From industrial stronghold to creative powerhouse - the story of a city, as told by a hotel

Tampere, one of Finland's largest cities, has long been a centre of industrial production. A unique new hotel with deep roots in the city’s history tells the story of its transformation and revival of the city, from industrial stronghold to a new lease of life as a creative powerhouse.

Post-industrial boom

The Torni Tampere Hotel rises out of the old train roundhouses in the city centre - a proud symbol of rebirth. The hotel is based on a concept by Stylt Trampoli, Swedish design consultants with a reputation for going out on a limb. They found their inspiration in Tampere’s industrial past - and its creative future.

“Tampere’s story is one of rise, and fall, and rise,” says Stylt founder and creative director Erik Nissen Johansen. “The post-industrial challenge is one that many, many places around the world faces, and it’s very exciting to explore how a hotel can play a role in a city’s future by telling that story."

Unique graphics
The local connection is evident everywhere you look. The interiors are characterised by the striking graphic patterns and motifs that recur throughout the hotel. Stylt artist Kasra Alikhani has designed carpets, wall features, and a 20-foot-tall collapsible wall, inspired by the local landscape and history.

Home-grown creativity
Local creative forces have been invited to put their own mark on the hotel, for example in the restaurant, which is a celebration of a musical genre unique to Tampere, known as “Manserock” (the name derives from the textile-producing town’s nickname of “Finland’s Manchester”). Guitars belonging to well-known bands adorn the walls, and the menus are made of old vinyl record sleeves. 

The rooftop bar, usually reserved for VIPs and other snooty folk, is designed to be as welcoming as a pub and as egalitarian as a city park, while also being as stunning as any metropolitan sky bar.

Local power

The goal was a hotel where everyone would feel welcome, and one result is that the entire 17th floor is given over to a creative lounge which is open to anyone, from near or far, in need of an inspiring place to work. There is also a library, dedicated to Tampere’s literary heritage, from which guests may borrow during their stay. The hotel is home to the largest commercial art gallery anywhere in the Nordic countries, with over 300 artworks by 22 local artists. Admission is of course free.

"The owners wanted a hotel with a genuine connection to the place and to the local creative forces that have powered the city’s revival, “ says Erik Nissen Johansen. “The result is an experience that is completely unique to this place."