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Architecture

Young architecture studio design Scandinavian-style hotel in Rotterdam

Local, an architecture and urbanism studio have designed The Bellhop Hotel in the heart of Rotterdam to provide an oasis of tranquillity to single travelers and families.

The Bellhop Hotel has transformed classic corridors of a Dutch townhouse into a Scandinavian-style hotel with minimalistic bedrooms and spaces to relax. The townhouse renovation is located in Witte de Withstraat in Rotterdam, where it saw the addition of new basement rooms and a loft conversion.

Why The Bellhop Hotel? In order to repurpose a traditional town-house in Rotterdam into a Scandinavian style hotel

The hotel is comprised of 15 rooms, offering rooms at various sizes to suit single travelers through to families. Located on one of Rotterdam’s most lively streets, The Bellhop Hotel is perfectly situated for quick weekend breaks. The ground floor of the hotel has been transformed into a contemporary bar and reception area, there is also a communal kitchen and a garden terrace at the back.

The Bellhop Hotel - exterior
The Bellhop Hotel is an oasis of tranquillity to single travelers and families

The minds behind The Bellhop Hotel – Elida Mosquera and Jerome Picard from Local

Local is an architecture and urbanism studio based in Bergen and Paris. It was founded in 2019 by Matthieu Boustany, Benoist Desfonds, Elida Mosquera, and Jerome Picard. Elida Mosquera and Jerome Picard worked together on The Bellhop Hotel project. 

The studio was awarded Europan 15 for its Grey Matter project which was an intergenerational urban development within a heritage town. Their design for the Latvian Paralympic Sports Center competition won first place in 2019, in the same year they also won an award for the 100% wooden house at Chateau De La Bourdaisiereie France.

Curious to know more about incredible hotel designs, don’t miss Czech studio Formafatal designs a villas resort in the Costa Rican jungle.

The Bellhop Hotel - room interior
Local repurposed a traditional town-house in Rotterdam into a Scandinavian style hotel – Photo by Joey Van Dongen

Materials & Techniques – Tatami style cork and bamboo

The interior design is very refined and uses minimal materials. Tatami style cork and bamboo are used in the alcoves that form the bed areas. The bespoke furnishings and lighting transform the guest bedrooms into a calm and cozy space

The colour scheme used for the bedroom is simplistic, white walls and wooden tones with the occasional pop colour. Brightly coloured seating and lighting were chosen for the rooms as they create a happy and soothing atmosphere

In the kitchen, dining, and bar areas, the interior design continued the use of minimal materials for a simplistic aesthetic, but instead of having plain white walls, the architects chose to expose the stone and brickwork.

The Bellhop Hotel - restaurant bar
The interior design of the Bellhop Hotel is very refined and uses minimal material

Style & Aesthetics – An oasis of tranquillity

All of the rooms have been designed to provide elegance and comfort combined, with the help of minimalistic Scandinavian-style décor. The aim of the interior design renovation was to turn a classic city-center interior into a cozy oasis of tranquillity.

The rooms are designed to utilize all the floor space which results in cozy designs whereby the bedrooms in the loft conversion use the angled ceilings as a type of comfort blanket – their own peaceful nook in the city.

The Bellhop Hotel - restaurant interior closeup
In the kitchen, dining, and bar areas of the Bellhop Hotel, the interior design continued the use of minimal materials for a simplistic aesthetic – Photo by Joey Van Dongen

The young architecture studio, Local, have worked on large scale projects across the world

Despite its recent launch, Local has achieved global recognition, especially in the Netherlands, Latvia, France, Russia, and Korea. They designed an art complex in Seoul, South Korea for the Seoul Metropolitan Government. The team also designed “unpredictable City” in Russia which pushes the boundaries of sustainable building for collective housing.

The Bellhop Hotel - restaurant
Photo by: Joey Van Dongen

Design memento – Scandinavian but colourful

The clients, who are childhood friends, Zetsia Lobo, Franton Maria, and Yu-Meng Braumuller sought the help of Local to create their unique living space in the heart of Rotterdam. They wanted to create a place that served coffee, lunch, and dinner using organic and local Rotterdam produce.

The trio grew up together in the Dutch Caribbean island Curaçao, so colour was an important part of the interior design, but they also wanted the coolness of Scandinavian aesthetics. This blend of styles can be seen throughout The Bellhop Hotel in Rotterdam, each room oozes with the contrast of playful coolness.

The Bellhop Hotel - interior details
Through the Bellhop Hotel, Local created a unique living space in the heart of Rotterdam – Photo by Joey Van Dongen

The writer’s comment – A cosy city break 

The interior design of The Bellhop Hotel is carefully designed to provide travelers with a comfortable and homely atmosphere within the heart of Rotterdam. Local used a minimal palette for the interior design which works beautifully to achieve the Scandinavian-style design brief. 

If you want to know more about beautiful scandinavian-style interior, don’t miss Kanel by Fluo – The Scandinavian inspired bakery serving fresh Kanelbullar on the coast of Thessaloniki.

The Bellhop Hotel - second floor overview
The aim of the interior design renovation for the Bellhop Hotel was to turn a classic city-center interior into a cozy oasis of tranquillity – Photo by Joey Van Dongen