 1989 Nils Lundholm, the founder of Part, received a commission: build a complete house in three weeks! ”The idea came from that we were builders of wooden houses - and then we had to do a complete house in 3 weeks. The challenge with doing it in 3 weeks was actually the bathroom and the laundry room. Our thoughts went: let’s do it prefabricated in a factory.

We made it in those 3 weeks and after that we have just continued to do it.”

Nils’ son Anton Lundholm has taken over the reins at Part. Today the company is not under the same time pressure, but the tempo has not slowed down. ”The reason for choosing a bathroom from us is that as a client you have a good control over the process. When doing something industrially instead of in a construction site you get a very good overview of the construction project. If bathrooms and laundry rooms are delivered readymade entire work processes can be shortened from e g 18 to 12 months, which is a big advantage.”

The pods are segmented into three types of pods. Glass reinforced plastic pods, steel bathroom pods and others such as concrete bathroom pods. Partab’s pods are made of steel and concrete. working in construction it goes without saying to use pods and that has also been affected by that a lot of the work today is digital and starts long before the actual construction begins.”

You have worked for a long time with different property owners and hotel operators, among them Nordic Choice Hotels. What can you bring to that collaboration?

You also work with the development of hotel rooms and smaller apartments – tell us!

”We can add competence in material choice, even though we are not doing the design. Property owners and hotel operators can come to our showroom in Arlanda and look at and feel our materials. Apart from aesthetics we also contribute with technical knowledge - how to implement our solutions in the best manner.”

”It is a very small part of what we are doing today. We have done entire hotel modules and rooms. It is very interesting as it is not as complex as a bathroom, even though there are many installations in a hotel room. We believe in everything that is industrially fabricated, but sometimes that is not the right solution.”

The big question today within construction is sustainability. How do you work with that?

A tiling robot doing its job in the factory in Kalix.

At the beginning they were met with a lot of skepticism. Now there are many more players and the sector has gained recognition. ”When someone starts doing what we do they never go back – and a new market has been conquered. It is also a question of generations – for many

”It is possible to renovate our bathrooms. Since they are industrially made and have exact dimensions makes it easy to change the tiles e g. Lately there is a trend that the quality of tiles has improved, because of granite and ceramics that are of better quality. Probably the driver behind that is a demand for quality and long-lasting design and materials. People are more conscious of that today and want to have bathrooms that live longer.”

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In the hospitality industry Part is a forerunner. ”From a sustainability angle it is much better to build industrially – we don’t have a lot of waste and have perfect control of our materials. Today there are probably no new-built hotels where bathrooms are built traditionally, on the construction site.”

To be pioneers is a mark of honor for Anton Lundholm and his team at Part. ”We use to joke about that even though we are 15 years behind the car industry, we are at least 50 years ahead of the construction industry, Anton concludes.”

BATHROOM & SPA SPECIAL

The Evolution of Spa The everchanging spa industry reaches new record revenues all over the world. Scandinavia is a driving force behind the evolution, and in particular Sweden where new concepts have been developed recently. Meet Inge-Hanne Tegnander, Project Manager at Dornbracht and spa specialist, who shares some spa trends to look out for.

Tell us a little bit about the current situation in the spa industry!

The spa market is booming right now – especially in Sweden where there is a high degree of innovation when it comes to new concepts. I have been involved in 16 new spas in Scandinavia only the last 2-3 years.

What kind of spas are opening?

Today you can’t open a new spa without having a very distinct and unique concept, you really have to target your guest and why they should choose you.

Are there some distinct trends?

I see mainy 2 strong trends right now. The first is silence spas with innovative water treatments and impressions for all senses – “spa for the senses”. The focus here is on relaxation and calm. To put away all electronic devices and be introspective and let the mind rest. Relaxing, clearing your mind and getting away from it all has become the new luxury. The second trend is fun and glamorous spas where you go to enjoy and relax, have a glass of champagne and take selfies in the jacuzzi. Perfect for a romantic weekend with your spouse or for a group of friends. There are also many urban day spas in this segment. To these spas you can also bring your kids, which has become a big trend as well.

