A Sense of Aesthetic Slowness: The Largo Hotel in Porto by Space Copenhagen.

Danish design studio Space Copenhagen have just completed the interiors for The Largo Hotel in Porto, Portugal. Located on the historic Largo de São Domingos, the 18-room hotel, restaurant and bar is a unique hospitality development, occupying five interconnected 15th,16th and 19th-century buildings.

One of the key objectives of the renovation, which has steadily been taking place over the last three years, has been the conservation of hundreds of years of history and the preservation of the crafts and traditions embedded within the architecture. Space Copenhagen carefully stripped back and restored the interiors to reveal and maintain the—sometimes wildly varied—original features.

The Largo plays at the intersection of tradition and modernity. Peter Bundgaard Rützou and Signe Bindslev Henriksen, founders of Space Copenhagen, have conceived the interiors to be soft, slightly nostalgic yet timeless in design. “We have applied a refined, historically detailed design language that celebrates modernity combined with a sense of an aesthetic slowness in celebration of the city, its legacy and the local traditions of Porto,” Peter explains.

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The suites at The Largo are all generously proportioned with all rooms mimicking the intimacy of an apartment living room and private quarters. Paying homage to local craft and tradition, each element has been carefully and exclusively designed for The Largo and executed by Portuguese artisans. The millwork, stone and metalwork throughout were carefully created by local artisans, as well as tiling sourced from local tile manufacturers.

“Our wish has been to create a soft and charming oasis in the heart of Porto—a place and destination where you can feel at home, sense the honest and genuine atmosphere of the historic buildings and neighbourhood… A place of discovery, and a place to recharge for new adventures in the beautiful city and surrounding nature,” Peter concludes.

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[Images courtesy of Space Copenhagen. Photography by Joachim Wichmann.]