Brøchner Hotels’ new library-turned-design hostel Book1, centrally located in the Danish city of Aarhus, is the focus for our latest TOPHOTELDESIGN exclusive.

May 2021 saw the debut of this inspired 444-bed hospitality project.

Transformation of a landmark

Hostel-and-hotel hybrid Book1 Design Hostel opened its doors on 6 May in a prominent building that formerly housed Aarhus’ public library, which dates back to 1934, next to the city’s acclaimed ARoS art museum. The design team behind this sensitive conversion project included Brøchner Hotels, Mette Fredskild and Morten Hedegaard.

Brøchner Hotels, the Danish boutique hotel chain recognised for bringing new life to historic buildings, had the needs of the modern traveller in mind when creating its first property outside Copenhagen.

Aarhus’ former library is now home to a new bar, lounge areas, a food court with multiple experiences, and accommodation that pairs elements of a hostel – like bunkbed dorms – with elements of a hotel, such as private rooms and suites, and even a sauna. Among its unique features are the pod dorms, inspired by the luxury capsule hotels of Japan.

The hybrid hostel-hotel experience

The 444-bed scheme is intended to provide guests with the same experience they get at the company’s boutique hotels, but with an accommodation offering to suit all modern travellers, whether they’re visiting for business or leisure, with family or as a couple.

Local food specialist MIB is leading the property’s food court, which encompasses dining concepts ranging from Nordic pizza to Danish smørrebrød, as well as an organic breakfast offering. Guests are also encouraged to get together in the lobby bar, and work, meet or unwind across several inviting lounge areas.

For more info about this scheme, and to view an extensive gallery of hi-res images, check out Book1 Design Hostel’s project page on the TOPHOTELDESIGN website.

Many TOPHOTELNEWS articles draw on exclusive information from the TOPHOTELPROJECTS construction database. This subscription-based product includes details of thousands of hotel projects around the world, along with the key decision-makers behind them. Please note, our data may differ from records held by other organisations. Generally, the database focuses on four- and five-star schemes of significant scale; tracks projects in either the vision, pre-planning, planning, under-construction, pre-opening or newly opened phase; and covers newbuilds, extensions, refurbishments and conversions.

Learn more

Related Articles