Another important tendency is that smaller spas are more in demand rather than larges spaces that can feel crowded and impersonal. This is in line with the silence trend as well as the need for a unique concept in order to stand out in today’s competitive spa market.

What are the trends in treatments?

There are more and more treatments with warm and cold water, this is really the new black. Treatments that have effect on your low or high blood pressure.

The latest sauna trend is the soft steam sauna with a temperature between 45 to 55 degrees Celsius. It does wonders for your skin and you can stay in there for a good 20-30 minutes as opposed to the Finnish sauna where you get out after 8 minutes – red like a lobster. The aroma sauna is developing more towards natural, more subtle, aromas such as herbs, wood etc. Another trend is that a spa guide takes you through an entire spa ritual that involves all your senses with experience showers, mud masks for the body and steam saunas with aromas and herbs. In Europe and especially in Germany the trend is toward more science based treatments and medical treatment spas, e g with Kneipp treatments.

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BATHROOM & SPA SPECIAL

Some of the spas within Nordic Choice Hotels: Strömstad Spa – Copperhill – Selma Spa

Coming spas in the portfolio:

Clarion Hotel Sundsvall – Clarion Hotel Karlatornet

The holistic Euphoria Spa is carved into the base of a mountain in Mystras, Greece.

The spa experience is a choreographed transition of spaces in which light, sound, temperature, humidity, textures, materials and smells create immersive sensory experiences. Designed by: decaARCHITECURE

Andrum Spa in Sweden. To create a space for the care of the body and soul was the intention when the Swedish Church launched their first spa ever. ”We want to have a holistic perspective that takes into account the entire human being: body, soul and spirit, says Pelle Sundelin, minister in the Diocese of Skåne.

Designed by: Johan Sundberg Arkitektur

The Retreat at Blue Lagoon is located in the heart of the Reykjanes UNESCO Global Geopark in Iceland. It encompasses a subterranean spa, geothermal lagoon, a restaurant that reimagines Iceland’s culinary traditions, and a 62-suite luxury hotel encircled by the Blue Lagoon’s mineral-rich waters.

Designed by: Basalt Architects and Design Group Italia.

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TRAVEL & DESIGN

A Few Moments With‌

Six Senses, Krabey Island

PATRICIA PARINEJAD

A RESTAURANT THAT YOU LOVE GOING BACK TO?

Berlin based photographer, journalist and producer Patricia Parinejad works on luxury hospitality and retail projects as a photographer and creative director. Currently she is working on a major book project about worldwide luxury hospitality projects with a strong focus on sustainability, while setting an example for contributing to responsible tourism.

There are many many in the world but my favorite restaurant at the moment is CANVAS in Bangkok, run by a young Texan chef, Riley Sanders, who cooks beyond imagination with the best flavors one can ever imagine! A must for every Bangkok visit.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE HOTEL?

As a photographer I get to see quite a lot through my continuous travels so it is really hard to choose but i can say it is Skye, island of fairies and rainbows. My heaven on earth, my Shangri-La. For so many years have I traveled the world, but for rarely my eyes have known as scene so stern, so powerful which no words can describe.

From jagged misty mountain heights to the ebb and flow of the encircling sea, the raw, elemental landscape of the Isle of Skye is the most enthralling and enchanting I have ever seen. I have become intrigued by my new discoveries, impressed by the history and the wildlife, the geology and the celtic heritage of this island. A very desirable place to live. A wooded place of richness with a mediterranean climate, seas full of fish and forests full of animals which allows seeing nature in the raw.

Giving a sense of beauty and magic, sensations that never fail to fill me with hope and optimism, feelings that can be curiously rare in a sometimes dreary world. My upcoming work assignments and journeys in 2020 will take me to Buthan, to the Arctic and to Nova Scotia where I will for sure discover more gems.

I just got back from Cambodia, where I produced and photographed a travel feature and I happened to shoot the new Six Senses on Krabey Island.

From its beginnings in 1995, Six Senses quickly became recognized as the hospitality industry’s pioneer of sustainable practices, demonstrating that uncompromisingly gorgeous hideaways can live in harmony with local communities and ecosystems while offering crafted guest experiences. Six Senses has shown that it is possible to enhance the guest experience by showing respect to nature.

