Welcome to Retro Heaven
Transcription
Welcome to Retro Heaven
Alexandra Chronicles Established 1910 #1 • 2013 Sleep at hotelalexandra.dk Welcome to Retro Heaven A tribute to the greatest Danish designers From the late 30’s to the end of the 60’s Danish furniture designers created so many beautiful classics that Danish furniture design even today maintains their status amongst the best in the world. And prices are going only one way – up! Apart from museums, there are few places worldwide with so many furniture classics gathered in one place; Hotel Alexandra in Copenhagen is one of those places. Welcome to Retro Heaven! to design and furnish the Trusteeship Council Chamber – one of the three biggest halls in the building. The hall, which was finished in 1952, was to hold the delegates in charge of looking after the transformation of the colonies into independent states. Today the hall is referred to as the Finn Juhl hall. In connection with the ongoing rebuilding of the UN building, the hall is now being restored to the 1952 Finn Juhl design. Unfortunately, all the original FJ 51 (Finn Juhl 1951) chairs have ”disappeared” from the building, which means that 260 new FJ 51 chairs are being made for the first time, based on Finn Juhl’s original drawings. The Kingdom of Denmark contributes 3 million USD to the project. H ere you will find all the masterpieces of the great Danish designers: Børge Mogensen, Arne Jacobsen, Finn Juhl, and Hans J. Wegner, just to mention a few. Around the hotel – in the rooms, the lobby, and the corridors – you will find their masterpieces and here you can enjoy the architecture and try the comfort. ”More than 15 years ago, we started buying and collecting classic Danish furniture. Our aim was to build a collection representing the foremost Danish designers but also representing different works of each individual designer. We succeeded in doing this, and today we can offer our guests eight rooms and two suites dedicated to the great Danish designers. The rooms are our tribute to the masters, and in each room our guests will find a brief description of the designer and his or her mas- terpieces” says Jeppe Mühlhausen, Hotel Manager. Pure Retro Hotel Alexandra has not limited the luxury of classic Danish design to guests checking in at one of the two suites or the eight exclusive Classic Danish Design Rooms. In all the Danish Retro Rooms the guests will be able to enjoy the retro feeling through one or several classic Danish designs. The rooms are available in several sizes and levels – all with a touch of the “finest hour” of Danish design. ”We have just started to renovate a series of rooms. They are of course equipped to match the requirements of today’s traveller. But we have selected the decoration, arrangement, and furnishing to promote the authentic Danish design style of the 1950’s, and each room will present at least one piece of classic Danish design furniture”, continues the satisfied Hotel Manager. Finn Juhl in the UN International interest in the great Danish designers is far from new. When the United Nations established its headquarters at Manhattan in 1949, Finn Juhl, Danish architect and designer, was asked For the first time ever the famous FJ 51 chair by Finn Juhl is being reproduced. 260 new FJ 51’s are being made exclusively for the United Nations in New York. For you Welcome to the Alexandra Chronicle. This free paper is for you as our valued guest. Here you will be able to explore the DNA of Hotel Alexandra, dig into the history of modern Danish design, and experience highlights of our classic Danish furniture collection. You can meet our staff and partners and find practical information, to make your stay easy and comfortable. We give you a warm welcome. Hans J. Wegner coast to coast With more than 500 chair designs, the Danish architect and designer Hans J. Wegner takes the position as the most productive designer. However, one special event manifested more than anything else his enormous talent. On September 26th, 1960, 70 million U.S. viewers tuned in to watch Senator John F. Kennedy of Massachusetts and Vice President Richard Nixon in the firstever televised presidential debate. The viewers could see each presidential candidate sit down in a chair designed by Wegner. The chair was simply referred to as “The