Review of Nordic Light Hotel, by Daniel Scott

The Nordic Light Hotel is Stockholm's first design hotel and opened in 2001 in a square, seventies-style building that used to house a clothes shop. Its interior design was inspired by two typically Scandinavian elements - light and water. Certainly there are few other hotels in the world where a light architect (in this case Kai Piippo) is more responsible for the overall character of a property.

The lobby reflects the owners' desire for openness and transparency, in being large, open and partitioned off by a ceiling-to-floor transparent curtain. As you enter this design hotel you will notice the twisty glass stalactite lights hanging from the ceiling. It is predominated by square and rectangular shapes and a long white freestanding reception desk off to the right.

In terms of location, there is no more conveniently sited hotel in Stockholm, especially if you are in the city on business. This design hotel stands just around the corner from the Arlanda express station and adjacent to both the central train station and bus terminal in the middle of Stockholm's commercial district. If you are in town for sightseeing, the old town (Gamla Stan) is within the area and most of the other city sights are easily accessible via the fast, clean underground or bus near this design hotel.

The facilities

The open lobby/bar/breakfast area is certainly inviting enough, with a flickering fire during those bitter dark Stockholm winters. The Nordic Light's buffet breakfast is setup at the far end of this open-plan ground floor. Popular with locals and business people, the bar in this design hotel is great for both brisk lunches and for evening drinks to seduce the tastebuds. For other late-night entertainment, guests are encouraged to go across the road to the Nordic Sea and test out the Icebar. Built of the clearest ice found from the Torne River in Northern Sweden and kept at a permanent temperature of -5?C, the Icebar is the world's first permanent bar made of ice.

Beneath this design hotel is the health and fitness area - "Nordic Relax" - with a petite gym, separate male and female saunas and reasonably-priced massage available on request.

The rooms

As with most modern design hotels the overall intention at the Nordic Light is to create, both in the public areas and in the 175 guest rooms, an uncluttered, spare look with mostly white walls and black fittings. The beds are spongy and light, dressed in soft white sheets and rounded off by three fluffy white pillows. Bathrooms are bright and those in deluxe rooms have both tubs and separate power-shower cubicles and offer "Temple Spa" goodies aimed at a typical guest in a trendy design hotel.

The light shows in the deluxe bedrooms really distinguish this hotel from other modern hotels in Stockholm. They also add warmth to keep a stay here on just the right side of "cool". But above all, having lots of in-room lighting effects to play with is fun. Guests of this design hotel can get the effect of a pulsing disco going or allow the lights to change more gently, shifting and rolling in waves. With a "romance package" you can even project red hearts onto the wall. "The guest controls the mood of the room" explain the hotel designers, "we equip our guests with brush and paint and leave them to create the perfect environment."