I also loved its intimacy and lush vegetation.

AND YOUR FAVORITE MUSEUM?

I mostly judge museums for their architecture in the first place. One of my favorites is the Museum of modern Literature in Marbach, Germany by David Chipperfield. It occupies a site on the brow of the hill on a rock plateau overlooking the valley.

The entrance to the museum is a single-storey pavilion. The forecourt has an intimate spatial quality, combined with an external structure that reinterprets the classical form of the loggia with thin rectangular columns. Only artificial light illuminates the dark, timber-panelled exhibition spaces because of the fragility of the documents on display, but each gallery space is adjacent to a naturally lit room. The use of simple, solid materials such as concrete, reconstituted limestone, limestone, wood, felt and glass lends a clarity and directness to the building.

YOUR FAVOURITE DESTINATION?

THE BEST VACATION EVER?

Touring with my best girlfriend Caryn and my dog the french Atlantic coast for one month by car in 2018!

A DESIGNER THAT YOU ADMIRE?

Patricia Urquiola.

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Museum of modern Literature,Marbach

Canvas, Bangkok WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE NEXT BIG THING IN THE TRAVEL AND HOTEL INDUSTRY?

The travel industry is hopefully changing towards sustainability and responsible tourism. I am currently working on a major book project about luxury hospitality projects. Researching new and existing projects which fulfill these criterias are definitely on the rise.

TRAVEL & DESIGN

The Waterhouse At South Bund, Shanghai

Palazzo Ducale in Venice, Italy

REIULF RAMSTAD

YOUR FAVORITE CITY?

Reiulf is the founder of Reiulf Ramstad Architects, an independent Oslo-based architectural firm with a high level of expert knowledge and a distinct ideology, having a reputation for creating bold, simple architecture with a strong connection to the Scandinavian context.

Difficult question. There are many of them- I love cities with contemporary pulse and historic depth.

Since I lived in Venice for many years - the magic relation to the water is unique – but with sadly aggressive tourism and the global climate change suppresses its inner soul.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE HOTEL?

THE BEST VACATION EVER?

Most hotels these days are “could have been anywhere” dull. I like original hotels with a quality which makes your stay memorable. There are many interesting places to stay in the world. Today I recall The Waterhouse at South Bund, Shanghai.

When it was new it was groundbreaking.

I don’t distinguish between time and spare time - I love my life so it’s hard to nail any favorite time.

A DESIGNER THAT YOU ADMIRE?

THE BEST MUSEUM ACCORDING TO YOU?

ONE SPOT NOT TO MISS WHILE IN YOUR HOMETOWN OSLO?

Sir John Soane’s Museum in London. A tiny museum about a fascinating London personality in the 1700’s. The unusual and unique home of Sir John Soane, eccentric architect of the Bank of England.

There are many great designers from history as well as living in the present. I’m particular fond of Burle Marx, a Brazilian landscape architect.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE BUILDING?

Theatercaféen - though the food is not particular the atmosphere is unique and has been the same since my childhood - the most continental spot in Norway.

Palazzo Ducale in Venice with its thousands of rooms and millions of stories.

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE NEXT BIG THING IN THE TRAVEL & HOTEL INDUSTRY?

A PLACE THAT YOU HAVEN’T BEEN TO BUT WOULD LIKE TO VISIT?

I am not sure, but hope: Less alienating fake luxury, more place specific truly environmentally friendly design.

Bhutan - maybe because it is supposed to be the only carbon negative country in the world?

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Roberto Burle Marx

TRAVEL & DESIGN

1hotel in Brooklyn, New York

ADAM ROLSTON

Adam Rolston is managing partner of New York-based INC, an open source, multi-disciplinary, architecture and design studio. He has been engaged in the practice of architecture since 1985, was born and raised in Los Angeles and attended Syracuse University School of Architecture, where he studied both in Syracuse and in Italy under the influence of the northern Italian Rationalism.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE HOTEL?

