The building at Arsenalsgatan 6 was completed in 1910, at the end of the Art Nouveau period. Over the years, it has housed various establishments, but the era when it served as a bank has left an indelible mark.
Bank Hotel originated in 1910 as the headquarters for Bankaktiebolaget Södra Sverige. Designed by architect Thor Thorén, the building was conceived as a bold, modern interpretation of a Renaissance palace. It blended extravagant Art Nouveau elements with the traditional strength and solidity characteristic of a bank’s headquarters.
In the early history of the building, it was home to several banks, including Svenska Handelsbanken, Diskontobank, and Wermlands Enskilda Bank. Later, it served as an exhibition hall for Orrefors and as a library. Each tenant has left its mark, and attentive hotel guests can spot traces of this legacy throughout the building.
These historical features, such as the heavy bronze doors that recall the building’s original purpose, have been softened with finer, more subtle design touches. The glass ceiling above the former bank hall, now the restaurant Bonnie’s, rises six meters above the floor, allowing light to flood the interior and illuminate the elegant blue-green stucco on the supporting columns. The large bronze doors still bear the octagon emblem of Södra Sverige BAB, which is also reflected in Handelsbanken’s iconic logo today. At the entrance, you can spot stone carvings of the owl (the wise one) and the squirrel (the frugal one), with the owl now featured in Bank Hotel’s logo and playfully integrated into the hotel’s design.
During the renovation to transform the building into a hotel, great care was taken to preserve its original features while incorporating a fresh and modern touch.
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