Bravo Hotel Sanders

It’s always a gamble staying the night at a newly opened hotel. However, on only its 2nd day opened, Hotel Sanders Copenhagen made it appear as if they had been practicing for years.

After enjoying a night in one of their larger Sanders rooms and fully relishing in its cozy interiors, having a cocktail in their sexy bar, known as TATA, sitting by the fireplace-focused lobby and enjoy a morning coffee in the Sanders Kitchen, I wanted to know more about why this place feels so good.

The best person to explain how they created this feel-good factor of the space, was chief Architect at Lind + Almond Architects, Richy Almond, who alongside renowned Ballet dancer and owner of Sanders, Alexander Kolpin (who knows a thing or two about standing ovations and “Bravos”), has created Copenhagen’s newest luxury Boutique Hotel and no.1 hot-spot.

Richy has shared his responses to the questions below and gives us an insight into the world of hospitality, design, what inspires him and how it all adds up to working out exactly as planned.

HP: What was the inspiration for the interior design? Was the brief from the Sanders very specific or open for Lind + Almond adaptation? RA: The brief from Alexander was both simple and challenging. He wanted to create the best hotel in Denmark, one which would challenge on the world stage, but he also wanted to create something not typically Danish in its aesthetic. He wanted to build an institution for Copenhagen, which provided a unique experience for locals and visitors alike. Alexander had many references at the beginning, and initially our role focused very much on curation, on taking sometimes contradictory influences and massaging them into a complex yet coherent experience for the guest. As the project evolved so did the brief, we took on the branding/print design, the design and procurement of the furnishings, and even got involved in the development of the uniforms. This allowed us to really ensure that Sanders was delivered with a strong and established identity from the moment the doors opened. The inspiration for the interiors came from many places. The beauty of hotel design is that you are allowed a great deal of creative freedom, should you want it. A hotel can be focused simultaneously on a single place and on all places, and if used in the correct way, this freedom can offer a powerful design tool. We looked to create something worldly, yet comfortable in its context. There is some Parisian flair, some English eccentricity and a good dose of eastern colonial character. We reference the golden age of travel and its associated glamour, but the hotel is also incredibly homely, and it’s this for us, along with a generous helping of mid-modern furniture, that grounds Sanders in the iconic design city of Copenhagen. In many ways Sanders is about contradictions, but above all it’s about stepping into another world for a couple of nights, it’s about experiencing a performance, which ultimately references Alexander’s background as a renowned ballet dancer.

HP. Where do you source your furniture pieces and 'found objects’? RA: We source pieces far and wide, but our local antiques shops in both London and Copenhagen are always a good starting point. The internet is also now a valuable sourcing resource with platforms such as 1stdibs and Pamono, but it’s still nice to see things in the flesh if at all possible. In Sanders many of items were completely bespoke. We had a Danish joinery company make the wooden bedroom furnishings, many of the upholstered furnishings and lamps were made in London, and the bedroom mirrors and marble tables were made in Northern England. Lots of the vintage furniture came from Klassik, which has Copenhagen’s (and in fact the world’s) largest collection of mid-modern furniture. With this project it was very much about keeping an eye out at all times, and in all places, for something that might fit.

HP: Which other spaces (hotels, restarts, bars) are you loving right now?

RA:I think designing Sanders very much rekindled our love of old world interiors, those that have, or at least feel like they have, been there forever. London is full of them, and the likes of Fischer’s and Chiltern Firehouse are great spaces to spend an evening. Although these guys are doing a fantastic job of maintaining tradition, I’m also trying to explore the places that started that tradition more, the likes of Sweetings, Simpson’s Tavern and Rules. Copenhagen is also brimming with excellent places to eat and drink. Kødbyens Fiskebar, Bistro Pastis and Café Victor are personal favourites, but step into just about any traditional bodega for a real taste of old Copenhagen.

HP: Which designers inspire you? RA: For me, of those currently working it’s the likes of Peter Zumthor, Faye Toogood, Studio KO, Studio Mumbai, Vincent Van Duysen and Vincenzo di Cotiis. Historically it’s Charles Rennie Mackintosh, Carlo Scarpa, and pretty much most of the Danish mid-modern architects.

HP: What’s the next big thing in interior design world? RA: I feel that design is undergoing an interesting period, in that there are many disparate strands and ideologies moving in quite differing directions. For some, New Nordic minimalism is still strong, whilst for others it’s about implementing understated layering and subtle lighting to create a strong sense of atmosphere. There is a definite exploration of bold colour in the industry, but refreshingly much of it is being done in a tasteful way. Texture and warmth are particularly important in material choices. Interestingly in hospitality design there are interiors which are dressing up, and those which are dressing down, but in most cases, it’s about creating spaces that are comfortable for their users, for whichever use that may be.

HP: What kind of clientele are you trying to attract with this interior? RA: Naturally a hotel needs to cater for a vast range of people, but above all, Sanders aims to attract those looking for so much more than just a bed for the night. Offering a home from home to locals as much as to international visitors, it allows guests a heightened experience of the city, sharing a morning coffee with a Copenhagener on their way to work, or a late-night cocktail with those en route home from the nearby Royal Theatre. Sanders caters for the traveler seeking a truly unique experience.

HP: What’s your favorite part of the interiors at Sanders? RA: There are so many areas with their own distinctive charm, I think Pernille (the other designer from L+A on the project) would go with Sanders Kitchen, whilst for me it’s the cocktail bar, in which I’d always be happy to whittle away an afternoon. We are both very proud of the bedrooms, which have so far had a fantastic response from guests.

HP: What did you struggle with the most? Did it turn out the way you planned? RA: Coordination was a challenge, using so many suppliers from different parts of the world. The detailing was likewise tricky, working with such an old building, and with tradesmen who were not overly familiar with this level of finish. Luckily the build team were incredibly helpful and eager to work with us towards the delivering something special. The results are actually very true to the original design, and the as-build spaces are difficult to distinguish from the 3D visuals at times.

Hotel Sanders has created the art of casual luxury which is what makes it so alluring. The staff are friendly, intelligent and approachable and make a point of going out of their way to make your stay incredibly comfortable. Even if you’re not a guest, make a point of starting your night at TATA, followed by Sanders kitchen or the lobby, but you’ve been warned, you may not want to leave.