O

nce a shipyard, then a naval base, and later an industrial center for paper factories, the small manmade island of Christiansholm was off-limits to most Copenhageners for hundreds of years. The so-called Paper Island has undergone another transformation in recent years, opening to the public as an urban neighborhood with art galleries and a popular street food market. The addition of the stylish 25hours Hotel Paper Island only cemented its status. A pioneering local architecture firm envisioned a lively spin on traditional harbor architecture, designing the hotel’s sleek concrete, brick, and timber buildings with slanting roofs inspired by the shapes of Scandinavian holiday cottages.
Inside, the common spaces, including a trio of hipster-friendly bars and restaurants, are arranged in a village-like layout. Befitting 25hours Hotel Paper Island’s waterfront location is a maritime theme — wooden oars and model sailboats are displayed at reception, which opens onto a terrace overlooking the quay, and the décor features weathered wood furnishings, exposed brick floors, and nautical antiques.
The rooms are similarly styled after the look of a Danish summer house, with pale wood flooring, a blue and white color scheme, porthole-like mirrors, and cheerful maps and seascapes framed above beds. Schindelhauer bicycles are included with some rooms, or available to rent with others, and it’s a quick pedal over a nearby bridge to start exploring Copenhagen with the hotel’s curated cycling map.