Glar, synonymous with Radiance, embodies the essence of Wolin Island's legendary lore, crafted into reality by the skilled hands of NOKE Architects.
Situated at the crossroads of ancient trails linking Poland, Germany, Denmark, and Sweden, Wolin Island boasts a heritage as vibrant as its Baltic surroundings. This rich tapestry of history and nature intertwines seamlessly within the Glar Hotel in Wisełka, a testament to NOKE Architects' visionary design.
The name Glar pays homage to the sacred horse revered by Wolin Island's ancestral tribes, a nod to the profound connection the hotel owners hold with the region of Western Pomerania. This reverence echoes throughout NOKE Architects' meticulous design process, resulting in a harmonious blend of tradition and innovation that captivates guests, diners, spa enthusiasts, and conference attendees alike.
Local, yet universal
To meet the investors' expectations, NOKE Architects spent a lot of time on Wolin Island and composed necessary mood boards based on the richness of the Baltic nature. Priceless inspirations were also found in the local museum. We met with archaeologists associated with the Polish Academy of Sciences. They told us about the colorful history of this place, especially between the 9th and 12th centuries, when Wolin was one of the most populous settlements in Europe, one of the most important ports on the Baltic Sea, and a meeting point of the Scandinavian world with trade routes extending all the way to China, says Piotr Maciaszek from NOKE Architects, one of the authors of the interior design project.
Wolin was then a true cultural melting pot, blending Nordic, Slavic, and Asian influences. Excellent craftsmanship flourished here. Over time the old stronghold lost its significance, the earth covered everything and preserved a multitude of priceless crafts: ceramics, jewelry, costumes, metal tools, and stone products, adds Karol Pasternak, another NOKE designer. We drew numerous motifs from the treasures presented in the Wolin museum and later transferred them to the interiors. One example is strings of beads made of ceramics, stone, and amber, which in the past served as currency. They were the inspiration for the wooden totems visible in the guest rooms or lamp designs for the restaurant, he emphasizes.
Wolin's history as a bustling nexus of various influences inspired the design team to infuse Glar's interiors with a sense of timeless authenticity. From the intricate patterns adorning guest rooms to the organic textures echoing the island's natural wonders, every detail reflects Wolin's storied past while offering a universal appeal to guests from far and wide.
Eight shades of relaxation
The four-star Glar Conference & SPA Hotel stands on the shore of Lake Wisełka in the peaceful village of the same name, just 10 kilometers from the bustling resort life of Międzyzdroje and 1.5 kilometers from the sea coast. This corner of Poland, distant from the center of our country, is very close to the residents of Germany, Denmark, and Sweden. They come here eagerly to enjoy the sun, sandy beaches, the charms of the Wolin National Park, and excellent golf courses. The hotel hosts also prepared an offer for families with children, conference organizers, and large social gatherings, as well as those seeking blissful relaxation in the spa.
With 8 distinct room configurations catering to every need, from intimate retreats to family getaways, Glar ensures a personalized experience for every guest. Some rooms have a bathroom open to the room, others with a work desk and dressing table, and others – for families – with two sleeping areas and an expanded mini-kitchen. Those expecting the highest level of comfort can enjoy apartments with individualized interiors, a bathing room, and the most attractive view from a spacious terrace.
Several important design threads connect all types of rooms. We left raw ceiling casts wherever possible, manifesting a return to wabi-sabi aesthetics – finding charm in imperfection. The idea for a frieze with a circle motif, formed in coarse-grained plaster, came from writing with a finger in the sand. Sinks made from grooved boulders refer to an important phenomenon for Baltic nature, the erosion of rocks, where the seemingly soft water can shape hard stone, explains Karol Pasternak. In contrast to this rawness, additional textured threads were introduced: smooth glass, soft fabrics with thick weaves, and brushed wood finished as if the sea had washed it ashore in the Wolin National Park. They carry the inspiration of what is eternal on Wolin Island; water, amber, and centuries-old craftsmanship.
Into the depth of flavor
The aforementioned totems, setting the tone for the rooms, are not the only artistic elements at the Glar Hotel. Works of talented hands greet hotel guests at the entrance. In the lobby, where you can check-in in a traditional manner and using your mobile, stands a column made of decoratively burnt wood. This is another reminiscence of archaeological discoveries in Wolin. There is also the decorative wall behind the stairs, hand-formed in clay plaster. It's inspired by the cross-section of soil from the Middle Ages to today, presented in the Museum of the History of Szczecin.
Impressive stairs lead from the lobby downstairs to the impressive, two-story main restaurant hall, which opens with a glass wall onto a sunny terrace and further onto the lake. In addition to classic tables near the buffets, a long breakfast table facilitates contact among guests. One step further is a live cooking area.
A spectacular conference area, which can also be used for organizing parties, has movable walls that can be freely slid or pushed aside to divide or open up the space. The movable partitions are adorned with veneers, in which designers included references to local craftsmanship. The whole space also has great acoustics, providing comfort to conference participants and hotel guests alike.
For body, for spirit
In the modern SPA & wellness area, which provides amazing views of the lake from huge windows and terraces, guests can enjoy swimming pools, jacuzzi, a salt graduation tower, a spacious dry sauna, and an exceptionally large steam sauna. The latter two rooms were adapted to the preferences of Scandinavian guests by NOKE Architects.
The bottoms of the pools are adorned with mosaics designed by a renowned Polish artist Ola Niepsuj. A giant fish can be seen in the larger one. The surrounding drawing of waves shimmers, imitating the sun's reflections flickering on Lake Wisełka, visible from the windows. A drawing of a swan adorns the smaller pool, which one can encounter on the way to the hotel.
A unique proposition of the Glar Hotel is health and beauty treatments based on forgotten Slavic rituals. They can be enjoyed in soundproofed and aesthetically pleasing offices.
A weave of threads drawn from nature and culture. A fresh, creative look at traces of the past. Bold, innovative solutions that accurately respond to the unchanging needs of the human body and spirit. All of this, in the hands of designers from the NOKE Architects studio, has come together into a unique whole, both universal in expression and very local. Perfected to ensure that the multisensory experience of Glar hotel guests is consistent in every detail.
NOKE Architects design team: Piotr Maciaszek, Karol Pasternak, Marcin Adamczewski, Marcin Sudnik, Aleksandra Hyz, Michał Niedośpiał, Justyna Puchalska, Paulina Cziba
Mosaic designs: Ola Niepsuj
Photographs: Piotr Maciaszek