Of course, the 1Hotel in Brooklyn Bridge Park. We designed it so, I am biased. The 1Hotel brand’s sustainable mission aligns with our values. Its urban barefoot luxury is how we want to live now.

THE BEST MUSEUM ACCORDING TO YOU?

Azulik Uh May in middle of the jungle in Tulum Mexico is by far the most groundbreaking museum I’ve seen in recent memory. Museums need to be reinvented. We are less and less interested in the acquisition of objects and more interested in transformative experiences. Azulik Ah May was made the performance of art, not its consumption.

It is the anti-white box.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE BUILDING?

My own cabin in the woods, because it brings me such peace and comfort. As an urbanite living in one of the densest cities on the planet, I am grateful for the privilege of connecting back to nature at my little glass cabin in the woods.

A PLACE THAT YOU HAVEN’T BEEN TO BUT WOULD LIKE TO VISIT?

I’m dying to go to Istanbul and Ephesus. Istanbul has become a design, art and food culture mecca over the last decade. It is also interestingly the bridge between Europe and Asia. Its cultural hybridity seems fascinating. And Ephesus is the birthplace of the first philosopher, Heraclitus, who

famously wrote: ”No man ever steps in the same rive twice”.

A DESIGNER (AND PRODUCT) THAT YOU ADMIRE?

I know it’s a cliché but Alvar Aalto is my patron saint. He was able to design big to small, part to whole and architecture to interiors unlike any other. His Artek 68 Stacking Chair is a remarkable object that combines engineering, sculptural form and functionality seamlessly. He also understood biophilic design long before it had a name.

ONE SPOT NOT TO MISS WHILE IN YOUR HOMETOWN NEW YORK?

Rather obviously the Guggenheim. It is our greatest architectural treasure. Organic, groundbreaking and iconoclastic, the Guggenheim was conceived of as a ”temple of the spirit” by Hilla von Rebay, the director responsible for giving the commission to Frank Lloyd Wright.

Artek Chair 68 by Alvar Aalto

A DESTINATION THAT HAS A SPECIAL PLACE IN YOUR HEART?

The New York Grand Central Oyster Bar. When I was 18, I sat at the lunch counter with my father and watched the counter-cook prepare a New England clam chowder while my father told the story of his first visit to the Oyster Bar with his father.

That’s American history at its best.

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE NEXT BIG THING IN THE TRAVEL & HOTEL INDUSTRY?

There is no question, that ”experience” travel is the future. Human connection is the new luxury. In our newly hyper-connected and ultimately disconnected world, we now crave shared experience.

The hospitality brands that can figure out how to facilitate real human community and connection in the context of meaningful shared experiences will dominate.

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Grand Central Oyster Bar, New York

TRAVEL & DESIGN

The Culture tower, Copenhagen

The Broad, Los Angeles

NINA BRUUN Nina Bruun is a Danish designer and consultant who holds a Master’s degree in Furniture and Spatial Design from the Royal Danish Academy of Design. Nina has carved out a niche on the Nordic design scene as a leading source on interior trends, color knowledge and design forecasting as evidenced in several features including Wallpaper, Design Milk, Herald Tribune, Washington Post and many others.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE HOTEL?

A PLACE THAT YOU HAVEN’T BEEN BUT WOULD LIKE TO VISIT?

I’m really keen on visiting Greenland. I’m a devoted fan of nature and I love to feel small in a big world!

YOUR FAVORITE CITY?

Milan is probably my favourite city. I visit Italy several times a year and at least one of those trips goes to Milan. Salone del Mobile in April is the most important week in my industry and I’m not complaining about the location. I absolutely love the Italien cuisine, culture and people.

The American Colony in Jerusalem. Simply because I get thrown back in time when visiting.

It’s like time stands still here, you live in a bubble where it’s possible to really breath while getting an understanding of what’s happening around you.

Besides, the level of service is quite extraordinary without being pushy.

THE BEST VACATION EVER?

THE BEST MUSEUM ACCORDING TO YOU?

Naoto Fukasawa, I love his expression. His CD player for Muji is just brilliant and even though the function itself is already outdated, his understanding of shape and expression is absolutely futuristic.

