Sir Adam hotel - Amsterdam, Netherlands

For an Amsterdam hotel, the newly opened Sir Adam aims to break several moulds, one of which is its location. Eschewing the almost obligatory model of the refurbished period canal house, the 110-room property has set up digs in the Toren Overhoeks tower that was designed by Arthus Staal for Royal Dutch Shell in 1971.

With views of the IJ-River and the angular white bulk of the EYE Film Institute, the Sir Adam has fixed its cross-hairs firmly on yuppie millennials, not least those in the music and entertainment business – the Toren Overhoeks tower just happens to be the HQ of some of the industry’s biggest names. The musical theme is layered throughout the hotel including, on the mezzanine level, a music library that is also accessible by Bluetooth.

New York-based designer ICRAVE has kept the concrete rawness of the original space, alongside mirrors etched with glowing song lyrics and customised furniture. For those with an exhibitionist streak, the bathrooms in the corner rooms feature showers with full-length windows overlooking the neighbouring plazas and rooftops.