With one foot in the artistic neighborhood of Vasastaden and the other in youthful, emerging Hagastaden, Blique by Nobis is located right in the heart of Stockholm. The aspiration is to bring the two districts together and create a gathering place for creative meetings and events.

The new hotel lies on Gävlegatan in Stockholm and occupies two buildings from different decades – a concrete warehouse designed by Sigurd Lewerentz in the 1930s and a newer office building designed by Alenius-Silverhielm-Åhlund in the 90s. Together they have been transformed into an urban hotel.

“The work with Blique by Nobis has been a balancing act between preserving the existing and daring to challenge it. The result is a raw and honest but at the same time sharp interior, one that is respectful of history but also looks to the future,” says Kajsa Johanson, an architect at Wingårdhs.

Great emphasis has been given to designing social spaces and meeting places for architecture, design, art, music, and food. On top of the building is a roof deck that looks out over the rooftops of the capital city, and at the bottom is a courtyard with adjacent restaurant and kitchen. All of it is accessible to anyone. Between the two is a large, open lobby designed to be the beating heart of the building.

Its frame is provided by a concrete warehouse designed by Sigurd Lewerentz in the 1930s and a newer office building designed by Alenius-Silverhielm-Åhlund in the 90s. Wingårdhs has developed the design concept around the building’s architectural heritage.

Board-formed concrete surfaces enhanced by ironwork details create a raw, urban backdrop that is in turn softened by furnishings made from warm, natural materials like wood and leather. In the spirit of functionalism, the choice of materials serves the dual purposes of aesthetics and functionality.

“Together with Nobis we have developed a common method for how we approach the buildings they’ve chosen to establish themselves in,” says Helena Toresson, an interior designer at Wingårdhs who brought to the task experience from the earlier Nobis projects Miss Clara and Nobis Copenhagen. “The point of departure is always the building’s history and its distinctive character in combination with the casual elegance and the warmth that Nobis wants their hotels to exude.”

The color palette is dominated by soft gray tones with elements of buff, black, and brown. The same board-formed concrete found in the social spaces is visible in the guest rooms as well. A storage system made of black wrought iron adds a sense of modularity and makes it possible to decorate the room with personal belongings. The bathrooms are clad in a pale terrazzo with amber flashes that weaves together the color palette with the room’s warm tones.

In addition to 249 guest rooms, the Blique by Nobis offers 2220 square meters of public spaces, including Boketto, the restaurant adjacent to the courtyard, and the Arc Roof Deck with its view over Stockholm.

Blique by Nobis opens on April 26.

The work with the building shell has been a collaboration with Sweco Architects, who were selected for the job by Kungsleden, the property owner.

For more information or further questions, call Klara Grape at 010 - 788 11 19 or email klara.grape@wingardhs.se.