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| Designer and Architect, Arne
Jacobsen |
| Courtesy Radisson SAS
Royal Hotel, Copenhagen |
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| The lobby of the Radisson
SAS Royal Hotel in Copenhagen. |
| Courtesy Radisson SAS
Royal Hotel, Copenhagen |
In the center of mostly classical Copenhagen, there
is a startling piece of modernism, the Radisson
SAS Royal Hotel. It was designed - from the exterior
right down to the soap dishes - by Arne Jacobsen
(1902-1971), Denmark’s most famous designer
and architect. Constructed in 1960, it was designed,
like a character in a fairy tale, to never grow
old. It is so respected in modernist circles that
there will be a visual recreation at a special Arne
Jacobsen exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art,
Oxford, in April 2003. Visitors will get the chance
to sit in a classic "egg" chair and even
use the knives and forks that played, to rave reviews,
the cutlery in "2001: A Space Odyssey."
It has been called the world’s first designer
hotel, and the first where the architect designed
everything. Room 606 is a functioning museum piece,
containing the original 1960’s furniture, and,
when it’s free, one can view or book it.
The hotel is embarking upon a major renovation,
which it is approaching with the same care that
art restorers bring to an El Greco. Yasmine Mahmoudieh,
who is known for maintaining inherent qualities,
will be the "interpreter." She will be
working in aluminum, maple, colored glass, marble
and granite.
Aleesh Carew, cheerful, Irish, is general manager.
Although she handles strategic decisions, she feels
that one of the most important aspects of her job
is to "look at the employees faces, make sure
they’re in the right frame of mind to help
the guests."
The hotel handles a pleasant mix of business travelers,
tourists and foreign delegates. "We are the
only hotel with a government relations manager."
The Beatles, Dwight Eisenhower and Tina Turner,
among many others, have stayed there.
"This was the first hotel that SAS ever built.
They wanted a unique Danish design -- and that’s
the only reason we got permission to build a skyscraper.
You can love it or hate it."
People seem to take the former view, as it averages
about 80 percent annual occupancy rate. The rooms
are noted for wall-to-wall windows, overlooking
the heart of the city. There is no art on the walls.
"It’s already there."
One of Jacobsen’s firm beliefs was that industrial
production should be based on high-quality craftsmanship.
This could be a national Danish motto.
Radisson SAS Royal Hotel: www.radissonsas.com
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