&Tradition turns Kay Fisker-designed building into "accessible and inviting" Hotel Petra

Danish furniture brand &Tradition has opened its first hotel, located in a central Copenhagen building by Kay Fisker, which the brand's designers gave a tactile material overhaul and filled with its own furniture.

Named after the brand's nearby cafe, Lille Petra, the 40-room Hotel Petra was opened by &Tradition in partnership with Copenhagen Design Hotels.

Details from the original 1940s building were preserved as part of &Tradition's restoration, including its terrazzo flooring, handcrafted stairway bannisters, brass fittings and curved wooden features.

"The softly curved walls, terrazzo floors and wooden handrails, an original design by Kay Fisker, enrich the space with timeless character," &Tradition's head of spatial design Hannah Jordan told Dezeen.

The 1,550-square-metre hotel, where the brand says all the rooms are "uniquely styled", was also given a colour palette that references the hues that may have once decorated its walls.

"The base colour of the interiors match the exact shade Kay Fisker used in some of his buildings," Jordan said.

"This was sourced from an interior handbook created for one of Fisker's Copenhagen buildings at the time of its construction," she continued.

"We then paired it with colours from our &Tradition palette. The handbook also guided the reintroduction of original joinery details, fixtures, and fittings wherever possible."

As wooden panelling and structures form the background of the hotel's interior across all floors, &Tradition's design team used contrasting materials throughout to add depth.

"We've incorporated high-gloss surfaces such as the Dzek + Formafantasma ExCinere tiles for the counter facade and a custom lava stone countertop by File Under Pop," Jordan explained.

"These elements add depth and layering to the wooden surroundings, with the tiles also referencing the iconic brick repetition found in Kay Fisker's architecture," she continued.

"Our spaces should always feel accessible and inviting, allowing those visiting to feel at home."

Among the &Tradition furniture used for Hotel Petra's interior was the Little Petra chair by designer Viggo Boesen and a custom-made, double-height version of designer Jaime Hayon's Archivo shelf.

"The custom Archivo by Jaime Hayon feels distinctly modern in both colour and form, but naturally complements the understated elegance of the Little Petra Lounge Chair that was originally designed by Boesen in 1928," Jordan said.

"The height, scale, geometry, and materiality of each piece are thoughtfully combined to create subtle juxtapositions to show how unexpected compositions can add character to a space," she continued.

"Each item is meant to feel as though it has been collected over time, rather than overly curated, to establish an approachable and inviting atmosphere."

Hotel Petra marks &Tradition's first move into the hotel business, a step that the company took to let people enjoy its furniture "in real time".

"While our collection has evolved into a range of pieces capable of furnishing an entire apartment, we wanted to create a space where these designs could be lived with and enjoyed in real time," &Tradition CEO Marie Hinda told Dezeen.

The venture is a further diversification of the company's business, which also includes the aforementioned Lille Petra cafe, though Hinde says this wasn't the reason behind the opening.

"Our collection is incredibly diverse as it stands – you can buy a Momento vase, a Develius sofa or a Mnemonic room spray," she said.

"But for us, it's not just about individual pieces; it's about creating a complete experience and bringing a tangible sense of identity into a space through diversity."

"We also work closely with interior designers and architects who use our pieces in hospitality and residential projects, so opening our own hotel felt like a natural next step – a way to bring the brand to life on a deeper level," Hinde added.

&Tradition, which was purchased by fellow Danish company Hay in 2016, has previously designed its showroom as an entire apartment in a Copenhagen townhouse.

The photography is courtesy of &Tradition.

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