Accor’s ibis Styles Sarajevo has won the third edition of the prestigious Art in Architecture competition, within the Hotel category. Designed by Polish architectural studio MIXD, the hotel’s contrasting interiors are a nod to the 1984 Winter Olympics. It is the perfect place to experience the energetic climate of a Balkan city that combines tradition and modern culture, where the West and East meet.
Drawing inspiration from the 1984 Winter Olympic Games - an event that Sarajevo residents still remember with great nostalgia - there are many references to sport including a mural by Karol Banach and local handicrafts such as carpets, rugs, furniture and copper trays.
The Art in Architecture Festival is a competition organized by the Foundation for Social and Cultural Innovation. It aims to encourage investors, architects and interior designers to collaborate with artists on their designs by incorporating art into private, public and commercial spaces.
“ibis Styles Sarajevo perfectly fits this idea,” said Piotr Kalinowski, CEO of the MIXD studio. “We have worked to include artwork such as local handicrafts and murals to complement the interiors of the hotel, which is a commercial facility. Thanks to the trust of the brand and the investor, we were able to bring our vision of a hotel inspired by the 1984 Olympics to life in an extremely creative way. We are very happy that the project is awarded for showing the authentic and real Bosnian story of nostalgia and building the new future”
The award was collected by Sylwia Maśluk, Senior Vice-President Talent & Culture Northern Europe at Accor, Managing Director Accor Services Poland, on behalf of the company and MIXD studio. Ms Maśluk said “At Accor, we focus on expressive design throughout our hotel interiors, regardless of the brand. ibis Styles gives us even more space for creativity and this award only reassures us that we have chosen the right direction. I congratulate MIXD studio for a great design idea and hope we are able to collaborate on successful joint projects in future.”
Get carried away by the Balkan style
The 181-room ibis Styles Sarajevo hotel was opened in April 2019, and was designed by combining an existing building with a newly built skyscraper. Designers from MIXD decided to incorporate many elements from the local Sarajevo area into the design, including its architecture, history and local craftsmanship. It was important to capture the unique atmosphere of a city where Islam, Catholicism and Orthodoxy meet, where traces of war can be found on the streets in the modern day and where traditional cafes and craftsmen's workshops are adjacent to fashionable boutiques and clubs.
Materials and colors were selected to complement the raw, exposed fixtures and concrete walls that feature in corridors and lobbies – such as warm, wooden panelling and colorful, locally woven wool rugs. The lobby’s focal point - the shisha bar Chill Cafe - is lined with colorful carpets and decorated with furniture by local craftsmen. Local handicrafts also feature throughout the hotel, including the guest room numbers which are crafted from hand-woven rugs, and a restaurant wall which is decorated with hand-forged metal trays.
Unique hotels with a creative theme
ibis Styles is a rapidly growing economy brand by Accor, and offers a stay experience based on a creative and fun design. This creative and uplifting atmosphere invites guests to discover a world hidden in each of the brand’s hotels. The brand has also implemented special amenities for children, making them a great choice for parents and families. Each ibis Styles hotel is unique, with a design that refers to the tradition, history or culture of the place in which it is located.
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ibis Styles Sarajevo awarded "Art in architecture” prize by Foundation for Social and Cultural Innovation
7 December 2021
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Agnieszka Kalinowska
Manager Media Relations & PR Poland & Eastern Europe
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