Hotel Knaust
© Теxt & Photos by Amazing Magazines
Today, in Sweden there is a very wide range of high-level hotel offer. But there are also those belonging to the luxury class. This type of hotel strategically located in the business central cities, such as- in Stockholm (Stockholm), Gothenburg (Göteborg) and Malmö (Malmö) with a highly developed tourism. But also outside of them some "pearls" can be found that are scattered throughout the long Swedish territory. Hotels with a rich buildings history that were built back in those long ago times when Sweden looked very different. In times when industry oligarchs turned big capital.
One of these bygone era gold pieces is a hotel Knaust, located in Sundsvall (Sundsvall) city. Inspiring.se is always in search of interesting destinations, so we go there to get acquainted with the hotel and find out much more about the building's past.
Arriving at the destination, we meet the hotel manager Ulrika Vidmarku-Norberg (Ulrica-Widmark Norberg) who leads us through the hotel, telling amusing anecdotes from the history of the city. She introduces us to the hotel service sales manager Anni Lindsromu (Anne Lindström), "she will take care of you during your visit and will help to arrange all the necessaryfor photo session." Together with we Anne we settle down in the hotel bar and order coffee, while she tells us about the hotel's rich history.
"It's always so exciting to tell about the hotel and Knaust building," she adds, and presents an information synopsis with materials and facts. When the coffee cups are emptied, we go to the guest reception to get room keys. "If you need someting more for photo session, please let us know," accompanying us with a smile, says Anne and wishes us a pleasant evening.
In the room I release myself in a comfortable armchair and begin to review a stack of received materials about Sundsvall city, while my colleague sketches a plan of ideas on a sheet of paper and continues to prepare all the required for photo session. In our room I find very interesting, well-written book, which is called "Knaust från hotell till hotell", which I higly recommend to read for all those who want to deepen their knowledge of history.
I, in turn learned that Sundsvall, as the town, was founded in 1621 and it has a checkered history with buildings’ looting and burning. Ij 1800-ies from the fishing community the city turned into a sawmill metropolis, which, in our opinion, seemed very interesting.
Due to this fact a rhymed couplet appeared written in 1873 by Elias Sehlstedt, which later proved to be very popular and beloved - såg vid såg jag såg varthän jag såg(literally - wherever I watched, I saw saws to saw).
Our story starts in the place where the Sundsvall city is mentioned as a coastal city, which, together with Bottenhavets coastal sawmill districts served a central role in the entire neighborhood. The sawmills industry was expanding and in 1800-ies Sundsvall became an important point on the map for both business and fortune seekers. As the century went on, when steam engines began to be used and export rules became even more favorable, production reached new heights. Up to the end of 18th century 40 sawmills were already established which used steam engines and they all concentrated in the coastal region, stretching about 30 kilometers along the sea. Residents were provided with work and the society prospered. Population grew and due to that new professions and business opportunities appeared. Income rose sharply and as a result, the district woodworkers, wholesalers and bankers became incredibly wealthy.
The devastated cities were rebuild, which experienced a great burning, this time of wealth was just for good. Successful entrepreneurs appeared in the best places along the royal persons and landowners, so they had good contacts around the world and the new city had changed beyond recognition. In a place where once traditional wooden houses were located, now stood large and tall buildings. Here parks, glamorous greenery, alleys and Esplanade were created.
This is the time when the mythical Hotel Knaust begins its way in history. Hotels founder was Adolf Fredrik Knaust (Adolf Fredrik Knaust), who was born in 1853 and arrived in Sundsvall as a completely young and full of ambitions man. In 1885 he married Ann Charlotte Svensson (Anna Charlotta Svenson) and both later raised two sons - Frederick Oscar (Oscar Fredrik 1886) and Jacob Nils (Nils Jacob 1887.g.).
Adolf worked very purposefully and as some of his relatives, was a diligent businessman. He used all the opportunities that happened to be on the way. He worked for a few years in hotel and restaurant business, then in 1887 he took over Sundsvall Norrland territories, the largest hotel company at that time - Hotell Nord. After a dreadful town fire, which burned down the Hotell Nord, there was a clear need for short-term residences and rooms, so he built a temporary hotel made of wood. The couple also invested in three plots of land which were located in the center of Proserpina. Here Adolf was able to implement his ambitious plans and revive his dreams of a captivating luxury hotel built in German Renaissance-style.On October 9, 1891, his rich unique hotel was opened, which was created by architect Sven Malma (Sven Malm) project. The luxurious hotel was built on granite foundations and further built of bricks. Its entrance was located on the corner of the building, which was very appropriate for that time, as well as over the entrance there was a parade balcony, which was decorated with detailed plaster ornaments. Grandiose interior, which counted very luxurious at that time and the most admired, famous Knaust ladders. Ladders, decorated with beautiful wrought iron and marble, which extends over the building height to the richly decorated dome spaces between floors.