I’m quite fascinated with The Broad in Los Angeles. I think it’s an art piece in itself and at the same time the building leaves the perfect space around the art that it contains.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE BUILDING?

Kulturtårnet (The Culture tower) on Knippelsbro, Copenhagen. It used to be a bridge tower but now it’s transformed into an institution of culture where art, music, podcasts, talks and gastronomy is presented to the public.

material library, creative work and event space, The Audo combines design, work-life, hospitality and community in one.

WHAT DO YOU THINK IS THE NEXT BIG THING IN THE TRAVEL & HOTEL INDUSTRY?

I believe in a more environmental approach - both in terms of destination and the products we surround us with when traveling. In addition, I believe in a far more personalised experience where the vacation will be tailored to you and your needs instead of offering the same package deal

This is a tricky question and I would rather tell, what makes a vacation great. To me, the most important is the company, the food, the surrounding and being able to understand how life is for the locals at the area.

A DESIGNER (AND PRODUCT) THAT YOU ADMIRE?

ONE SPOT NOT TO MISS WHILE IN YOUR HOMETOWN COPENHAGEN?

The Audo. It’s a new hybrid space in Copenhagen facilitating and celebrating human interaction and connection, as well as artistic expression. As a hotel residence, restaurant, café, concept store,

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The American Colony, Jerusalem

TRAVEL & DESIGN

Nordic Collectible Design

All of a sudden Nordic collectible design is on everybody’s radar, with a market that is currently expanding and receiving a great deal of international attention. What is collectible design? It could be described as an object of a certain quality worth collecting. It’s not for the mass market and the designer is free to experiment with a personal

approach as well as exploring the functional and sculptural aspects of objects. The focus is on process, shape, materials, craftmanship and concept. Limited or unique pieces created in total freedom and with a potential for a market once it’s sold from the gallery. Here are some of the personalities that are defining the current scene in Scandinavia.

Hilda Hellström,

Sigve Knutson,

Fredrik Paulsen,

The Swedish-born, Copenhagen-based designer Hilda Hellström’s practice is grounded in a profound interest in narratives and how they shape our perception of nature and the materials surrounding us. She works to question and break down traditional material hierarchies and categories, blurring the lines between what we consider ‘real’ or ‘natural’ and man-made or artificial. It has always been difficult to define whether Hellström belongs to the world of art or design. “By dismantling the conventional categories of material and craft, Hellström has left tradition, and thereby definition.

Always in process, and refusing to be defined, her works become beautiful hybrids existing in their own right, as imaginary solutions.”

Knutson is an experimental designer based in Oslo. A graduate of Design Academy Eindhoven, the Norwegian has risen to prominence in recent years for a body of work that straddles the worlds of craft, design, and art, often blurring or blending the boundaries between the disciplines. In the Netherlands he found the freedom to think of himself as a designer; in Norway his output is defined more narrowly as craft. Other people’s pragmatism belies his childlike approach and the sense of wonder with which he approaches raw materials. His practice is motivated by a fascination for the intuitive and playful rather than the smoothened and planned. “There are enough people striving for perfection in their object making. I know that I’m not capable of that, which is sort of liberating. I prefer, since I’m an amateur, if the audience sees me as an amateur as well.”

Genre-defying Fredrik Paulsen is known for his capacity to navigate the borders between design and art. Paulsen takes an experimental and multidisciplinary approach to the work he does in his studio in Örnsberg, just south of Stockholm. He creates oneoff objects in a blaze of color, elevating cheap materials with artisanal care.

For recently renovated Nordic Light Hotel he was commissioned to design products for the public areas with a quiet Nordic expression, together with a group of designers. Paulsen designed the pendant lamp C/O and a table in anodized aluminum and limestone from Öland. ”I think contradictions are interesting and I wanted to create a luminaire that was both simple and expressive at the same time”, says Fredrik. The chromed metal reflects the arch and creates a partially immaterial circle that encloses the light source.”

designer

GALLERIES & MARKET PLACES FOR COLLECTIBLE DESIGN:

designer

designer

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Etage Projects, Copenhagen • Galleri Format, Oslo Berg Gallery, Stockholm LOKAL, Helsinki Sirin Gallery, Copenhagen RAM Galleri, Oslo Adorno, online only

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TRAVEL & DESIGN

Hilda Hellström

Sigve Knutson

Pendant lamp ”C/O”. Design by Fredrik Paulsen in cooperation with Ateljé Lyktan for Nordic Light Hotel.

