Contemporary, warm design hotel in Bergen with a rich past
Villa Terminus / Bergen / Norway
I love second cities! There is something so intriguing and exciting with them. How they usually go their own way when most of the limelight is on the biggest city (which in most cases is also the capital) and this platform is a growing ground for creatives of all kinds which gives the city a certain vibe. Ok, I am also super biased since I grew up in one of these second cities.
Villa Terminus is located in Bergen, which is the second city of Norway. The building that houses the hotel was built by tradesman Zander Kaae in 1760s as a home for the elderly. In 2012 it was bought by their neighbor, Grand Hotel Terminus and received a full make over by world renowned Swedish design studio ClaessonKoivistoRune (which is by the way, their first ever hotel project). In 2016 the doors opened to a brand new boutique hotel, Villa Terminus.
The white wooden building with the massive roof has 18 rooms on two floors where the interior is inspired by the building’s past. The interior can best be described as timeless style with pieces from different Nordic designers such as Daniel Rybakken and Andreas Engsvik. This gives the place a very authentic Scandi look. This style is often mimicked but here you get to experience the real deal. The Swedish design studio got their inspiration from artwork by Danish artist Vilhelm Hammershøi who is know for his sombre and sometimes dark paintings with a lot of discreet beiges and different gray tones. And the result is both dark and bright at the same time. And cozy, very cozy!
Welcome to Villa Terminus! A white wooden building from the 1760s with a massive roof.
Discreet but yet a really powerful entrance.
If the outside is white and bright, the inside is dark and sombre. Almost like entering a cave. A design cave, but still.
Our room was all about warmth. The color tones made it feel welcoming and gentle with a very soft color scheme.
A place to read. Or drink some wine.
Call me old fashioned but I appreciate (ok, love) a real key for my room.
The interior has a very tactile and typical Scandi look.
Bags are unpacked in the clever open closet and we are ready to explore the rest of the hotel and Bergen.
The age of the building shows even though the walls have been painted in dark gray.
I think this is my favorite photo of Villa Terminus where the genius of design studio ClaessonKoivistoRune really shows.
A stroke of genius is the rich use of small lamps that are placed in every single corner of the hotel. A great way to create coziness.
There are several different spaces to hang out in the hotel.
Some real plants, just like all the different lamps, helps to create a cozy space.
The white pigeon is a reference to honor the importance of the Norwegian Nobel Peace Prize.
The ground is wet from a recent rain, which is not rare in this town. Bergen is one of the rainiest cities in the world. In the background you can see the sister hotel Grand Hotel Terminus.
When we stayed here the breakfast was served in next door Grand Hotel Terminus. M is enjoying a cup of coffee and having a look around.
Bergen is surrounded by water and mountains. And often framed by heavy rain clouds.
A narrow back street with colorful houses in the old part of Bergen.
The stunning Bergen Central Station which is located right next to the hotel.
A piece of modernist architecture from downtown Bergen, the Sundt department store.
If you do get the chance, don’t miss to go to nearby Hardangervidda. Scandinavian nature at its finest.
Hardangervidda is a huge mountain plateau with lakes and rugged nature.
Me properly dressed in layers and a rain jacket. This photo was taken in July which is hard to think when looking at this photo.
RG inside info
This place is perfect if you…
…are planning to go to Bergen and want to stay in a real boutique hotel. A hotel that has a rich heritage and that has been gently brought into the 21st century by a super skilled design studio showcasing Nordic design at its best. If you like a calm, warm hotel experience, then I would recommend this hotel to you.
My favorite thing about this place is…
…the homey, warm feeling. It is like entering into a warm embrace where the muted tones combined with soft colors and plenty of small lamps creates the coziest of feelings.
What not to miss when staying here is…
…to bring rain gear. Bergen is one of the rainiest cities in the world so it will come in handy when exploring the city.. If you have the possibility I would also suggest to travel up to nearby Hardangervidda, a mountain plateau with stunning, rugged nature. And for this trip I might suggest to also bring some warm clothes in addition to the rain jacket. Trust me when I say that you will need both. Even in Summer.
If you like this hotel you might also like…
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Flushing Meadows, Munich, Germany
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