B
asically, nothing went according to plan,” states CEO of Nordic Hotels & Resorts (NH&R) Petter Stordalen in his usual straight-talking manner. “The complexity of the project grew, but the potential rose with the investments,” he continues ambitiously. Catarina Molén-Runnäs, Chief Property Officer, Nordic Choice Hospitality Group describes just how complex the project was: “We have developed two hotels, four bars, three restaurants, one café and one conference department with four interior designers and three architects – in one project!” So how do the designers feel about the project? Hannah Carter Owers, Director at Universal Design Studio, the creators of At Six, talks of the challenges of the volume of production versus timelines and the coordination of many, many suppliers and makers. “But hotels like these work when they feel layered,” she explains. “And to achieve that you need a lot of players involved.” Werner Aisslinger, together with Tina Bunyprasit and Monika Losos at Studio Aisslinger, are responsible for Hobo’s design and experienced a fairly fluid process of change as the design progressed. “Projects like Hobo only arrive at a certain point when there is a prosperous ‘ping-pong’ of ideas and discussions between the designers and clients,” explains Aisslinger. A ping-pong described by Mattias Stengl, General Manager of Hobo as a “super-fun ongoing dialogue” which, for example, led to the idea of a barbershop being dropped in favour of an ever-changing pop-up space that required a design alteration to produce Stockholm’s most creative 6m2. Co-operation is an essential part of any such project agrees Helena Toresson, Senior Lead Architect at Wingårdhs responsible for the Tak rooftop restaurant. “The combination of a high
level of ambition and a tight time schedule has been a challenge,” she states. “But everyone involved in the project has really made an effort to make the design vision come true.” Carter Owers sees similarly that “for a project of this scale and complexity we have had to deal with very little compromise – amazingly.” Indeed Ulrika Kjellström Attar, co-founder of concept and brand development agency Atmosfär by Attar who were closely involved in the process of selecting the designers, also saw “the vision at the beginning of the project very much what is being materialised.” But of course there were compromises in a project of this scale – the decision for a larger gym
redefined as curated, chosen, taking care of the details important to guests.” Meanwhile Stordalen argues that the ambition to combine the rooftop restaurant with an outdoor park instead of building more suites is an important statement in making the project unique. “We wanted to create something that everyone can benefit from,” he explains. As at NH&R’s The Thief in Oslo, a gamechanger for that market, art curator Sune Nordgren has selected unique art for each guestroom in At Six. Carter Owers describes the dialogue with Nordgren leading to the building of spaces and experiences around commissions and collected works. “I can’t wait to see the sculpture commission by Jaume Plensa installed on our white granite grand staircase in the hotel lobby!” she enthuses of the white marble head measuring 2.5-metres high. Jennie Håkanson, General Manager of At Six agrees: “I hope we’ve created a hotel where interior design really is interwoven in every detail with world-class art.” With the opening of the hotels a matter of weeks away, Carter Owers sees At Six reshaping the hotel landscape in Stockholm, offering an international perspective on luxury lifestyle design. Aisslinger similarly envisages Hobo “pioneering a new hotel typology for the city”. The last word goes to Stordalen: “My expectations are enormous. But based on the amount of effort, resources and expertise we have put into this project, there is no doubt both guests and employees will be satisfied with the results on opening day. I can’t wait!”
“Based on the amount of effort, resources and expertise we have put into this project, there is no doubt both guests and employees will be satisfied with the results on opening day.” Petter Stordalen, Nordic Hotels & Resorts
rather than a sub-optimal sized spa in At Six is itself an interesting observation for a project aiming to be top notch. Aisslinger describes inevitable compromises, be that from an operational point of view or certain constraints from the investor, but asserts the ability to adapt is only possible with “ambitious and risk-taking clients like NH&R who are able to follow such an evolution”. The consensus from all players is that, what is being created in the previously under-loved Brunkebergstorg part of town is unique. “The true legacy of this project is that our hotels are a driving force in the whole reawakening of the square,” affirms Jenny Edh Jansen, Head of Communications for both hotels. Molén-Runnäs sees that luxury in Stockholm will no longer be synonymous with grand hotels – “it will be
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In our next issue, At Six and Hobo will be reviewed in full following their opening in late March. Find out how things really shape up once guests start arriving.