1 Hotel Copenhagen: a nature-inspired city sanctuary
Today I’m taking you on a virtual visit to Copenhagen to look around the first Nordic branch of international chain 1 Hotel, which has recently opened its doors in the heart of the Danish capital. The interiors are the work of Norm Architects and they’re a fantastic example of biophilic design (design that reconnects us with nature) – a personal passion of mine and indeed the focus of my latest book.
It turns out I’ve actually stayed in the building myself under its previous incarnation, the rather glamorous Hotel Skt. Petri, but such is the scale of the transformation since the 1 brand acquired it that it took me a while to realise. Located in Copenhagen’s Latin Quarter, near the iconic Round Tower, it occupies a former department store designed in 1928 by renowned architect Vilhelm Lauritzen. From the outside, it’s all Modernist concrete and gleaming glass, but step inside and you’re now greeted by a calm city sanctuary where natural references are woven into every element.
Throughout, the hotel is decorated in a palette of tone-on-tone neutrals, creating a tranquil, enveloping atmosphere that’s all about rest and relaxation. The 282 guest rooms are shaped by a warm tactility, with raw timber panelling, snuggly upholstery, organic linens and fabric-covered headboards and wardrobe doors softening the architectural lines. Adorning the walls are textural artworks made from woven paper cord or sculpted plaster; the latter is also used for the bedside pendant lamps, which cast a diffused, ambient glow.
The bathrooms are separated from the sleeping areas by reeded-glass partitions, setting up a subtle contrast with the natural materials and creating privacy without blocking the flow of light. Large rainfall showers, freestanding oval bathtubs and stone wall tiles form cossetting spa-like retreats, with brick flooring adding a grounding, earthy warmth underfoot.
The larger rooms have sofas or reading nooks; there are also suites complete with living areas, dining tables and kitchenettes. The timber-fronted units and stone counters echo the finishes in the bedrooms, while chunky fringed rugs, leafy potted plants, book-laden coffee tables and open shelves styled with ceramics create a cosy, home-from-home feel.
The lobby and communal areas, dominated by marble and metal in the Skt. Petri days, are now havens of reclaimed wood, trailing greenery and natural stone. The former escalator has been replaced by a timber staircase, flanked by lush foliage and roughly hewn boulders that speak of landscapes and forests. Fluttering fabric panels reminiscent of Japanese noren enhance the serene, sensory experience, as do wall hangings crafted from dried grasses by Copenhagen-based artist Sara Martinsen.
1 Hotel’s biggest appeal for me, though, is the fact that many of the rooms and suites have private balconies or terraces. I can’t think of a better way to start and end each day than sitting back with a coffee or a glass of wine, gazing over Copenhagen’s red-tiled rooftops and green copper spires. It’s a rare feature even among the city’s highest-end hotels, and it means this place has shot to the top of my wish list for the next time I’m in town.
Book a stay at 1 Hotel Copenhagen here.
All photography courtesy of Norm Architects
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