Claesson Koivisto Rune returns to Nobis Hotel
We met with one of the members of the design trio, Mårten Claesson, to ask him a few questions about Swedish design and the relationship between Claesson Koivisto Rune and Nobis Hotel.
Your collaboration brings together two successful Swedish companies: you and DUX. What do you think is the reason Swedish design is so popular abroad?
The Swedish and Scandinavian aesthetic is typically understated, subtle, and democratic. It often features light, simple, and natural materials. These qualities stand the test of time and are likely perceived as both honest and inclusive. Even though we Swedes ourselves may find it hard to describe Swedish design as sophisticated, that’s exactly how it’s perceived abroad.
Personally, I also believe that the size of our country relative to both Europe and the world plays a role. We’re a bit on the periphery and are seen as exotic, like some rare little mountain flower. Sweden is too small to be perceived as a threat to anyone. There is no serious rivalry between us and others, as there might be among the larger nations—England, France, and Germany.
How does it feel to be back at Nobis Hotel for this launch?
Nobis Hotel is our brainchild, created together with Sandro Catenacci. Being there really feels like being with family, at home.
Nobis Hotel celebrated its 5th anniversary last year. What do you think the hotel has meant for theSwedish hotel market and internationally?
We literally put in thousands of hours of work over a period of just over a year to ensure that every detail at Nobis Hotel was carefully thought out. I think that’s why, even when it first opened, the hotel felt so distinctive and personal—as if it had been there for decades. We aimed to create a sense of eclectic style akin to what an eccentric person might have cultivated over a long life. Today, we can say that few hotels in the world have garnered as much publicity, positive attention, and so many imitators. Everything from our ideas on how the interplay between the entrance, reception, and lounge function, to the furnishings, colors, materials, and patterns, has been replicated in many other hotels around the world since then. It is no understatement to say that Nobis Hotel has been an international trendsetter.
The Claesson Koivisto Rune Collection is being launched and will be on display at Nobis Hotel in the Lounge throughout Stockholm Design Week, February 6–12.
