The idea behind the concept was to add a more relaxed and welcoming touch to this quite conservative area in Riga. Stylt created the theme “diplohemia” to describe how the hotel’s design narrative could merge the neighborhood’s s diplomatic history with today’s modern, bohemian vibe to create one interconnected design.

Spread across five buildings, one of which is a historical landmark, the Grand Poet Hotel is a vivid example of architecture from the turn of the 20th century. Originally constructed as a residential building, adapting the protected structure to the needs of a hotel was a particular challenge. Eleven of the original masonry stoves were preserved, nine of which are still in working condition. Fifteen fireplaces, wooden staircases and railings, and historical tiles were also restored. While retaining the old aura, the building has also been adapted to 21st-century standards and the demands of modern travelers.

The new hotel is like a work of art that reveals itself only after being studied inch by inch. When guests arrive in the lobby they are greeted by unusual light fixtures and sofas (half tweed, half floral print). Here and there they see old-fashioned, paper-wrapped parcels bearing the hotel’s name. Best described as a nonconformist atmosphere.

At the Grand Poet Hotel, the designers incorporated the grey tones typical of Scandinavian design as a canvas for various unusual accents, from bright pink chairs to unique floor coverings and other details. The hotel also features bespoke light fixtures, tables, and wardrobes in the rooms.

Each of the hotel’s 168 guestrooms is designed differently – nothing here is ordinary or standard: to meet the needs of the guests, which mainly come from the business world. Their needs dictate the conditions, which reflect the very highest standards, and to that end, no concessions have been made.

The hotel has five conference rooms, the largest of which can accommodate up to 100 guests. An art gallery in the former courtyard now displays five works of art by young Latvian artists. This is the first exhibition hosted by the Grand Poet Art Collection.