Words Vidula KotianDate 11 July 2024
Imagine Scandinavian hygge blending with wabi-sabi, a Zen Buddhist concept that celebrates nature’s imperfections. The hotels below epitomize this aesthetic, featuring high-quality craftsmanship, warm neutral tones, geometric shapes, and a material connection to nature.
At Runo Hotel Porvoo, a unique ceramic sculpture by Riku Riippa
The warm woods at Inhabit Queen's Gardens are uplifted by a natural palette and materials
In a medieval coastal town near Helsinki, Runo Hotel Porvoo masterfully blends contemporary Nordic design with harmonious colors and rustic charm. Finnish designer Joanna Laajisto chose timeless materials like stone, solid wood, and ceramics, which age beautifully. The soft, light color scheme creates a serene atmosphere, complemented by a gallery-worthy art collection and rustic touches such as repurposed farm materials and furniture made from 300-year-old pine floors.
Original details of the 19th-century building like the fireplace have been preserved
A relaxed and cozy lobby with Spine armchairs by Fredericia and rattan chair by De Padova
The Finnish art at every corner was part of the design planning
At Hotel St. George, Mirkku Kullberg redefines what a hotel should be, emphasizing health and well-being. Rooms are designed for relaxation, blending old and new elements: heavy fabric rugs and curtains soften the clean lines of herringbone parquet flooring and midcentury furniture. The hygge-inspired color palette of fawns and forest greens enhances the serene atmosphere. The interiors underscore the hotel’s mission to provide holistic care for the mind, heart, and body.
Hygge at St. George's bakery is served in the form of warm neutrals, well designed furniture, and books
Art, furniture, rugs, objects — all individually designed
The hotel has nearly 400 artworks
St. George Care spa offers an entire way of living
Trunk House, a private one-suite residence, epitomizes Japandi design in a traditional wooden building. The minimalist master bedroom features a single artwork above a mattress on an elevated wooden platform, while the dining room boasts nearly black walls and a long oak table. Contemporary furnishings by international designers shine throughout. The cozy sitting room is all about hygge with a chunky brown leather sofa, and a lush, greenery-filled courtyard seamlessly brings nature indoors.
Trunk House pays homage to tradition while updating the interiors with contemporary touches
Zentis Osaka blends raw materials with a natural color palette, exposed brick, and timber beams. The cozy lounge showcases honey-colored, antique-glaze cowhide benches and Cheviot Herringbone banquettes. Guestrooms feature Japanese space-saving designs with angular, bento box-inspired compartments. Nature is a focal point, from the entrance garden blooming with Japanese maple and cherry blossom trees to the serene stone and garden terrace on the main floor and the covered outdoor retreat on the rooftop.
Zentis Osaka's rooms feature midcentury furniture complemented by earthy taupes and warm pops of ochre
Nestled in the heart of Niseko, one of Japan’s top ski resorts, Kimamaya by Odin is an intimate mountain lodge that seamlessly blends Scandinavian and Zen design. Star architect Koichi Ishiguro preserved the original wooden framework, infusing a Japanese touch into the Swiss chalet-style roof. The lodge features a warm palette of chocolate wood, gray walls, elm floors, and black granite, creating minimal yet luxurious spaces. Slatted lampshades add a Scandinavian flair, perfectly complementing the Zen essence throughout.
Gray walls and chocolate wood lend a contemplative calm to Kimamaya's rooms
Ishiguro combined the hallmarks of Scandinavian chalets with Zen philosophy
At Inhabit, a commitment to well-being is evident in every corner. Inhabit Southwick Street features an airy, plant-filled atrium for reflection and English limestone floors that create a sense of permanence. Fiddle-leaf fig trees and plant boxes of rosemary and thyme perfume the air, bringing nature indoors. Inhabit Queen’s Gardens blends Scandinavian and Japanese aesthetics with a cosmopolitan London vibe, highlighted by timber floors, jute rugs, Carl Hansen chairs, and woven rope furniture.
Inhabit Southwick Street features Scandi designers alongside pieces by Burmese craftspeople
Profile
Bookings
Benefits
Bookmarks
Exclusive Community Deal
