Foster + Partners to design Tivoli hotel
Foster + Partners won the architectural competition for the design of Tivoli's hotel project on the site bordering on the town hall square in Copenhagen. Three architectural studios were invited to participate and after careful consideration the jury selected Foster's elegant and sustainable solution.
Foster + Partners have designed a slim tower as a contemporary interpretation of the Copenhagen spires vis-à-vis the town hall tower and a cluster of buildings consisting of a series of cylinders with green roof gardens elegantly terraced down to the scale of Tivoli. The garden element and the circular forms have clear references to Tivoli's existing buildings and landmarks, thus emphasising the relationship to the Gardens.
The facade has a playful, almost Tivoli-like character and the buildings are carefully situated on the relatively small site. Tivoli's green profile is also reflected in the sustainability of the project. It includes rainwater collection and measures to minimise the impact of solar radiation in the warm months and maximise it in the cold months.
”The Tivoli Gardens Hotel project requires delicacy of scale and sensitivity to Copenhagen’s rich design heritage, combined with a bold vision for a new design that has integrity and presence. This is a challenge that we, as architects, welcome. I look forward to working with Tivoli and the city on the project’s successful realisation," states Norman Foster, founder and chairman of Foster + Partners.
The project comprises both the hotel and condominiums and does not leave room for the existing building on the site, the Tivoli Castle, nor the classic round Tivoli building currently housing Restaurant Ultimo. The plan is to move the latter to an alternative location in the Gardens, whereas the Castle will be completely removed.
Luxury in a league of its own
Tivoli's vision for the hotel is that it should be ”the best hotel in Scandinavia with the best location in Copenhagen”, and Tivoli has entered into exclusive negotiations with luxury hotel chain Four Seasons for the operation of the hotel.
Four Seasons is currently operating 71 hotels in 31 countries and is known for offering its guests the ultimate experience in terms of service and design. The Tivoli hotel will be the first Four Seasons hotel in Scandinavia.
First hotel guests in 2010
In the near future, Tivoli will admit the total project to the City of Copenhagen. The administrative approval, including a local plan for the site, is expected to take at least a year.
”We look forward to welcoming the first hotel guests, but we have to take a number of measures before that can happen. We are presenting a beautiful and thoroughly prepared project which, in our opinion, has the quality to become a landmark for both Tivoli and Copenhagen. However, we do not expect to receive the first guests until 2010 at the earliest,” says Lars Liebst, managing director of Tivoli.
Following the possible approval of the project, there will be a building period of approx. 2 years, so the first guests will not be able to make reservations at the luxury hotel until 2010 at the earliest.
With regard to project financing Tivoli is looking for partners outside of the company and is currently exploring various possibilities.