The hotel where trees get a morning wake-up call
How do you create a hotel that feels connected to nature in the middle of a capital city?
At 1 Hotel Copenhagen, the answer lies in the details. Real trees and plants are gently shaken every morning at 6 a.m. to keep them healthy. Banana peels from the kitchen are used to make syrup. Guests can join a running club, experience sound therapy, or book a tarot reading. And across every 1 Hotel worldwide, the same signature scent creates a familiar feeling of coming home – no matter where you stay.
Bringing this vision to life in Copenhagen required more than furnishing a hotel. It required translating a global brand into a distinctly Scandinavian experience.
The many hands behind the project
Holmris B8 was responsible for all loose furniture, fixtures, and equipment, including decorative lighting, curtains, and operating supplies and equipment. Working closely with 1 Hotel’s teams in New York, London, and Copenhagen, as well as Norm Architects and AvroKO, the team helped translate a global hospitality concept into a cohesive guest experience, ensuring that every element aligned with the brand’s vision while feeling naturally rooted in Copenhagen.
Louise Tillisch from Holmris B8 describes the collaboration:
“Working with such a driven and passionate client team has been a true pleasure. Over the course of three years, the project brought together an extraordinary number of designers, makers, specialists, and stakeholders. At times, it felt like we were building the plane while flying it – continuously refining, adapting, and moving forward together. The project could only succeed because of the trust, mutual respect, and shared entrepreneurial spirit across the entire team.”
Crafted by local makers
Many of the hotel’s most distinctive details were created by local makers and craftspeople.
Made Specific developed bespoke lighting solutions for all guestrooms, crafted in both alabaster and kozo paper. Together with By Løth, Holmris B8 developed a range of bespoke pieces, including a 4.5-meter-long table crafted from a single reclaimed French wine press, custom benches, console tables, chalkboards, and a nearly 2-meter-high 1 Hotel logo made from reclaimed oak.
Copenhagen-based Craft Sisters developed an exclusive color for a collection of recycled-glass carafes and drinking glasses used throughout the hotel.
The untold stories
Craftsmanship was only one part of the story. Circular thinking was an equally important driver throughout the project. In the video, Jesper Kempinska from Holmris B8 shares the story behind the project’s circular furniture strategy and the repurposing of more than 6,000 existing furniture pieces. Katrine Goldstein, Managing Director and Partner at Norm Architects, takes viewers inside the thinking behind the guestrooms and the sanctuary-like atmosphere that defines the hotel experience.
Photos by Jonas Bjerre Poulsen, Norm Architects
