Hotel Petra – &Tradition’s new design-themed stay in Copenhagen

Copenhagen isn’t exactly short of beautifully designed hotels, but another has just joined the line-up – and it’s definitely a great addition to the city’s accommodation scene. Called Hotel Petra, it’s the creation of &Tradition and officially opened its doors during 3 Days of Design, when I got to have a quick look around.

This isn’t &Tradition’s first foray into hospitality, as it’s been running the Little Petra café in the courtyard of its showroom overlooking the leafy green expanse of Kongens Have (‘the King’s Garden’) for several years now. Like the café, the hotel takes its name from one of the brand’s most iconic designs, Viggo Boesen’s 1938 ‘Petra’ chair, and sits just a couple of minutes’ walk away in a landmark 1943 building designed by renowned Danish Functionalist Kay Fisker.

&Tradition’s aim with the hotel was to honour Fisker’s architectural legacy while offering a refined, contemporary experience for present-day guests. As much of the original character as possible was preserved during the renovation, which was overseen by &Tradition’s Head of Spatial Design Hannah Jordan in collaboration with accommodation specialists Copenhagen Design Hotels. Details such as terrazzo flooring, handcrafted stair banisters, brass fittings and curved joinery were retained and restored, while the colours of the base palette were sourced from a handbook created by Fisker himself to ensure they remained as authentic as possible.

These period features were then paired with pieces from &Tradition’s own collection of classic and contemporary design, with contrasting materials, shapes and colours adding depth to the clean-lined wooden panelling that forms the backdrop across most of the interior spaces. The lobby lounge area, for example, features a curvaceous ‘Margas’ sofa by Louise Liljencrantz, a gleaming chrome ‘Flowerpot’ floor lamp by Verner Panton and a marble-based ‘Lato’ side table by Luca Nichetto. There’s also a custom version of Jaime Hayon’s ‘Archivo’ shelving unit in a striking sky blue and – of course – a ‘Little Petra’ lounge chair upholstered in soft, snuggly sheepskin. The reception desk opposite is clad in vertical high-gloss tiles from Dzek x Formafantasma, offsetting the rich, tactile wood while also referencing the brick repetition found in many Fisker buildings.

Beyond the lobby is a bar and restaurant, open to guests and non-guests for breakfast, lunch and drinks every day and for evening meals on Fridays and Saturdays. The decor here continues the heritage-meets-modernity theme, with bespoke leather upholstery alongside beech, walnut and oak chairs designed in the 1950s by Robin Day and Hvidt & Mølgaard. An open stainless-steel prep kitchen, marble-topped tables by Sami Kallio and Verner Panton’s ‘Wire’ stools add further elements of textural contrast. The menu, meanwhile, mixes traditional Danish cuisine with international flavours from Italy, France, Mexico, Japan and elsewhere.

The 40 bedrooms are spread over the floors above and range from Small Doubles to spacious Superiors. No two are exactly the same but all are bright and airy, combining calming off-white walls and wool carpets with custom-made wooden beds and cabinetry designed to maximise their individual characteristics and dimensions. They also encompass a carefully curated sprinkling of &Tradition pieces from past and present – perhaps a rich blue ‘Petra’ lounge chair, Luca Nichetto’s smoked-glass ‘Sett’ side table or an aluminium ‘P376’ pendant light by Kastholm & Fabricius. The accessories, too, come from &Tradition’s collection and include jugs by Jaime Hayon, glassware by Space Copenhagen and, in the ensuite shower rooms, the brand’s own range of soaps and lotions.

My visit to the hotel was only brief, but it’s now firmly on my list of places to return to and try out properly. I was very taken by the way it balances modern touches with a deep connection to the past, and the mood throughout is one of warm, relaxed elegance. It’s a living showcase of 20th- and 21st-century Danish design, and a beautiful example of a sensitive, considered renovation.

Find out more about Hotel Petra and book a stay here. Rates start at €155 per room per night.

All images courtesy of &Tradition

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