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Series 430 Chair by Verner Panton.

www.verpan.com

TRAVEL & DESIGN

Going Off the Grid The perfect hideaway located in remote places in the mountains, the woods or by the sea has become the new luxury.

Places for disconnecting, getting away from it all and reconnect with yourself and nature are definitely here to stay.

A plethora of new, innovative hotels, lodges and landscape hotels are carving out a new niche, many of them targeting

young demographics who feel they need help to slow down and enter a state of calm. Location, design and unique concepts rule these newcomers – that could be just kilometers from your doorstep or placed at the end of the world.

Here are 5 hot hideaways.

STEDSANS IN THE WOODS, BOHULT, SWEDEN

Stedsans describe themselves as ”a lifestyle lab, creating solutions for a truly sustainable and happy life connected to nature. Humans are nature. We evolved in nature.” Stedsans is is an ongoing project from Mette Helbæk and Flemming Hansen, who recently sold their Copenhagen home and rooftop restaurant, Stedsans ØsterGRO, and moved their family to a seven-hectare plot of forest next to Lake Halla in West Sweden. Guests sleep in tents under the stars and pluck ingredients from the wild to the daily-changing menus.

LE BARN, RAMBOUILLET, FRANCE

Le Barn is situated just 40 minutes outside of central Paris in the Forest of Rambouillet, which sprawls across 20,000 hectares of land. A place where city dwellers could escape the world and be ”immediately in touch with the changing seasons, the great outdoors, and local wildlife”. The guest suites are set inside a handful of previously disused 19th-century farm buildings on the site of Haras de La Cense, an equestrian learning centre and stud farm.

SACROMONTE LANDSCAPE HOTEL, SACROMONTE, URUGUAY

Guests at the Sacromonte Landscape Hotel have the opportunity to try fine wines in the remote natural setting of the wild sierras of eastern Uruguay. Sophistication and the rudimentary coexist at the Sacromonte Landscape Hotel. The hotel suites stand on the 101-hectare Sacromonte vineyard, which is set within a valley of of dense grassland crossed by streams. The hotel comprises 13 prefabricated cabins dotted across the vast vineyard in Maldonado, Uruguay, so that guests can enjoy unique perspectives of the verdant surroundings. Mirrored glass and sliced logs form the facades of the guest suites.

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TRAVEL & DESIGN

BLACKBERRY MOUNTAIN, TENNESSEE, USA

Spanning 5,200 acres of the Great Smoky Mountains, Blackberry Mountain offers deluxe lodgings and a serene escape from the stresses of modern life in a private national park setting. The mountain hotel opened in 2018 prioritises overall wellness, outdoor adventure and inner serenity. The 36 rooms take the form of cabins and cottages designed with nature in mind, places to unplug from the world and reconnect with oneself. There are plenty of mind-expanding endeavors to sample—trail biking, endurance climbing, chanterelle foraging, forest bathing.

MANSHAUSEN ISLAND RESORT, NORDSKOT, NORWAY

The resort on the remote island of Manshausen, which was once a trading post for the fishing community, is an eco-retreat founded

by Børge Ousland, the Norwegian polar explorer who was the first person to cross the Arctic solo. Stinessen Arkitektur’s design of the resort – made up of a total of seven cabins and a sauna – was inspired by Manshausen Island’s Arctic Circle location, surrounded by mountains and the Barents Sea. A renovated farmhouse dating from the 18th century that has been converted into a library and restaurant also help to make up the resort. Three new cabins join the original four cabins, which are located on the stone quays are perched on a rocky outcrop on the northern edge of the island, looking out over the Barents Sea.

