Kosta Boda Art Hotel opens 27 June: Sweden’s first glass hotel under construction in Kosta
Right now, the construction workers in Kosta are putting the finishing touches to a glass hotel, glistening with art glass inside and out. The Kosta Boda glass artists have designed different parts of the hotel, as well as one hotel room wing each.
– We are building a unique hotel that will be an experience for all the senses. The glass artists contributing to this project are world famous, and this summer we welcome visitors from Sweden and the rest of the world to visit the ”kingdom of crystal,” says Mattias Landgren, Kosta Boda Art Hotel CEO.
Kosta Boda is the oldest glassworks in Sweden and is situated in the heart of Småland’s “kingdom of crystal”. Since a few years back, Kosta is going through a transformation from industrial town to experience center, where the new hotel will play an important part next to the glassworks, outlet shops and restaurants.
When the Kosta Boda Art Hotel is completed it will contain not only hotel rooms, but also a spa, restaurants, a glass bar and a conference center – all of them unique and one of a kind!
104 rooms decorated by glass artists
The Kosta Boda Art Hotel will be 10 000 m2 large and will have 104 rooms and glass suites, all decorated by the world famous Kosta Boda artists. The end result is rooms of very different character, from Ludvig Löfgren’s skull decorated rock n’ roll quarters to Ulrika Hydman-Vallien’s classic tulip ornamented accommodation.
In the middle of the hotel, a large spa section is taking form around a Kjell Engman designed pool with shimmering blue glass tiles and a glass exhibition at the bottom. And if you want to, you can borrow a pair of goggles and have a closer look at the artworks.
The other parts of the spa are designed by Åsa Jungnelius, Elle Interiör Designer of the Year 2008 winner and Dagens Nyheter Cultural Award nominee. Jungnelius’ characteristic artworks of lipsticks and nail polish bottles in pastels and gold give your beauty and spa treatments an extra dimension.
A glittering and glistening glass bar
The Kosta Boda Art Hotel glass bar will be an experience in itself with its walls, ceiling and counter all made out of glass. The bar is built in three floors and will have a 95 meters tall glass facade, without any visible joints. The decorations around the cobalt blue counter will be in Kjell Engman’s determined style, with organic forms inspired by music and the animal kingdom.
– The glass bar is going to be sensational. The natural light will shine through the enormous windows and reflect in the glass and the artwork on the inside. It is guaranteed to glitter and glisten when you have a drink in this bar, says Mattias Landgren.
A restaurant with glassblowers and schnapps
Responsible for the hotel’s restaurants is Bengt Sjöström, renowned restaurateur from Restaurant Linnea in Gothenburg. Sjöström is going to develop a food and drink concept focusing on local produce and game, tastes that will contribute to the overall experience.
The hotel restaurant, decorated by Ulrica Hydman-Vallien, will offer unusual entertainment in the form of the skilled Kosta Boda glassblowers. On a stage in the middle of the restaurant, they will blow and sculpt glass in front of an audience.
The restaurant will also have its own schnapps seasoning area, and tastings will be held where the guests can try different types of glasses for different types of drinks in order to see how the glass influences the taste experience.
Confer in style
The Kosta Boda Art Hotel is for the private individual as well as for conference groups. At the hotel, there are conference rooms for up to 200 people, and the pool as well as the glass bar is designed for displaying different brands or products.
– With us, you can combine first class living accommodation with an unusual dining experience, exceptional bar hanging, and relaxation in a totally unique spa. And the common denominator is the fantastic glass that makes us an exhibition as well as a hotel, says Mattias Landgren.
The artists contributing to the Kosta Boda Art Hotel are: Anna Ehrner, Kjell Engman, Åsa Jungnelius, Ludvig Löfgren, Ulrica Hydman-Vallien, Bertil Vallien and Göran Wärff.
The Kosta Boda Art Hotel premieres 27 June, 2009.
Reservations for the premiere date and onward can already now be made at www.kostabodaarthotel.se.
Pictures are available for download at www.kostabodaarthotel.se.
For more information, please contact:
Mattias Landgren, CEO, Kosta Boda Art Hotel, +46 70 454 73 73, mattias@kostabodaarthotel.se
Cecilia Lago Albright, Vår pr-byrå, +46 8 660 02 74, +46 70 866 30 60, cecilia.albright@varprbyra.se
The Kosta Boda Art Hotel is owned by New Wave Group and Lessebo Community, investing 200 million SEK in the hotel. The Kosta Boda Art Hotel opens in June 2009 and will have 45 fulltime employees. Since 2005, New Wave Group is the owner of Orrefors Kosta Boda and is aiming to create an experience area surrounding the glassworks.
