Renovating a historic building is never an easy brief for a designer. The bones of the building have to be retained — that means working around the architecture and whatever challenges it poses — but the end result has to be thoroughly modern. For RPW Design’s redux of the 155-key Hotel Continental in Oslo, Norway, finding that compromise meant literally lightening up the team’s design approach.
“The light palette of colors, textures and fabrics were all carefully selected to reflect this aspiration,” said Jan Wilson, managing director, RPW Design. “The use of metallic, silver and pearl tones gives the interiors the lightness so necessary in dark northern latitudes whilst also creating a sense of tranquility and warmth.”
That starts in the lobby with gold and yellow tones on a pearl base.
“The hotel has been the venue of choice for important events in so many Norwegian lives since 1900, and we were keen to ensure that our design and choice of materials reflected the gravitas of the spaces and their use,” said Elizabeth Lane, director of projects, RPW Design.
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