Nobis Hotel in Stockholm

Claesson, Koivisto and Rune unite the appeal and comfort of other times with contemporary style and language.

"Less, but better", the "necessary" project at Agorà Design

The festival dedicated to conscious design returns to Salento: conferences, events, workshops and a challenge for the designers of today and tomorrow.

Sponsored content

In central Stockholm's financial and shopping district, two adjacent historic buildings dating from the 19th century house the large Nobis Hotel, designed by the Swedish office Claesson Koivisto Rune Architects. This large and complex project was developed by a creative team in almost two years of work. At the base of the project is thinking about how to recreate the charm and comforts of 19th century hotels in a modern structure.

The challenge can be summarized as follows: neo-classicism versus modernism? Or even more simply, how to offer the charm of velvets, heavy curtains, carpets and gilding using contemporary materials, language and style? "We tried to create the first modern 'grand hotel,'" explains the designer. This is not the first time that Claesson Koivisto Rune has worked on the theme of the hotel. The Swedish trio has designed two other hotel projects: the public spaces in the Kaiyo Hotel in Tokyo (2008) and the Skeppsholmen Hotel in Stockholm (2009).

The personal experiences gained by the three architects while travelling, especially for work when the hotel is not a choice but a necessity, helped them focus on the fundamentals of the project. All elements that were considered to be too surprising were banned, because in the long run they thought they could been irritating. Just as they avoided designing rooms that were completely different from one another because they would not guarantee uniformity; and change, in and of itself, is not necessarily a plus.

However, they did admit a touch of eccentricity. Functionality is at the heart of the project: everything must be easily accessible and usable.

Claesson Koivisto Rune defines itself as a multi-disciplinary office. They have designed architecture, interiors, public and private spaces and many, many design objects, working with international companies. Some examples? Arflex, Asplund, Boffi, Cappellini, Cinova, De Vecchi, Thonet Vienna, Ittala, Grattarola, Living Divani, Offect, Paola Lenti, Fornasarig, Swedese, Wästberg. The list is long and it is their very experience as designers that explains their attention to detail. Colours and light are inspired by the Stockholm winter, when looking at the skyline one perceives a monochromatic image with soft shadows with fuzzily defined edges. This warm and apparently subdued style was christened "Skandinavian dark blond."

With four different lounge areas and a pleasant mix of armchairs and sofas, shapes and colors, the space can accommodate over 50 people.

Colors and tone-on-tone combinations, patterns and small designs with an architectural inspiration: at first glance, seen from afar, they seem to be solid colors revealing their decoration only when close up. This is true for the carpeting in the corridors, the wallpaper in the conference area and the curtains in the rooms. The atmosphere in the rooms, with bathrooms in Carrara marble, is elegantly casual and relaxing. No object is repeated more than once. Even the two bedside lamps are different, as might occur in a private home where the decor is formed over time. Many furnishings are custom designed, not only in the rooms themselves but throughout the hotel. In numbers, the project consists of two large buildings with a total of 201 rooms, 115 variants, including a section of suites which maintained the existing features protected by the fine-arts commission such as stuccos and wood panelling.

The Gold Bar, with vintage mirrors on the walls and ceiling that create a play of golden reflections.

All the public areas are very particular and, while they are very different from one another, they flow together harmoniously. The entrance, facing the large original staircase, leads on one side to the French-inspired bistro, open 24 hours a day seven days a week, with its large windows looking onto the square, and on the other to the lobby and reception area. The most scenographic space is undoubtedly the central lounge area, introduced into the main building's former courtyard; it is an enclosed space measuring approximately 220 square meters and 25 meters in height. With four different lounge areas and a pleasant mix of armchairs and sofas, shapes and colors, the space can accommodate over 50 people.

Left: the Italian restaurant Caina. Right: the French-inspired bistrot.

The Gold Bar, with vintage mirrors on the walls and ceiling that create a play of golden reflections, is accessible from the lounge. Not missing is a restaurant - an Italian trattoria, the Caina, located on the floor below, with one side finished in wood panelling and the other covered with curtains. The relaxation area, entirely in Carrara marble, is accessed from the rear of the reception area as are the adjacent gym, sauna and steam bath. An outdoor cafe has recently been opened; it looks onto a square often animated by theatrical performances and food and flower markets. Cecilia Fabiani