Third and last in the triptych Copenhagen hotel reviews: the Radisson Blu Royal, also known as the SAS Royal Hotel. Earlier posts included STAY (November 15) and CPH Living (November 17).

The Royal Hotel in Copehagen, now Radisson Blu Royal Hotel, opened in 1960 completely according to the design of Arne Jacobsen, one of Denmark’s most prominent architects and designers. Jacobsen literally designed everything for the hotel: from door handle to china, and including the world famous “Egg” and “Swan” chairs. The Royal Hotel was a sensation, not only due to its overall modern design but also of its height. With twenty floors it still is one of Copenhagen’s city centre  tallest buildings. The Royal Hotel claims to be the world’s first design hotel.

A multifunctional building, the lower part housed the SAS (Scandinavian Airline Systems) city terminal where passengers could check in and where then brought by bus to Kastrup airport. Times change, passengers now take the train to the airport from the Central Station in front of the hotel. The terminal was changed into a supermarket and fitness centre. And although the partnership between SAS and Radisson Hotels ended, the SAS logo still proudly tops the tower (hotel) part of the building.

In the 80′s of the last century the hotel was completely overhauled, but just one room. The beautiful Egg and Swan chairs were sold close to nothing to hotel staff and the public. To be bought back twenty years later with another renovation multiple the price what they have cost originally in 1960. Jacobsen, who died in 1971, is ‘the’ man once again.

The room kept in the original state, “606” or “Arne Jacobsen suite” can be still booked a such. It is a favourite with architects and designers. All other rooms and suites have been renovated in an international style, which is less outspoken than Jacobsen’s designs. However, the Royal Club rooms which are located on the corners of floors 10 to twenty have a nice Jacobsen feel as well. They boast the original windows on two sides, including one in the bathroom giving a sensation of space. Not to mention the fabulous views. When I stayed at the Radisson Blu Royal I had a room on the 15th floor. Although on arrival Copenhagen was covered in mist, the next sunny morning brought views as far as the Swedish coast.

With its history you may come to expect a certain stuffiness. Not so: the Royal is still one of the prominent members of the Radisson Blu chain known for its innovations. The Royal is a first class hotel, popular with both business clients and individual travellers. The mentioned gym is huge, there is a business centre (which replaces the original glass covered winter garden), a classic hotel bar in the lounge, a street level restaurant and the 20th floor Alberto K restaurant. With all the rage of Danish cooking (Noma in Copenhagen billed as the best restaurant in the world) you will not be surprised that Alberto K specializes in Danish (seasonal) cooking. I don’t know if you will be gazing at your plate or out of the window, as every table is window site….

If Copenhagen is (more than probably) the best city in the world for its quality of life and status as a cutting-edge design centre, then Arne Jacobsen’s Radisson SAS Royal Hotel is one of its defining design statements. The ground and first floor public areas are currently benefitting from a comprehensive ‘refreshment’ under the direction of the interior team from designers Graven Images.

The Danish capital was recently awarded top spot of the list of the world’s best cities in which to live by lifestyle magazine Monocle, and the SAS Royal which celebrates its 50th Anniversary this month, set the ball rolling when it opened as not only Europe’s but the world’s first design hotel. The pieces created by Jacobsen specifically for the hotel, such as the Swan and Egg chairs, are still specified worldwide to this day.

The building itself has an incredible history and pushed boundaries as soon as it was constructed; it was the largest hotel in Denmark when it was completed in 1960 as the SAS Royal Hotel and was the first skyscraper in Copenhagen, with interiors which epitomised the 60s – think Don and Betty Draper of TV’s Mad Men, or the young Britt Ekland.

Although it has remained a style icon during the ensuing decades, time has taken its toll on the SAS Royal with inevitable wear and tear resulting in the loss of some of its original elegance. In addition some of the public areas have been subjected to some unsympathetic interventions, such as the clumsy conversion of a smart and sexy concession boutique area into a restaurant.

Graven Images was commissioned in 2008 by Radisson as interior designers to restore the integrity of what is arguably the most important project undertaken by Arne Jacobsen, and certainly the best showcase for his trademark functionalist approach.

The interior designer’s mission was to bring the public areas of the SAS Royal up-to-date, restoring their design integrity and thereby making them accessible to a wider audience without compromising any of the unique features. The focus has been on streamlining and ‘cleaning up’ the original spaces, rationalising the layout and providing a more appropriate back-drop to showcase the original Jacobsen features.

Design Director Jim Hamilton said, “It’s been an honour to work on such an important and interesting project, which is close to the hearts not only of the design community but of hotel aficionados worldwide. The new hotel will share many qualities with the old – it will be glamorous, stylish, contemporary and with outstanding comfort to attract a wide variety of clientele from Copenhagen’s own design and style conscious population, as well as visitors to the Danish capital many of whom come because of its reputation as one of Europe’s most important design destinations.”