Hotel of the Month, Sweden
The hotel of the future The hotel concept has barely evolved since the 19th century, but Hobo has set out to change all that. In addition to smart design and sustainability, this Stockholm-based hotel is founded on the philosophy of providing not only a great place to stay, but a meeting point for people and ideas. By Liz Longden | Photos: Sofia Castensson
‘Like a hotel room’ has probably not traditionally been a look or feel that many people would aspire to. But then Hobo is not a traditional hotel. It stands out from the crowd with individually designed rooms, which combine a relaxed, contemporary feel with smart technology and clever functionality. And where others might go for formal, Hobo opts for a touch of fun — along with umbrellas, city maps and tote bags, guests are also provided with a pocket synthesiser to 108 | Issue 125 | June 2019
borrow for the duration of their stay. This is a hotel that takes the cliché of hotels as impersonal and generic and throws it gleefully out of the window. Aesthetics are not the only thing that Hobo aims to challenge, however. Arguably more important is its ambition to redefine what a hotel should be. “Our inspiration basically comes from our belief that people today don’t simply want to be spectators, but want to be a
part of where they live, whether that be a town or a hotel,” says managing director Mattias Stengl. Their intention, he says, is to create not just a hotel, but a community. “We work with other start-ups and creative individuals to make Hobo a place where people meet, both locals and guests, and that’s a responsibility that stretches far beyond just the hotel room. This is a place where people can listen to a talk, dance, share ideas in a workshop, eat, drink or sleep.”
Diversity and exchange An example of this philosophy in practice is SPACEby. An area measuring nine cubic metres, situated in prime position next to the hotel reception, it is loaned out to start-ups, artists or designers to