design et al are delighted to announce shortlist success for AART architects in the International Hotel & Property Awards 2015. Hotel Scandic Aarhus City will compete for the Hotel over 200 Rooms Award (Europe) in the fifth annual awards.
The hotel is located in the city centre and combines 150 years of city history into a modern architectural whole. Behind a beautifully ornamented facade from the 19th century you will find this 18,000-sqm hotel which includes restaurant and conference facilities and 228 rooms allocated on six floors.
The hotel combines the city centre’s historic atmosphere with modern hotel facilities. For instance, the dark brown facade reflects the neighbouring buildings’ reddish brown hue. In addition, the bright bands give the facade rhythm and reflect the neighbouring buildings’ white ornaments.
In order to bring a new, modern dimension to the city centre, the hotel has been designed as a sharp-edged corner building with vast glass facades, which are divided by varied facade sections. The facade sections are made of aluminium and create a clear contrast to the area’s historic brick architecture. The contrast between new and old is particularly being expressed along Østergade where the hotel has preserved the beautifully ornamented facade from the 19th century. The facade originally framed the city’s popular local hall and is one of the city’s best preserved 19th century facades.
Last, but not least, the hotel attaches great importance to the environment. For instance, there are solar panels on the roof that supply the hotel with 90 per cent of the electricity used in the hotel rooms. In addition, the hotel has its own hives on the roof, so the guests can have fresh honey for breakfast. The hotel has also been designed as one of Denmark’s most accessible hotels, with 22 rooms for disabled people and a fully-accessible conference area.