Former Brutalist Bank Building Transformed into Hip Stockholm Hotel

A former bank with a brutalist exterior has been transformed into a premier Stockholm lifestyle hotel that boasts art and design as well as luxury. Set in the Swedish capital’s Brunkebergstorg Square, the stylish 343-room At Six Hotel is close to all the tourist sites and is surrounded by shopping, restaurants and bars. Its location and hip style make it ideal for leisure visitors and business travelers alike.

At six features a revived brutalist exterior.
At six features a revived brutalist exterior.

The building was originally built in the 1970’s by Swedish architects Boijsen & Efervgren, who created its brutalist exterior. Now renovated by London’s Universal Design Studio, the group moved toward a softening of the architecture, transforming it into a hip contemporary — and luxurious — metropolitan hotel. It has been called “quite possibly the city’s best design hotel yet.” In addition, its Norrmalm neighborhood is seeing a renaissance thanks to Urban Escape Stockholm, a program to bring the dreary area back to its former 19th-century renown as a social hub in the city.

The interior vibe was created to be a dynamic and engaging place that appeals to locals as well as international travelers alike. The material palette includes a variety of materials such as sawn stone, blackened steel, timber, natural materials and polished granite. The range of hues spans the spectrum of monochrome shades of gray and the soft and classic furniture is a sophisticated counterpoint to the rigid materials. Everything included is a carefully edited array of classic re-invented design, salvaged pieces and new commissions, by designers such as Barber & Osgerby, Cassina, Areti and Sweden’s Rubn and Kasthall.

The spectacular white granite central staircase in the hotel lobby is anchored by ‘Mar Whispering’ a special commission by Catalan sculptor Jaume Plensa. The 2.5-meter tall marble sculpture makes a dramatic statement, providing more than a hint of the magnificent art displayed throughout the property. Local glassmaker Carina Seth Anderson created glass pieces for the public areas, and the staircase handrail is wrapped in white leather from a local saddle maker.

At six Hotel the master piece suite dining area
The dramatic white staircase is the lobby focal point.

Throughout the six public spaces in the At Six hotel, guests are surrounded by a vast and ambitious collection of art that was curated by Sune Nordgren, formerly of the BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Art. Nordgren set out “to redefine the concept of Hotel Art.” The extensive collection includes works by Jaume Plensa, Olafur Eliasson, Julian Opie, Sol Le Witt, Tacita Dean, Richard Long Marijke van Warmerdam and Swedish photographer Dawid. Pieces by Kristina Matousch are showcased in the individual guest rooms.

The building has ten floors that contain the 343 guest rooms as well as 38 suites, all of which are dripping with understated style and loaded with interesting details. The designers paid impeccable attention to the interior spaces to create comfortable spaces, consistent with the owners’ desire to “codify a luxury experience, but with a twist – unexpected combinations of contemporary design and Swedish craft.”Each and every spacious room is done in smoky hues, with gray walls and charcoal rugs. Even the wardrobes are clad in an indigo textile.

Seating areas feature Scandinavian designs.
Seating areas feature Scandinavian designs.
The spacious room is divided into living zones.
The spacious room is divided into living zones.
At six Hotel the master piece suite dining area
All the rooms have a moody gray color palette.

The room also features custom furniture by Scandinavian designers and local makers, designer lighting and tinted mirrors. A top concern among guests is a good night’s sleep and At Six features beds with a custom leather-stitched headboards by Sweden’s Hilding Anders – along with plenty of poufy pillows. Each room also has a long marble credenza and oak window bay, as well as a comfortable seating area.

Among the amenities is an “in-room shop” drawer, which is handy for travelers who need (or want) to buy packages of boxers, tights and special-edition socks from the Swedish brand Happy Socks.

At six Hotel the master piece suite dining area
The super comfortable bed boasts a designer leather headboard.
The long credenza is comfortable for work as well.
The long credenza is comfortable for work as well.
The large window offers plenty of daylight.
The large window offers plenty of daylight.
The marble credenza has built-in outlets, valued by every traveler.
The marble credenza has built-in outlets, valued by every traveler.
The comfortable rooms are both sleek and serene.
The comfortable rooms are both sleek and serene.

In the minimalist chic bathrooms, guests will find a stone tiled space with luxurious accents such as the brass fixtures. Ample lighting is available and the glassed-in shower stall offers a relaxing experience with its rainfall showerhead. Bath amenities include organic toiletries such as an arctic facial scrub and blueberry-seed hand lotion by c/o Gerd from Swedish Lapland.

Brass fixtures are a high-end detail.
Brass fixtures are a high-end detail.

On the top level is the one-of-a-kind penthouse “Masterpiece suite’,” which features a private terrace and panoramic views of the city in three directions. The 85-square-meter suite was conceived as a collector’s apartment and its name reflects the art-centric focus of the hotel. The apartment is impeccably decorated and features a private dining area, a large lounge and a kitchenette, in addition to a master bedroom and bathroom. Wide oak flooring forms the base of the room, highlighted by charcoal polished plaster walls. The centerpiece of the bathroom is a circular freestanding bathtub of Nero Marquina marble.

Along with these top-shelf accommodations, At Six is very cognizant of the security concerns of all its guests, and offers a very aware, and thoroughly trained staff. For those with additional security concerns, a separate VIP entrance and extra measures for those traveling incognito are also available on request.

The Masterpiece Suite has a dining area and rooftop patio.
The Masterpiece Suite has a dining area and rooftop patio.
A wet bar area is very handy.
A wet bar area is very handy.
Furnishings are minimalist yet very comfortable.
Furnishings are minimalist yet very comfortable.

Stockholm has become a mecca for foodies and lovers of nightlife, so of course, At Six has a wide range of restaurants, bars and social spaces and include a 100-seat restaurant, a wine bar, cocktail bar and a flexible workspace.

Dining Room At Six, the hotel’s main restaurant run by executive chef Andreas Askling is situated at the very top of the grand white staircase. The open kitchen – also done in white and rust-colored Patagonian marble– offers cuisine featuring seasonal local produce. Under a custom timber ceiling that recalls the original structure of the building, diners are in smaller, more private areas or at a larger communal table, all surrounded by the miss Chair, newly reissued by Molteni & Co. The restaurant also has a 12 seat Chef’s table fashioned from the Patagonian marble used in the kitchen. The restaurant also features a Tipsy Tea party on Saturday afternoons and a casual weekend Punch Brunch with live music.

The At Six Cocktail Bar centers around a 14-meter marble-topped, polished plaster bar. Wine bar Blanche & Hierta is a relaxing spot where guests have an extensive 28-page wine list to choose from. It also features a communal table that was carved by local artist Lies-Marie Hoffmann from a single Swedish Elm tree trunk.

The property also boasts a secluded living-room-like gathering space called Hosoi, The Listening Lounge, which focuses on sound and music. Amid blue felt-covered walls, guests can enjoy drinks and music mixed by local and international DJs. Musical genres go from mainstream to esoteric and funk to disco, hip-hop and everything in between. In fact, Hosoi is earning a reputation for disrupting the music scene in Northern Europe.

For guests with a more health-centered focus, a 24-hour Cross-fit inspired gym features TechnoGym equipment, punching bags, up-hill running and water rowing. Summertime exercise classes are held on an outdoor rooftop. The gym also has a wellness area that includes a sauna and offers treatments such as massages. Those who forgot their workout clothes can borrow some awesome J. Lindeberg workout gear from the hotel.

It’s hard to find another new hotel that is as cool or hip as the city itself. Whether it’s the vibe, the location, amenities or art that attract a guest, all are assured of a unique experience that is comfortable and decidedly classy.