The first 25hours hotel in Scandinavia has opened its doors in the Danish capital, decked out in everything other than Nordic chic. Erected in the 19th century, the establishment once housed a
porcelain factory and was later used as a university building. 25hours created the hotel in collaboration with the local architects from BPP Arkitekter and Martin Brudnizki Design Studio, a firm of interior designers from London. Their combined efforts teased out and reinvigorated the architectural quality of the building. Guests drift constantly through periods in Copenhagen’s history and find themselves transported back into a bygone era – both indoors and out. Innumerable new elements are nonetheless visible throughout the building complex. A stroll through the 25hours Hotel Indre inevitably means a juxtaposition of the old and the new. This design has created a fascinating, dichotomous arena that delivers a wealth of contrasting experiences.
Whether it’s the Vinyl Lounge or the Love Library, hidden places are secreted all over the hotel, waiting to be discovered. The Assembly Hall is the central gathering point and the perfect spot for a quick coffee in the morning, a snack after a saunter through the city or a drink before diving into Copenhagen’s nightlife. The NENI restaurant and Café Duse are the perfect places to socialise for hotel guests and locals alike, and the Boilerman Bar in the basement is a great venue for relaxed evenings filled with music and top-class drinks.
25hours pays particular attention to the history of the location in all of its establishments. This is especially true of the 25hours Hotel Indre By, whose creative roots are in its history as a university building, which inspired the Coming of Age concept. The international art consultancy VISTO has assembled a collection of over 100 artworks for 25hours. They are displayed throughout the hotel and use a wide variety of styles to express the overarching concept of growing up – Coming of Age. Each of the rooms has its own history, while still contributing to a coherent narrative. For
instance, Café Duse is home to numerous paintings and photographs from the 19th century to 2021 portraying women in a wide variety of life phases. It’s interesting to note that the oldest women in the works seen to be enjoying life the most. This deliberately challenges the traditional depiction of women.
Visual diversity is a constant feature throughout the hotel: The spacious Assembly Hall is festooned with jacquard fabrics by the Finnish artist Kustaa Saksi, while the NENI restaurant celebrates its roots in the Levant with a mural showing Tel Aviv from a variety of perspectives. Aside from the love of LP records, the Vinyl Lounge is a place that celebrates the simple state of being in love – with all the joys and pitfalls along the way. This is expressed in works by the South Korean illustrator, Henn Kim. The four principal works are grouped together in such a way that the narrative
can be read forwards and backwards, which produces a variety of outcomes.
The 243 rooms in the Passion and Knowledge designs range from Small to Gigantic and offer a retreat to suit every traveller and their needs. Some of them even come with a small terrace and access to the Secret Garden – almost unique features for Copenhagen.