Chair” – and all of a sudden it became a global icon for Wegner and a lighthouse for Danish furniture design. “The Chair” continues to be produced by the Danish furniture manufacturer, PP Furniture. Should you be in- vited to the Parliament office of the Danish Primminister at Christiansborg Castle, you will be able to take a seat in a later edition of the very same chair. On September 26th, 1960 J. F. Kennedy faced Nixon in the first-ever televised election debate. Both candidates took seat in “The Chair” – a masterpiece designed by Hans J. Wegner. Serving the good cause In the middle of the global financial crisis, every hotel in the world is striving to deliver results to investors, owners, or shareholders. Multinational players as well as national hotel chains are fighting and competing on price, service, and quality. H otel Alexandra is part of this competition, but in comparison to most competitors this hotel distinguishes itself in two important areas. One being the unique Danish design concept, expressed in its successful retro style with the extensive collection of original Danish furniture classics. The other area lies in the ownership of the hotel. Hotel Alexandra is not owned by investors, shareholders, or a wealthy family. Hotel Alexandra is owned and operated by “The Preben Hansen Foundation in memory of his parents, Hotel Owner Th. Hansen and Käthe Hansen”. This is a charitable foundation established by the founder of the hotel Mr. Preben Hansen, in 1964. The foundation is managed by an Executive Committee and supervised by the Danish Business Authority (Erhvervsstyrelsen). The foundation charter prescribes that the operational profit of the hotel shall benefit ‘deserving higher and lower employees in the hotel and restaurant business in Denmark who are permanently or in the longer or shorter term obstructed in performing their job due to disablement, illness, or age’. Therefore, as a guest at Hotel Alexandra, you are supporting the foundation and thus serving the good cause. Benefit from our free guides to the Copenhagener’s Copenhagen • T he destination guides from Lonely Planet, Eyewitness Travel, and Time Out offer lots of good advice and tips about Copenhagen. But it is a common feature that places, locations, and experiences recommended in these bestselling international guide books are often already well-known to tourists when they are published. Therefore we have compiled our own COPENHAGEN Guides for those of our guests who want to get a little closer to the Copenhagener’s Copenhagen. Are you interested in live blues music in a relaxed atmosphere? Where can you enjoy a superb dinner, served with a smile at an attractive price? Or do you love to go hunting in local flea markets to find your own personal, unique souvenir from Copenhagen? And where do Copenhageners go when they want a night out on the town? You’ll find the answers in Hotel Alexandra’s six COPENHAGEN Guides with each their theme. The Guides are written by the Hotel Alexandra employees, who know Copenhagen and know what is up and what is in. We discover exciting new places before the big guide book editors do. We follow the night life, the hip designer shops, and new upcoming exhibits and shows. And we happily share this knowledge with you as our guest. Online or hard copy You may use the Guides as inspiration or as a supplement to your own plans. The Guides are available from our reception or on our website if you wish to plan your visit from at home. At present, we offer the following COPENHAGEN Guides: Restaurants & Cafes in COPENHAGEN Museums and Galleries in COPENHAGEN Shopping in COPENHAGEN Night life in COPENHAGEN Places to be in COPENHAGEN Flea markets in COPENHAGEN Retro shops in COPENHAGEN Danish furniture shops in COPENHAGEN. • • • • • • • Alexandra Chronicles ”My favorites at home are my Verner Panton curtains, my “Albert” Lounge Chairs by Finn Østergaard and my Hans Jørgen Wegner bed”, says Edea Kovach. Photos: Rashid Hadzimusic Mid-Century Modern What brings you to Copenhagen? If you check into Hotel Alexandra at a time where Receptionist Edea Kovach is at work, you can be pretty sure to be asked exactly this question. And if your answer indicates any interest at all in Danish retro furniture design, you have found yourself a new friend during your stay in Copenhagen. F