When the MIXD team was faced with the task of designing the interiors of the common areas of the Mercure Białystok hotel, it was necessary to explore the specificity of Podlasie as an introduction to the conceptual work. This remote region of Poland turned out to be a fascinating place with many attractions - the experience of discovering them - an addictive adventure. Today, the same is experienced by hotel guests who, as soon as they cross the threshold, feel that something special awaits them.
Unique on a global scale, primeval nature of the Białowieża Forest, numerous nature reserves, swamps, rivers, forests, rare species of animals, birds and plants - Podlasie is a natural sesame, rich and diverse. But it also hides other things worth knowing - the local mix of nationalities and religions made it a culturally rich region with unique architecture, folk art, and original cuisine. Podlasie's interesting past is evidenced by places such as the impressive Baroque Branicki Palace, the synagogue and castle in Tykocin, the fortress in Goniądz and the mosque in Bohoniki, numerous Orthodox churches, churches, the sanctuary on Mount Grabarka and Wierszalin, hidden in the forests, the former seat of a mystical religious community. So there was plenty of inspiration – all you had to do was skillfully translate it into a contemporary hotel interior.
Local flavors
“The Mercure brand has a strong reference to local specifics in its DNA: history, culture, events, surroundings. A hotel guest is introduced to a new place especially through interior design: selection of materials, colors, equipment, decorations, details.” – says Piotr Kalinowski, CEO and creative director of MIXD. “According to this brand characteristic, starting from the reception area and the lobby, we boldly saturated the space with inspirations from Podlasie, so that visitors to the hotel immediately feel curious and drawn into the story of the region.” Małgorzata Miernik, Director of Franchise Projects in Poland and the Baltic States of Accor, emphasizes: “We are very happy that we were able to implement the first project under the Mercure brand in Białystok in cooperation with an experienced studio that understands its specifics well and is able to propose solutions that delight guests and are memorable for them. We really wanted this kind of effect, which is confirmed by both the opinions of Mercure Białystok visitors and the LIV Hospitality Design Award 2022, which this project won.”
Lady with a bouquet
On the left side of the entrance, there is a wall with an irregular mirror hidden among plants. It looks exactly like the Biebrza river seen from a bird's eye view, meandering through wetlands, peat bogs and meadows. This place is known to nature enthusiasts from around the world - as many as 250 species of birds live here, and their spring mating season is the peak of the tourist ornithological season. The hotel library is full of nature photography albums, e.g. by Wiktor Wołkow, a famous Polish photographer who loved photographing local landscapes. There is also a mysterious portrait of a lady in a richly decorated dress. Is it Katarzyna Branicka, who together with her husband Jan Klemens created a palace called the Podlasie Versailles? We will not know this, because the author of this likeness, Martyna Berger, hid her face behind a huge bouquet of flowers - as if picked from the beds of a Baroque French garden, meticulously recreated recently by archaeologists, historians and gardeners. Finally, from behind the reception desk flashes the sign "Saluton!" – a greeting in Esperanto, language invented by Ludwik Zamenhoff, a physician from Białystok. Esperanto was intended by the creator to facilitate communication between nations and thus avoid any disputes and conflicts. Isn't that a beautiful message these days?
Green minded
The interiors of the hotel are definitely inspired by nature. The dark, saturated green of the walls resembles the color of the forest backwoods, and the pattern on the wallpapers in the restaurant and conference room - vapors floating over forest wetlands. In the restaurant, it is enough to look up to face the real king of the local fauna - the European bison. In fact, meeting this mighty animal can be dangerous, here it hangs upside down from the ceiling and looks more like a funny character from local beer commercials. But there are also less obvious and harder to catch at first glance references. “Light – both artificial and natural – plays a huge role in the interior design of the Mercure hotel. The windows of the hotel restaurant face east. Guests descending for breakfast in the morning can feel like they are in the forest in the early morning - when the trees cast long shadows and filter the rays through the branches and leaves. The light also effectively emphasizes the color of the glass inserts in the decorative metal grille covering the restaurant buffet - this element of the interior is inspired by local wooden architecture, especially the openwork details of houses from the famous Land of Open Shutters.” says Marta Jakubas, Associate, Hospitality at MIXD. “As dusk falls, the light climate changes. Tom Dixon's alabaster Stone Wall sconces give a subdued, moody light, as do lamps with woven basket shades hanging over the tables in the restaurant. Angelika Żelazo from Mercure Białystok hotel describes the reaction of hotel visitors as follows: “The interior design inspired by Podlasie nature delights our hotel guests every day and is appreciated by event organizers. Elements of fauna and flora allow even here, in the city, to breathe for a moment and feel like in the heart of the Białowieża Forest. The biggest surprise always turns out to be a bison welcoming visitors to the restaurant. The idea of putting it there, and upside down, turned out to be extremely successful, and the animal became Bona Me's mascot, reigning on Instagram and other social media.”
Folk art
"Mysterious, intimate, elegant" - these three words define the atmosphere of the interiors of the Mercure Białystok hotel. In this mix there is also a place for a pinch of folk inspirations - although given mainly in the haute couture edition. The designer of carpets with a colorful ethnic pattern, strongly associated with Belarusian embroidery and oriental carpets, is none other than Christian Lacroix himself, a French fashion designer, fascinated by the richness of world cultures. “We initially wanted to “introduce” carpets to the walls, referring to traditions still alive in eastern Poland, shaped under the influence of the Orient. When it turned out to be impossible for fire safety reasons, we treated the wallpapers in a similar way, even placing them on the ceiling. The pattern reminiscent of old engravings perfectly fit into the interior and emphasized the unusual, rounded transition between the walls and the ceiling,” describes Marta Jakubas.
Another folk flavor can be discovered by going to ... the hotel's gym. The wall with floral wallpaper looks like one of the works of Iłarion Daniluk, a self-taught painter from Hajnówka, famous in Podlasie. This talented artist loved flowers and willingly placed them in his paintings.
