Grafting old to new and fusing local heritage to the contemporary in an interior design of a unique and singular style, the spirit of the Radisson Old Mill lives on in a new, modern attire as it becomes a new, local landmark.

The ambitious and fresh interior concept has embraced and enhanced the existing historical structure with new materials, colours and forms, energising the original qualities of the cultural monument and creating a unique visual experience.

The main entrance of the hotel, with its lobby and reception area, bar and restaurant, are located in the existing building complex. The newly built high-rise accommodates the guest rooms and suites, as well as the spa, fitness and service areas.

The guests arrive on a slightly elevated new plaza, featuring old granite stones and wrought iron columns rescued from the Old Mill. A water feature softens the traffic noise. The lobby then welcomes the hotel guests with its industrial, open and authentic atmosphere. Numerous reclaimed materials, such as the bricks from the historical building, were salvaged, cleaned, repaired and re-integrated into the renovation, and the backdrop of the reception counter was made from old machinery from the mill. Integrated into this modern architectural language, the natural materials, such as oak and copper, also reference the history of the site and its former uses, whilst the structurally necessary concrete cuts were kept rough, complimenting its overall industrial look. All of this is then contrasted against a giant, white structure that fuses all of the materials into a vast, spatial continuum. Acting like a white canvas, it reflects and speaks of their different ages and qualities, breathing new life into them.

This public and raw aspect of the Old Mill complex gradually shifts into the more private and contemplative environment of the guest rooms. The metals and stones are replaced by wood and textile creating a cosy, comforting quality. The concrete remains untreated, in continuing the industrial heritage theme, but is here overlaid with wall paintings to offer narration and interpretation. The rooms’ interior also feature enormous, low windows, customised seating areas and an open, bright bathroom.

There are 236 guest rooms and 14 suites with balconies on the upper floors. The Old mill building also features a conference centre with four meeting rooms, a great banquet hall and an exclusive business lounge at the top of this landmark building.

GOLD FOR RADISSON BLU OLD MILL HOTEL AT THE 8TH INTERNATIONAL DESIGN AWARDS (IDA)

Radisson Blu Old Mill Hotel in Belgrade was recognised as an architectural masterpiece in two categories at the 8th International Design Awards (IDA).

Studio GRAFT, responsible for the interior design of the hotel, took first prize in the Renovation category and the second prize in the Commercial among 1000 design projects category, beating off competition from 52 countries. The prestigious awards were presented to studio GRAFT at the official IDA international ceremony in Harmony Gold Theatre in Los Angeles on 5th May 2015.

In addition to this great success, the Radisson Blu Old Mill Hotel project has reached the finale of the 11th Hospitality Design Awards in the Hotel Midscale category, lining up against 560 projects from countries around the world.

Hotel Radisson Blu Old Mill has 236 hotel rooms, including 14 suites, 500m2 of modern conference space consisting of six conference rooms with the latest AV equipment, OMB Larder + Lounge (a restaurant of modern Serbian cuisine), a Fitness and Wellness centre and a large parking area. This is the so-called focus hotel of the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, one of the largest hotel companies in the world.

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