or Receptionist Edea Kovach, Danish retro furniture is not just a hobby, it has become a lifestyle. In her job at Hotel Alexandra she is surrounded by all the classic furniture designs, and privately she has created a home that pays tribute to Danish furniture design from the end of the 1940’s till the middle of the 1970’s. She herself calls this coincidence ’the perfect match’. ”When I started working here 6 years ago, I owned a small collection of furniture designs. At that time I was deeply fascinated by designer Verner Panton, and suggested to the hotel management to arrange a Verner Panton room. Later when the lobby had to be refurbished, I was given the old Verner Panton curtains, and this kicked off the transformation of my apartment to a style which is known as the Mid-Century Modern style. IKEA, no thanks! ”Subsequently I have currently been replacing my furniture by original Danish classics, not by products straight from the factory floor, although these in many cases are available, but by the original and genuine items with pure patina. Patination is the key to give the authentic atmosphere of the times. And patina is the very thing that does not come automatically when you buy a new piece of furniture. I don’t want to offend anybody, but I do not have any IKEA furniture in my possession” laughs Edea, and continues, “My apartment must be the place where I feel at home and where I am able to relax. I put much emphasis on it being my home, not an exhibit. Taste the original Danish cuisine Over the past few years, Denmark has become worldwide known for its modern Nordic kitchen. However, traditional Danish cuisine is still going strong. One of the very best places to try this out is restaurant ‘Det Lille Apotek’ (The Little Pharmacy), which serves a line of original Danish classics. “The restaurant has existed for almost 300 years. It dates back to 1720, when the pharmacist in the street Store Brøndstræde 4 began to serve alcohol. In 1829, the restaurant moved to its present location. The most famous Dane of all the fairytale writer Christian Andersen, common guest here, times, Hans was a and it Nevertheless, I always find my guests taking a stand on the arrangement. Some love it and get inspired by it, others find it too much – but nobody is indifferent.” Gives back love ”Also quality is an important feature in my selection of items for my apartment. Particularly furniture from this period is characterized by the high quality of its design and craftsmanship. Especially I love furniture made of teak. I have a real fetish for teak. Even my bed is teak, designed by architect Hans Wegner. What is fantastic about teak is that when you apply oil to it, it becomes alive and returns your love”. Both the bed and many other objects were bought on Source: Wikipedia 2012 the internet or in the antique and second hand furniture shops at ‘Nørrebro’ where Edea lives. This part of town is a Mecca of Danish retro and vintage furniture, and this is where Edea has her network of furniture pushers, able to provide her the most rare and unique objects. Because Edea knows her neighborhood so well, she has contributed to the Hotel Alexandra guide ”Retro shops in COPENHAGEN” with insight and knowledge about the quarters of Copenhagen with the many specialized furniture and design shops. Originally Receptionist Edea Kovach comes from Bosnia. She has arranged her home in the Copenhagen neighborhood of ’Nørrebro’ with Danish retro and vintage design furniture from the period 1950-1970. is rumored that table no. 5 was his regular table”, says smiling Ann Christina Krag, manager of Det Lille Apotek, pointing at a table for two next to the wall. Taste the ‘Apotek’s’ own beer for your lunch, or try the Danish special beers from the small, local breweries, ‘Balder’ or ‘Nørrebros Bryghus’. Danish ’smørrebrød’ for lunch Classics for dinner ”Our lunch menu offers a great selection of traditional Danish open sandwiches. We serve classic Danish herring specialties, egg and shrimp, warm fish fillet, tartar, or hot pork roast. A special Danish lunch plate consists of ‘Pariserbøf’ (Hamburger steak), prepared from lean, ground beef served with beetroot, horseradish, capers, onion, and a raw egg yolk. We serve a big ‘Pariserbøf’ of 300 grams (10.6 oz.), followed by brie cheese with bread