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Utstyr for profesjonelle kjøkken www.metos.no Kontakt oss på tlf 92428860 metos.norway@metos.no

Inspirasjon fra vår leverandør Ambach og deres leveranse til det vakre Andaz Xintoandi hotel i Shanghai

en sida annons

TRAVEL & DESIGN

HOT HOSPITALITY FOR A NEW DECADE

A COLLECTION OF SOME OF OUR FAVORITE NEW AND SOON-TO-OPEN HOTELS AROUND THE WORLD.

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#1 COUR DES VOSGES, PARIS, FRANCE The stunning Place des Vosges in Paris was originally conceived by King Henri IV as a royal square, its elegant arcades and symmetrical brick houses inaugurated in 1612 to celebrate the engagement of Louis XIII and Anne of Austria. Cour des Vosges occupies a hôtel particulier, or nobleman’s mansion, that’s a classified historic site situated in the royal square. There are just 12 rooms and

suites, most with kitchenettes, designed by Lecoadic-Scotto as Parisian apartments mixing 1970’s glam with heritage details, like 17th-century timber beams and painted wood ceilings. #2 VIRGIN VOYAGES LADY SCARLET, MIAMI, USA The ever evolving Virgin now launches the cruise line Virgin Voyages under the tagline

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“the cruise line for people who wouldn’t typically consider cruising. “The ship has a no-kids-allowed policy, and are designed to cater to a younger, millennial audience.

Passengers will be allowed to shake their device to get Champagne delivered on demand, stop by the onboard Squid Ink tattoo parlor or go to a drag-queen brunch. The maiden voyage is set for April 1, 2020.

TRAVEL & DESIGN

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#3 ACE HOTEL KYOTO, KYOTO, JAPAN Ace Hotel Kyoto is set to be a monument to the city’s abundance of art, nature, everevolving culture, sophistication of craft and profound history. Located a short walk from the landmark Nijō Castle, the neighborhood around the hotel sits on the former grounds of the imperial palace and is rumored to once have been the home of a Japanese samurai. Designed in collaboration with Commune Design and with world-renowned Kengo Kuma as architect, Ace Hotel Kyoto is created in honest dialog with the city’s past and future legends. #4 THE AUDO, COPENHAGEN, DENMARK The Audo is a hybrid concept, consisting of boutique hotel, café, co-working space and a concept store. Design brand Menu has

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teamed up with architecture studio Norm Architects on The Audo, a 10-room hotel in Copenhagen where cosy, earth-toned guest suites double up as show spaces for new furniture and homeware. The hotel occupies a 1918 building in Nordhavn – an industrial part of Copenhagen that’s home to the city’s port and cruise docks. Its name is an acronym of the Latin phrase ”ab uno disce omnes ”– which translates as ”from one, learn all” – and a nod to the hotel’s multifunctional space #5 PALAZZO EXPERIMENTAL, VENICE, ITALY Occupying a renaissance-era palace, the hotel is located in Venice’s Dorsoduro neighbourhood. Set away from the city’s main tourist hubbub, the area is populated with unpretentious bars, eateries and vintage

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boutiques. Marble furnishings, lagooncoloured walls and arched doorways are among the features that Dorothée Meilichzon has incorporated in the interiors of this 32-key hotel, which is meant to mirror its surroundings. #6 SISTER CITY, NEW YORK CITY, USA Inspired by the philosophy of less but better and distilled to its most beautiful parts, Sister City brings something new to the always interesting Manhattan hotel market.

Created by the people behind Ace Hotel and inspired by the functional perfection of Finnish saunas, Japanese bento boxes, rockcut cliff dwellings of prehistory and John Cage’s 4’33”, Sister City offers 200 intimate, efficient rooms, a ground-floor restaurant and a rooftop bar right on Bowery, on Manhattan’s lower East Side.

TRAVEL & DESIGN

B O O K

L O V E

ARCHITECTURAL DIGEST AT 100

A CENTURY OF STYLE INTRODUCTION BY AMY ASTLEY, FOREWORD BY ANNA WINTOUR

Abrams Books This book celebrates the best from the pages of the international design authority. The editors have delved into the archives and culled years of rich material covering a range of subjects. Ranging freely between present and past, the book features the personal spaces of dozens of private celebrities like Barack and Michelle Obama, David Bowie, David Hockney, and Diana Vreeland, and includes the work of top designers and architects like Frank Gehry, David Hicks, India Mahdavi, Peter Marino, Oscar Niemeyer, Axel Vervoordt, Frank Lloyd Wright, and Elsie de Wolfe. interiors and restaurants, lavish gardens and pools.