Impressive staircase, which so often was mentioned in the media and in various articles, was even compared with the art buildings in ancient Athens (Athen). "There are two significant ladders in the history of western culture. One is Acropolis (Propylaea) located in ancient Athens and the other is a ladder in Knaust Sundsvall city." wrote historian of culture Gustaf Näsström
With first-class service and exquisite goods, this hotel became a place to rest for most wealthy people. Visitors from afar also went here. In 1897 Siam (Siam) king visited the hotel to enjoy the hotel public and to taste a delicious dinner. It was able to find 54 types of punch in the warehouse and it was one of the reasons for unreasonable party. It lasted until the morning and often ended up with brokenglasses and porcelain. But the rich people could afford to pay the bill the next day. In a suit breast pocket there was always a solid stack of paper money.
At the Hotel Knaust nothing was impossible and probably both spouses strong personal involvement was key to success, which helped the company flourish. Anna’s deep knowledge and experience from previous jobs such as a waitress, cashier and restaurant employee Strömkarlen on board only contributed to the development of the restaurant. There are rumors that some director at the ball had said the room was too small for such events, to which Anna replied, "then we pull down the wall!"
At hotel’s prosperity Adolf built another property, called the Annexet. The facade was created in Art Nouveau style with elements of national romanticism and it was in fact even higher as the main property. There were opened shops and hotel rooms. A few decades Knaust family lived there.
In 1907 Adolf Knaust was no longer among the living, and for two years Anna herself led the company until son Oscar returned from completed studies and was ready to help. Until then, he had completed a number of schools and undergone practices in hotel / restaurant industry in both Germany and England as well as in France. Now he was ready to manage parents’ cherished company, so he took on a key role with the aim to further manage the family business as successfully as parents. He introduced some new things - strict cash control system with modernized cash registers, which seriously impeded cheating.
Oscar was a very charming personality with extensive social contacts. He certainly fitted very well among the hotel guests and in his circle of contacts gained more and more celebrities. Actors and musicians- Adolf Jahr, Jussi Björling (Jussi Björling) Ernst Rolf (Rolf Ernst) are just a few famous people with whom Oscar was well-known and had parties late into the night. There are rumors that by the time he had been so popular that sending him a letter was enough to write on the envelope: Oskars- Sweden, so that he could get the letter without any problems.
Ten years later Anna died and Oscar with the help of his brother Nils had to run the business alone. As a result of World War IIbrothers were struck by a harder time and Oscar had to invest capital in new sectors of the company. As time passed, he had to realize that the trading of cars have been an economic disaster and despite the help of his brother, he had to leave the family cherished treasure. In 1921 a joint stock company Hotel Knaust AB was formed and on 4 August the new company's owner became chocolate factory owner Zäta Hirschfeldt, who later on moved to Knaust family private hotel floor.
Oscar continued to work as a hotel employee, but despite the renovations and upgrades, the hotel never got back its glory. Timber barons happy days were faded and inside the hotel walls only myths and legends remained, but winds full of magic flowed corridors and the stairwell.
After Oscar's death in 1943, the hotel owner Hirschfeldt decided to sell the company. In the coming years a number of changes took place in the building and new ideas appeared to improve the business. Gunnar Wilöf during the management of the hotel introduced a live dance music and opened the first casino roulette game in Sweden. In 1969, the owner's son Bo Wilöf took the lead and became the owner of the hotel. He, like Oscar Knaust, was brought up in the company and the fact that he will go his father's footsteps, was visibly clear. He also introduced some changes. One of the new ideas were to attract conference guests and create a new company service.
In 70s, when the trend began to change drastically, and everyone tried to be as sophisticated as possible, hotel and restaurant business experienced hard times. Consequently, this era went into oblivion, and in 1978 the company was closed. The hotel became a building with memories.
What happened later with once so proud building became a dark chapter in the history of the property. Modern times led to drastic changes and in the next two decades the property was used as a space for offices, apartments, student rooms and new stores.
In 1999, the property was taken over by a joint stock company DEAB (Danielsson Entreprenad AB), which was founded in 1950.
Later on the founder and owner of Elite Hotels of Sweden Bicky Chakraborty became interested in the building. Hotel entrepreneur had always shown a great interest in the Swedish cultural heritage and commitment to preserve the old buildings. Today Elite Hotels of Sweden can boast of 32 hotels in 22 regions of Sweden, which employs around 1,400 inhabitants. In 2008 B. Chakrabortywas awarded with the Royal Medal (Royal Patriotic Sällskapets Näringslivsmedalj) for investment in the development of Swedish business.
In May 2001 DEAB agreed with Elite Hotels of Sweden on a contract period of 15 years and one month after extensive construction and renovation works began in the building. Construction firm Ellextre Entreprenad AB took reconstruction works, and in less than a year (2002) the hotel was finally able to open its doors and welcome its guests.
Heavily invested and carefully implemented work resulted in Hotel Knaust new version. Amazing result is really worth viewing. Upon entering the hotel, I'm taken with grandiose feelings at a time when overlooking mythical Knaust ladders. This building is really charming and it will continue for years to amaze and delight visitors and guests in its new form.
Inspiring.se - © Теxt & Photos by Amazing Magazines