and butter at DKK 108 (14 euro)”, says Ann Christina. ... is an architectural, interior product and graphic design that generally describes mid-20th century developments in modern design, architecture, and urban development from roughly 1933 to 1965. The term, employed as a style descriptor as early as the mid-1950s, was reaffirmed in 1983 by Cara Greenberg in the title of her book, Mid-Century Modern: Furniture of the 1950s (Random House), celebrating the style which is now recognized by scholars and museums worldwide as a significant design movement. “The evening menu includes traditional Danish dishes, such as pork roast with crisp crackling, fried stuffed plaice, veal liver, fried streaky bacon, or a line of different steaks, for example ‘Boeuf Bearnaise’, explains Ann Christina Krag, and she continues, “If you want to try something special, I recommend our ‘Stone Beef’. Every guest gets a 300 degrees C (572 F) hot stone together with 200 grams (7 oz.) of good beef tenderloin that he himself fries. This is not a traditional Danish dish, but then we are the only restaurant in Denmark serving it. try FOR DINNER: One of the classics most in demand is ”Old-fashioned roast duck” with ”Danish Apple Charlotte” for dessert at DKK 225 (€ 30). FOR LUNCH: ”Apoteker Anretning” (pharmacist’s course) at DKK 165 (€ 22) offers seven cold and warm samples of ’smørrebrød’. How to BOOK A TABLE: On +45 33 12 56 06 or at the reception of Hotel Alexandra. FIND YOUR WAY: Det Lille Apotek, St. Kannikestræde 15, Copenhagen. Walking distance from Hotel Alexandra: 800 m (½ mile) or approx. 9 minutes. Alexandra Chronicles Go to bed with the Enfant Terrible of Danish Design You have probably never experienced a hotel suite like this. An orgy of flashy colours. A fantasy of symmetrical figures in perfectly matched nuances. A design temple dedicated to one of Denmark’s most avant-garde furniture architects. Take Panton home The coffee mugs and espresso cups of Verner Panton’s Geometry pattern have become popular and practical evergreens – a genuine Danish souvenir. The thermo mugs/cups are made of double porcelain and keep the contents hot for a longer time. They are manufactured by Menu, a Danish company, and come in several colours. You can buy Verner Panton’s colourful mugs at our reception. Verner Panton Highlights On February 13th, 1926, Verner Panton is born at Gantofte on the isle of Funen, Denmark. 1947-1951 Architectural studies at the Royal Academy of the Arts, Copenhagen. During the years 1950-1952 Panton works for the renowned Danish architect and designer Arne Jacobsen. In 1955 the prestigious Danish furniture manufacturer Fritz Hansen launches the first series production of furniture by Panton, the Bachelor Chair. In 1961 Panton presents his furniture, textiles and lamps in the legendary black book of the design magazine Mobilia and in Pfister furniture showrooms in Zurich. In 1963 he moves to Basle in Switzerland and receives the International Design Award, USA (an award which he receives again in 1981 and 1986). The Danish design magazine Mobilia presents the Panton Chair to the public in 1967, the same year Panton is awarded Denmark’s PH Prize. In 1973 he is awarded Germany’s Gute Form prize. The Danish Møbelprisen is awarded to him in 1979. And from 1981-1984 Panton receives Germany’s ‘Deutsche Auswahl’ prize five times. Again in 1986 Panton receives the Gute Form prize as well as Denmark’s Sadolin-Farve prize. In 1991 Panton is awarded the Danish Design Council yearly prize and the following year he receives Norway’s design prize. I 1994 he designs the Vilbert chair for IKEA. For his lifelong work Panton is in 1998 awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Order of Dannebrog (‘Ridderkorset’) by Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II of Denmark. A few months later, Panton dies in Copenhagen on September 5th, 1998. 