Header: Erik Nissen Johansen
The Clarion Hotel Draken is located in Gothenburg, Sweden, having been designed by Stylt Trampoli AB to amplify the city’s rich cultural heritage and its close ties with cinema. Winner of the BLT Built Design Awards in “Interior Design – Hospitality: Hotel and Resort”, the hotel was designed to be a vibrant hub for film, theatre, music, fashion, and art.
Lead designer Erik Nissen Johansen joined forces with Anneli Soumalainen to complete the vision, having been inspired by the iconic Drake Cinema, a cornerstone of the Gothenburg Film Festival. This festival is held yearly and invites thousands of cinema and art lovers into the city, so designing a hotel that could accommodate the visitors and cater to their passion wasn’t a need; it was a need. The new hotel blends old-school cinema with modern sensibilities, creating a space where locals and visitors can get together and talk about their shared passion.
The hotel spans a new high-rise and a historic building, with interiors designed to evoke creativity and curiosity with the intent to foster storytelling. Public spaces like bars, restaurants, a cinematic spa, and a screening room celebrate cinematic and artistic narratives, all dressed in an eclectic style where bold pops of color go hand in hand with more somber tones.
The hotel’s design highlights include a dramatic library and a meeting space that offers panoramic city views. On the 33rd floor, a 20-meter-long sculptural installation looks over the restaurant, serving as a visual centerpiece and a clear hint of the hotel’s artistic ambitions.
