At Six hotel - Stockholm, Sweden

Once a hub for Stockholm’s 19th century elite, Brunkebergstorg Square is slowly being coaxed back to life as part of Urban Escape, a city regeneration project that, when complete, will comprise a mix of retail outlets, offices, dining spaces and hotels, including At Six, a 343-room property dressed by London-based Universal Design Studio.

More precisely housed within one of the brutalist buildings - an overhaul from the 1960s - that makes up the block, the hotel veers away from the grande dame approach with a clean, almost monochromatic style that is a calm reflection of the city.

In the guest rooms, the smart positioning of mirrors either side of the window draws in most of the available light, that in turn, highlights the stone, wood, leather and bronze accents that were chosen by the design firm to ‘wear in and not wear out’. Meanwhile, on the Verdi Alpi marble credenza, alongside other bespoke pieces, is a fully equipped cocktail corner for movers and shakers.

For those who prefer the services of a pro, the mezzanine bar serves up a mean punch along with tea-infused gin cocktails served from teapots. Adjacent, the Dining Room, which is centred around an open staircase that overlooks the square, is packed with a discerning crowd that have come to sample executive chef Andreas Askling’s seasonal international cuisine that includes dishes such as torched haddock with mussels and pancetta or the At Six lamb kebab, served with chipotle tomatro sauce, pickled onion, pita and cumin yoghurt.

Of course, the artwork is no afterthought; as part of the impressive entrance staircase, Universal Design Studio has built a plinth for a two and a half metre high white marble bust by Spanish sculptor Jaume Plensa, with further works such as large-scale line drawings by Julian Opie and more earthy pieces from land artist Richard Long, making up the collection carefully selected by art curator, Sune Nordgren.