Royal Hotel, Copenhagen

Designer Arne Jacobsen (1902-1971), a pipe smoker, once took out a box of matches, placing it on its flat side on the table. "I am doing a school," he said. He then turned the box on its long side, adding, "and a city hall". Finally, he turned the box on its short side and said, "and a hotel". The result was the SAS Royal Hotel in Copenhagen, which he built from 1955-1960. Jacobsen's glass boxes of the second half of the 1950's made his name internationally renown.

The Egg Chair

At the time, SAS royal was admired as a modernist "Gesamtkunstwerk". Jacobsen's office did all interior design, down to carpets and cutlery. much remains in production, most famously the egg and the swan chair and the lesser known and rare Drop chair. There are plenty of corners where the original interior has been left untouched. Most famous is Room 606, the only hotel room with the original Arne Jacobsen décor from July 1960 when the hotel first opened its doors. With the grey, blue-green colours, the wengé wood, built-in makeup mirrors, radio and intercom system and a selection of the most representative furniture designed for the hotel, this room takes its visitors to another time and place. Room 606 functions as a regular guest-room and is a must for Arne Jacobsen fans and design lovers. In addition, and today, 606 offers state-of-the-art Bang & Olufsen TV and Royal Club amenities. Hotel guests with an interest in design are welcome to visit Room 606, when it is available.

While the hotel is the father of all designer hotels to follow, general manager Roy Kappenberger is the son of the first general manager, who built the hotel between 1956 and 1960, Swiss Alberto Kappenberger.