Design : LiLLa RobeRts
Guestroom suites feature many dark tones and the use of the animal motif for lighting , which can be found throughout the hotel .
Varied textures and finishes come into play at the lobby ’ s wellstocked fireplace
Private suite dining in dramatic style with big , rounded windows
A lobby bar encourages interaction with multiple seating options and big daylight through large windows .
The brief given to architect and project designer Jaakko Puro was to reference the building ’ s history , but embrace current-day comforts . “ We were able to play with the different nuances of different eras ,” Puro says . “ The pillars in the lobby and the animal motifs hark back to the colonial period , the colors and interiors are otherwise pure Art Deco , and the light and space and large glass surfaces echo modern architecture with a nod to furniture from the 1930s and 1950s .”
But all design elements , says Puro , come back to making the customer feel special . “ The functionality of the hotel and the ecological aspects of the design haven ’ t posed obstacles to the fact that the customer will enjoy every little bit of the lobby , bar , restaurant or the rooms ,” he says .
The lobby and the hotel rooms are a world unto themselves , separate from the Art Deco-inspired exterior with facades carefully restored to their former glory and lit with modern lighting .
Puro says the old windows were restored and kept where possible . The new gates , entrances and doors have been built to embody the spirit of Art Deco , whereas the old building , with its varied details , gives the whole a special atmosphere : high ceilings , tall , curved windows with multiple windowpanes , the uniqueness of each room and the bathrooms with windows all echo the original architecture . “ Yet the design does not specifically highlight the
www . hotelsmag . com December 2015 HOTELS 43