The Cuckoo’s Nest Bar in our recently opened Radisson Blu Riverside Hotel, Gothenburg in Sweden, has been honored for having the best design in Europe. According to designer Erik Nissen Johansen, the design is based on a blend of genius and madness; the interior design was inspired by the feature film “A Beautiful Mind.” The combination created the perfect ambiance needed to win “Best Bar Design” in the European Hotel Design Awards 2013 (see photo at right).  

Each year, the European Hotel Design Awards celebrates outstanding hotel design and architecture and honors the industry's leading architects and designers. The nominees, in 13 categories, are chosen by a panel of experts. This year's awards gala was held last week in London at our Park Plaza Westminster Bridge Hotel. 

Having drawn on inspiration from the local surroundings, the Cuckoo’s Nest incorporates features that give a heightened sense of scientific thinking. An example is the bar, which illustrates notes and calculations from Albert Einstein, illuminating them as if they are on an actual chalkboard.

The judges said, “The Cuckoo’s Nest is an engaging and lively bar environment that lends itself to a sociable atmosphere, with interesting and provocative design features throughout." The concept was highly commended by the judges for its storytelling and the sense of place achieved by the bar's design team at Stylt Trampoli.

“It was just a year ago, that our team sat and tested glassware in a barracks, while the hotel was under construction,” said Malin Franck, general manager of the Radisson Blu Riverside Hotel, Gothenburg. “Every little detail was important to assure our guests would have a visual experience to inspire their creativity when staying with us. Next stop London, where we not only went to the finals of Europe's top design bars, but also won. It feels awesome! All of our planning, dedication and our hard work paid off. Working with Stylt Trampoli Architects was amazing. Their ideas and creativity were able to flow and become a reality. It was a very inspiring process.” 

The concept of the Cuckoo’s Nest menu is described in small, medium and large. This has been very popular with hotel and restaurant guests, allowing them the right to choose what suits their palate best. The menu ranges from fresh Scandinavia seafood to delicacies straight from the grill.

For Designer Erik Nissen and the team at Stylt Trampoli, the concept was obvious. “We wanted to create a meeting place for innovators, geeks and geniuses who populate Lindholmen Science Park, Gothenburg,” he said.

The agency has created several large hotels and restaurants around the world and is known to work with storytelling. Inspiration for Cuckoo's Nest comes from the local area and films, bringing in different elements, like an old English library, Swedish classrooms and laboratory environments, always with the goal to encourage creative thinking and new inspirations for the guest. Volvo, Ericsson and Chalmers University of Technology have contributed ideas and objects that have become part of the decor.

The Radisson Blu Riverside Hotel and its Cuckoo's Nest Bar are located at Gothenburg's old wharf area, a trendy residential and world-leading arena for research, innovation and education in technology and communication. 

View other winners from the 2013 European Hotel Design Awards, here.