1967 W as the year when the production of the Panton Chair began. It is recognised as a classic amongst modern Danish furniture design. One of the first models belongs to the Museum of Modern Art in New York. Today, true to the original, the classic Panton Chair is available from manufacturer Vitra with a lacquered finish in black, white or red. I t is Verner Panton who lends his name, design, furniture, lamps, and especially colours to the latest, newly opened suite at Hotel Alexandra. Panton developed into the enfant terrible amongst the classic Danish architects, and he became the most colourful and inventive architect of his time. He experimented with colours, materials, and shapes when designing furniture, carpets, lamps or – as at the end of the 1950’s – a prefabricated weekend cottage, which could also be used as a garage. With the Panton suite, Hotel Alexandra expands its line of unique architectural rooms, each of them devoted to one of the distinctive Danish furniture designers who since the beginning of the 1950’s have created the classic furniture masterpieces that even today keep their international status as icons. Verner’s World is on the 5th floor The Panton Suite is so staggering and faultless that you will never forget your stay in it. The bedroom is deep blue, and under Verner Panton’s impressive ’Kugellamp’ the bed is made with a bedspread and cushions of Panton’s characteristic geo- metry design. At auctions, the original ’Kugel-lamps’ today go for thousand dollar bids, depending on the type and condition. Two of Panton’s Pantop Table Lamps standing on Panton’s wire shelves complete the impression. In the spacious lounge of the suite you find two of Panton’s System 1-2-3 lounge chairs from 1973, and his Studioline sitting arrangement from 1961. In the middle is Panton’s wire shelf composed into a table – from the same shelf system used as bedside tables in the bedroom. On the floor you’ll find Panton’s potent Geometry carpet from 1960 as a unifying centre of the room. Verner Panton’s most famous piece of classic furniture, the Panton Chair – is placed at the working desk. It is the world’s first floating chair moulded in polyurethane without joints and with the foot, seat and back in one sequence. The chair was first shown in 1966 and is still being produced. In the Panton Suite you may experience the explosion of Panton’s colours and artefacts, which are in one and the same place creating a unique Panton universe. Book it already now for your next visit. The colours are blinding, the design is amazing, the feeling is stunning. Try our wildest suite. You will never forget it. Alexandra Chronicles Choose your favorite architect when staying with us Børge Mogensen Arne Jacobsen Finn Juhl Hans J. Wegner Børge Mogensen Classic Danish Design Room 107 Classic Danish Design Room 223 Classic Danish Design Room 338 Classic Danish Design Room 340 Classic Danish Design Room 341 •Leather sofa, model 2213, 1962 •Armchair, model 2207, 1963 •The Egg chair, 1958 •The Swan chair, 1958 •Dining chair Series 7, 1955 •Sofa, FJ 53, 1953 •Easy chair, FJ 53, 1953 •Egyptian chair, FJ 49, 1949 •Sofa, AP 315, 1954 •The Sawbench Chair, CH 29, 1952 •Easy chair, AP 315, 1954 •Built-in beds w. wickerwork •Winged armchair, 1963 Ole Wanscher Hans J. Wegner Nanna Ditzel Verner Panton Finn Juhl Classic Danish Design Room 448 Classic Danish Design Room 450 Classic Danish Design Room 451 Verner Panton Suite 565 Finn Juhl Suite 570 •Colonial Chair PJ149 Jubilee, 1949 •The T chair PJ58 Jubilee, 1957 •The Bear chair, 1951 •The Sawbench chair, CH 2, 1952 •Easy chairs, model 83, 1952 •Coffee table, ND 126 •The Panton Chair Vitra, 1958 •Studio line sofa, 1961 •Easy chairs 1-2-3, 1977 •Sofa, FJ 53, 1953 •The Chair, FJ 53, 1953 •Japanese Easy chair, FD137, 1957 1914-1972 1903-1985 1902-1971 1914-2007 1912-1989 1923-2005 1914-2007 1926-1998 1914-1972 1912-1989 OUR SERVICES & FACILITIES ADAPTOR Available at the front desk. AIRPORT Distance to Copenhagen Airport 12 km (8 miles). Taxi: Approx. 15-20 minutes. Cost approx. DKK 200. BAGGAGE For baggage storage please contact the front desk. The management cannot be held responsible for your luggage. BANK /ATM Distance to bank: 600 m (1/3 mile). Forex Bank (open daily) and ATM’s are available at the Copenhagen Central Station (see Trains) BEVERAGES Beverages are for sale at the front desk and in the restaurant. Food and Beverages which have not been bought from the front desk may not be consumed in the lobby or in the court yard. BICYCLES We have bicycles for rent. Please contact the front desk. BREAKFAST Breakfast is served in our restaurant: Weekdays 7 AM - 10 AM. Weekends 7 AM - 10:30 AM. If you prefer to have your breakfast served in the room, please contact the