Hotel Kopernik in Olsztyn has gained new interiors, full of light and atmospheric colors. The architectural studio Tremend Sp. z o.o. undertook the renovation of 36 rooms and corridors. The result was spaces that allude to the landscape of Warmia - misty lakes, wild beaches and forests. We talk to architect Magdalena Federowicz-Boule about the design work, inspiration and mood-building.
One of the hotels in Warmia frequently visited by tourists is the Kopernik, located in the center of Olsztyn and owned by Polski Holding Hotelowy. It will soon be able to welcome guests with its new interiors designed by the Tremend studio. Forbis Design Build, meanwhile, is behind the revitalization of the building. The renovation, which involved 36 rooms and corridors, was carried out according to a "design and build" concept, which is based on adjusting plans to changing technical conditions. The process will be completed soon, and the hotel will open under the new Best Western Plus banner.
Sapphire accents allude to the surface of Lake Ukiel
Photo: Polski Holding Hotelowy © Tremend.
Dobrawa Bies: Olsztyn's Copernicus will soon get a new face, thanks to the Tremend studio. Please tell us about the project. What did the investor require from you?
Magdalena Federowicz-Boule: As a design studio, we were responsible for the interior renovation of all 36 hotel rooms and corridors. Renovating a hotel is a difficult task for an architect. However, it seems to us that in the context of current environmental problems it is a graceful topic. As architects, we struggle to preserve what we can, while at the same time trying to give the hotel a "new look" in line with current trends. The renovation of the hotel is an artistic work within the budget set by the investor. This is important in both an economic and ecological context - "less is more".
Dobrawa: Design is also about telling a story. What are the interiors of the Kopernik Hotel about?
Magdalena Federowicz-Boule: We approach each project individually and try to tell the story of the place. We create a kind of "story". In the case of the Kopernik Hotel , it's a story about the area, about the misty, romantic landscapes of Warmia, the lakes, trees and the surrounding nature. We tried to allude to this through the use of earth-colored materials, through natural structures and textures, the use of wood. Sapphire elements alluding to the surface of Lake Ukiel become accents that bind the interior into a harmonious whole. These colorful motifs can be found in the painterly fabrics, original patterns and graphics used in the rooms.
Natural materials and subdued colors build a mood conducive to tranquility and relaxation
Photo: Polski Holding Hotelowy © Tremend.
Dobrawa: One of the most important elements that build interiors are natural materials and subdued colors. What kind of mood did you want to evoke in your hotel guests?
Magdalena Federowicz-Boule: The customer's emotion and mood is one of the key elements one thinks about when starting a hotel concept. We try to make the guest feel good in the interiors we designed. In the rooms it is an atmosphere of tranquility, relaxation and rest. We tried to achieve this by using natural materials and subdued colors. It should also be emphasized that in the design of hotel interiors, it is the light that plays a huge role: it often allows to completely change the atmosphere of a particular interior and affects the emotions of the client. By choosing the right lighting and materials, we have gently darkened the corridors, which creates a sense of intimacy and security. It is also important to remember that hotel rooms are not just for relaxation. Guests may also want to work in them. In that case, lighting plays a huge role and allows you to create a multifunctional space.
The architects darkened the corridors creating a sense of intimacy
Photo: Polski Holding Hotelowy © Tremend.
Dobrawa: The design of public interiors is governed by different laws than the design of interiors in, for example, apartments. Does it involve more challenges?
Magdalena Federowicz-Boule: Indeed, the design of hotel rooms and common areas is governed by different laws than the interior design of houses and apartments. When starting the design process, it is important to understand who will be the client of the place: a business guest, a tourist, or maybe both? This is the work of a person with another person in mind. When designing hotels, we try to create a "wow" effect. We build excitement in the customer through surprise, and at the same time we take care of the functionality of the interior. It is very important to choose materials resistant to abrasion, damage, non-flammability. It is necessary to remember that this is a public place. It is important that the interiors are versatile enough to make every guest feel comfortable in them and want to return to this hotel. At the same time, the hotel should be unique enough that guests taking a photo of themselves inside and uploading it to Instagram will encourage others to come.
Dobrawa: Thank you for the interview.
