The harbor town of Køge, under an hour from Copenhagen, is peaceful, a convenient escape for city denizens made even more alluring with the arrival of Rox Resort.
When crafting the 156-room hotel, Sweden-based Spik Studios—the in-house design arm of Ess Group hotels and restaurants—leaned into the bayfront backdrop, interpreting the water as a symbol of connection that transcends borders.
Rox Resort is a new-build, but to ensure the property exuded the warmth and confidence of a long-clamored-for retreat, the design team hatched a narrative around the idea of storied objects, “the things you collect when you travel through time and cultures,” says Spik Studios interior designer Lisa Claudelin. “We wanted a sense of drama and mystery, for the guest to be curious when they walk through.”
Velvety chalk-painted walls, marble, metal, and soft oak, ash, and beech woods lend an enigmatic air. This dialogue between raw and refined unfurls throughout the hotel, beginning in the lobby, where the centerpiece fireplace is dressed in mirror “and a little bit of brass to add some luxury to the plain canvas,” continues Claudelin.
Accentuating the lobby’s blue and green tones is “the Danish sun that comes in through the windows from the beach, but when you get further into the hotel it becomes darker, more intimate,” points out Spik Studios interior designer Micaela Lohman.
Past the reception desk is R.F. Smith, an airy, earth-hued steakhouse layered with glamorous elements like panels of textured glass, undulating carpet patterns, and a faceted mirror bar, “the glowing piece in the middle,” as Claudelin puts it, juxtaposed by rattan stools.
Upstairs, cocktail lair the Birdcage awaits. “It’s not hidden, because it’s a huge glass room, but it’s also at the end of the hotel, so it’s a bit of a hideout that you need to discover,” explains Spik Studios interior designer Simon Poulsgaard. Sofas instill a classic salon vibe but brick flooring and the bar’s maximalist floral motif pull in the outdoors.
The organic interplay between inside and outside is most prominently showcased in the sprawling, multi-functional rooftop pool club. Guests splash around in the large indoor pool or an alfresco one, then while away the rest of the day in the surrounding complementary zones—the sauna, fireplace nook, dumpling bar, or one of the loungers emblazoned with botanical prints. “Greenery closes off some of the areas and makes them more private,” says Lohman.
Guestrooms are also designed as sanctuaries, adorned with bold, contrasting patterns, comfortable armchairs, and homey wardrobes that at times were difficult to install. “We had two different kinds—one freestanding and one built in around the door of the bathroom, [which created] some challenges. We made adjustments, and now it feels like they were always supposed to be there,” elaborates Poulsgaard.
Deep red doors open into the accommodations, one of Rox Resort’s subtle nods to Asia. The designers spent time poring over photographs of yore and watching Hong Kong films like “In the Mood for Love” that inspired textile and color palette decisions. Even the forms of the fireplaces (including the star of the quiet, introspective relaxation room) reference historic Chinese architecture.
At Rox Resort, materials are deliberately played with to create spaces “you can—and want to—touch,” says Lohman. This is because of a deep consideration of the emotional aspect of design, too. “It’s not only the visuals and what you should see,” adds Claudelin, “but what you should feel.”
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