Puro Kraków Old Town undergoes redesign
Puro Hotels has joined forces with Polish designers Zuza and Piotr Paradowski of Paradowski Studio to refresh the interiors of its first Kraków hotel, which opened in 2013 next to the city’s historic old town.
Guided by the vintage glamour of Kraków’s interwar cafés, as well as the clean functionalism of its mid-century modernist hotels, the studio has created an elegant living space grounded in the city’s sophisticated past yet realised through the vision of a youthful generation. This contemporary localism is further accentuated by a wholly revitalised art collection throughout; the property now houses works created primarily by artists with close ties to Kraków’s creative community, who reference recognisable architecture and landscapes of the surrounding area while maintaining singular forms and artistic techniques.
As guests approach the building, they are greeted by a façade evoking the grandeur of Kraków’s socialist-era utopian suburb, Nowa Huta. Inside, a refashioned scheme channels the chic style of a bygone era, all the while using contemporary materials like natural oak, stone, and Polish-made glass and ceramics. Drawing on a multitude of unconventional inspirations – including the city’s iconic Hotel Cracovia and Forum Hotel – the new look sheds light on chapters of Poland’s design history largely unknown to international visitors.
Across each of the hotel’s guestrooms and common spaces, guests are invited to sit back and relax among elegant European furnishings sourced from Scandinavia and Italy, as well as The Netherlands, Germany and the United Kingdom. The selection of furniture and lighting blends the heritage artistry of &Tradition, Artek, Carl Hansen & Søn and Cassina with the youthful flair of relative newcomers like Massproductions, Wästberg, Dirk Vander Kooij and Areti, not to mention Verpan, Bocci, Friends & Founders and Tom Dixon.
The reopening of Puro’s first Kraków site also sees a collaboration between two of the group’s enduring partners: Røros Tweed and Maria Jeglinska. Røros Tweed – renowned for its centuries-old craft traditions – has provided woollen throws that add a homely touch to the hotel’s guestrooms, while leading Polish designer Maria Jeglinska has supplied a limited collection of 100% Norwegian wool throws too. Blending pastel colours with vivid shades, these unique pieces act as both decorative accessories and cosy blankets.
The new scheme is rounded off by a reshuffled art collection. Upon entering the lobby, guests are welcomed by a detailed mosaic as well as a wooden bas-relief and a sgraffito-decorated ceramic wall. These works by Tomasz Opaliński incorporate inspirations that span from the modernist mosaics of the 1970s to the natural beauty of the nearby Tatra Mountains, echoing the distinct styles and shapes of Poland’s cultural heritage.
Elsewhere throughout the foyers, hallways and recreational spaces, patrons are drawn towards abstract painting, collage and photography by local artists such as Tomasz Baran, Małgorzata Malwina Niespodziewana and Tomasz Wiech. Meanwhile, the guestrooms are home to a set of works that further reflect artistic diversity in their presentation of woodcuts, mixed gouache-collage, hook weaves and lithographs, created respectively by Marta Wojtuszek, Tomasz Opalinski and Agnieszka Owsiany.
Both hotel guests and Kraków locals can now also mingle at the newly-opened Hint bistro and bar. Taking inspiration from global street food, Hint brings a modern culinary twist with a varied menu fully accessible to vegetarians, vegans and children, as well as weekend events including afternoon tea. The bar presents a wine list spanning Europe, New Zealand and South America, alongside a selection of regional craft beers.