front desk. Room service fee is DKK 25. CAR RENTAL Please contact the front desk. CHECK OUT TIME Check out time is at 12 noon. Please let us know, if you would like to check out later. CREDIT CARDS Alexandra Hotel honours American Express, Visa, Euro Card, Diners Club, Master Card, JCB, and Dankort. Please note that a credit card fee is applicable. CURRENCY EXCHANGE Major foreign currencies can be exchanged at the front desk. DOCTOR Please contact the front desk. DRUGSTORE See pharmacy. DRY CLEANING Dry cleaning services are available on all weekdays. Items for dry cleaning left at the front desk before 8:30 AM will be returned the same day at 5 PM. ELECTRICITY All outlets provide 220 Volts. For adaptors or transformers, please contact the front desk. EMERGENCIES Please contact the front desk. ENERGY AND WATER CONSERVATION Please help us conserve energy by switching off the light and electrical appliances when leaving your room. Water is precious, please help us to save. You can drink the water from the tap. FIRST AID Please contact the front desk. HOUSEKEEPING For extra pillows, blankets, towels, hangers and other basic requirements for personal hygiene, please contact the front desk. ICE CUBES Available in the restaurant. INTERNET We offer free WiFi connection. The access code is available at the front desk. Internet access is also available at the guest pc in the lobby. IRON AND IRONING BOARD Available at the front desk. JOGGING 3 km, 4 km and 7 km jogging routes take you round the Copenhagen lakes. Track map is available at the front desk. KEYS Please leave your key with the front desk when you leave the hotel premises. If you lose your key, please inform the front desk immediately. There is a charge of DKK 100 for lost room keys and DKK 500 for lost safety deposit keys. LAUNDRY Laundry services are available on all weekdays. Laundry left at the front desk before 8:30 AM will be returned the same day at 5 PM. LOST AND FOUND Lost something? Please check with the front desk. If you find anything, please hand it to the front desk. LUGGAGE See baggage. MEDICAL SERVICES Please contact the front desk. MONEY EXCHANGE Major foreign currencies can be exchanged at the front desk. NEWSPAPERS Local and international newspapers are available in the lobby. OPERATOR To place a collect call or a call using calling cards, please contact the front desk. See also Phone Calls. PARKING Parking lots are available. Please ask for availability and rate at the front desk. PHARMACY Distance to pharmacy: 500 m (1/3 mile). Steno pharmacy is open 24 hours and located across the street from the central train station (Vesterbrogade 6). PHONE CALLS Dial 0 and wait for dial tone. International calls: Dial 00 followed by international country code + area code + number. Local calls: All Danish phone numbers has 8 digits (no area codes). Please note that telephone calls from hotels in Denmark are very expensive. RESTAURANT The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner from noon until 10 PM. ROOM SERVICE - LIMITED Room service is available from 7 AM to 7 PM. SAFE DEPOSIT BOXES Safe deposit boxes are available in all rooms. The management cannot be held responsible for valuables left in the safe or in the room. SHAVING AND TOILETRIES Available at the front desk. SIGHTSEEING TOURS Please contact the front desk. STAMPS Available at the front desk. TAXI Your taxi can be ordered through the front desk. TOILETRIES For additional toiletries, please contact reception. TRAINS Distance to Copenhagen Central Station: 600 m (1/3 mile) (International, Intercity and local S-trains). Distance to Vesterport Station: 500 m (1/3 mile) (local S-trains). UMBRELLA Is available at the front desk. VISITORS For security reasons visitors are requested to register at the front desk – and to leave the hotel rooms before 11 PM. Alexandra Chronicles The “Alexandra Chronicles” is a free bi-annual periodical. Published by: Hotel Alexandra, Copenhagen, Denmark. Editor-in-Chief: Jeppe Mühlhausen. Editorial Staff: The Hotel Alexandra Team. Concept: Winston Wolf Associates. Circulation: 5.000. Printed by: Clausen Grafisk ApS. Contact: [email protected]. © All rights reserved 2013. HOTEL ALEXANDRA • H.C. ANDERSENS BOULEVARD 8 • DK-1553 COPENHAGEN V • PHONE: +45 3374 4444 • [email protected] • www.hotelalexandra.dk