NORTHERN COMFORT EDITOR: AUSTIN SAILSBURY

BON VOYAGE

BOUTIQUE HOTELS FOR THE CONSCIOUS TRAVELER EDITORS: GESTALTEN AND CLARA LE FORT

Gestalten This is the book we have been waiting for. Bon Voyage invites you to explore places fusing worldclass hospitality with a conscious and sustainable approach and teaches how to make a difference when you travel. Journalist Clara Le Fort specializes in luxury and sustainability travel. She is an editor for French and international publications and spends most of her time travelling to unspoiled locations where nature is preserved.

Gestalten The Nordic art of life has become a role model for the good life around the globe. Scandinavian design is synonymous with cozy homes and architecture that combine style with tradition, indoors with outdoors, and natural materials with rich colors.

This book brings together the people and ideas that best embody this way of life, focusing on interior design while also venturing into the outdoors, the kitchen, and the atelier.

KELLY WEARSTLER: EVOCATIVE STYLE KELLY WEARSTLER AND RIMA SUQI

Rizzoli USA Celebrated for luxurious interiors that capture the swankiness of old-world Hollywood with a modern pop sensibility, interior designer Wearstler is known for her decadent designs of residences and boutique hotels, such as the line of Viceroys and the tastemakers Maison 140 and Avalon. Her ornate interiors are distinctive for layers of bold textures, patterns, and rich colors juxtaposed with lustrous surfaces, adding up to a whimsical and elegant look that has been called ”mod baroque.”

BRICKS & BROWNSTONE

BY C. LOCKWOOD, P. W. CICCONE & J. D. TAYLOR

Rizzoli USA The much-awaited re-issue of the classic New York row-house book Bricks and Brownstone. examines in depth the changing form and varied architectural styles of the much-loved New York City brownstone. The landmark volume traces New York’s row houses from colonial days through styles of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

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TRAVEL & DESIGN

B O O K

L O V E REMOTE PLACES TO STAY

THE MOST UNIQUE PLACES AT THE END OF THE WORLD EDITORS: DEBBIE PAPPYN & DAVID DE VLEESCHAUWER

Gestalten Discover magical, remote locations around the world, from Africa to the Arctic, that will help you disconnect from modern life and enter a state of wonder.

In this turbulent era of disruption and noise, it has become ever more crucial to disconnect and slow down. Remote Places to Stay shares 22 out-of-the-way places where you can get off the grid and reconnect to the essentials, surrounded by raw, pristine nature. Some remote places are only accessible by foot, others by mountain train, small boat, or bush plane—but they are all places with a very strong sense of space.

AB CONCEPT

BY PAOLA SINGER

Assouline Integrating minimalist interiors into bold interpretations of traditional architectural forms, AB Concept has been hailed as one of the most innovative and acclaimed design firms not only in Asia but across the world, thanks to its forward-thinking leaders Ed Ng and Terence Ngan. The studio is a leader in both architectural and interior design, consulting for luxury brands such as the Four Seasons, Rosewood, Mandarin Oriental, Shangri-La Hotels. Hand-sketching and designing each component and often conceptualizing and fabricating bespoke furniture, the duo’s work is characterized by attention to detail, personal touch, and fine craftsmanship.

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Discover the Outdoor Collection

Ribes seat system, Erica ’19 armchairs. Design Antonio Citterio. www.bebitalia.com Verkstedveien 1 / Drammensveien 134, Skøyen Norway T. 23 13 13 40 - expo-nova.no Proud Supplier of Nordic Choice Hotels: Clarion Post Hotel, The Thief, Christiania Teater, Quality Fornebu, Quality Friends, Clarion Sense, Clarion Stockholm, Clarion Hotel Helsinki, Clarion Helsinki Airport