Minnesota Inspires the Design of New Radisson Blu Mall of America

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. April 26, 2013

April 26, 2013 - Radisson Blu Mall of America in Bloomington, Minn., a 500-room hotel directly connected to the Mall of America®, marks the second North American location for the upper upscale Radisson Blu brand. Recently opened on March 15, the hotel's design showcases its Minnesota roots, an appreciation for Scandinavian decor, and the modern elegance and contemporary style that has become synonymous with the Radisson Blu brand throughout the world.

Behind the project is Jim Hamilton of Graven Images, an acclaimed UK-based designer who was also responsible for the Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel, Chicago. “The central vision for the hotel's design surrounds local and regional inspiration - an abstract representation of Minnesota's history and unparalleled landscape,” says Hamilton. “From the walls and carpet to the furniture and wall art, every element tells a compelling story.”

Design features include:

• Scandinavian Roots
  Many Minnesotan families and businesses trace their background to early settlers from Scandinavia, a part of Northern Europe where the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group also derives a distinct cultural heritage. Danish architect and master of international functionalism, Arne Jacobsen, created the world's first 'designer hotel,' the Radisson Blu Royal Hotel in Copenhagen, as well as its world famous Swan™ and Egg™ chairs in 1959. Both chairs have been used in Radisson Blu hotels around the world, an association Hamilton sustained in Minnesota by using a unique fuchsia-colored version of the Swan™ chair in the hotel's boardrooms.

• Shopping Bag
  In reverence to Mall of America's® 4.2 million square-foot retail environment, Hamilton designed a large, red lined Krion wall that forms the backdrop to the entire first and second floor lobby, which simultaneously shelters FireLake Grill House & Cocktail Bar from the bright lights of the main lobby.
  
  Much like a cool, pristine shopping bag, the wall advertises and sets the tone for the brand, while protecting and concealing the goods hidden within.

• Topographical Tales
  The aerial view of Minnesota's beautiful 'Land of 10,000 Lakes' was the inspiration for the design of the rug in the Radisson Blu Mall of America's first floor lobby. Hamilton noted the interesting aerial patterns that naturally exist as a result of Minnesota's lakes and land. He wove an abstract translation of the colors and shapes within the vibrant rug that sits in the main lobby. When viewed from the second floor lobby, the rug provides guests with a visually condensed, abstract impression of Minnesota's natural landscape.

• Design Gallery
  The Radisson Blu Mall of America features its own dedicated gallery space, a concept that Hamilton first designed for the Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel, Chicago. In addition to wall mounted pieces, Hamilton identified objects that stand alone as unique, relevant, and interesting alongside one-of-a-kind furniture, including hanging loungers from world renowned furniture retailer, Dedon, which suspend 40 feet from the ceiling and hover just above the first floor lobby, and iconic, vibrant red designer chairs that surround a custom-made 40-foot table in the second floor gallery.

• Double Helix
  The inspiration behind the double helix DNA pattern woven into the carpet in the main and junior ballrooms was derived from two unique pairings: the hotel's proximity to Minneapolis and St. Paul, uniquely deemed the “Twin Cities,” and the relationship between the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group and Mortenson Construction, the joint developers of the property. Hamilton also chose an art piece featured within the Gallery to serve as an additional reference. In the piece, two separate artists paint over the other's work to produce a finished composition with blended strokes, textures and colors.

“The Radisson Blu Mall of America is a genuine piece of art in its own right that is thoughtfully designed and carefully crafted as a tribute to its Minnesotan location,” General Manager Harry Gorstayn says. “Everywhere you look, you will find unique Jim Hamilton creations that make the hotel both a beautifully designed property, as well as an artistic historical landmark.

About Radisson Blu Mall of America
Marking the second Radisson Blu in North America, the Radisson Blu Mall of America in Bloomington, Minn opened in March 2013. The hotel, attached to the famed Mall of America®, offers a dedicated shopping program, Minnesota-centric FireLake Grill House & Cocktail Bar and spacious accommodations suitable for business and leisure travelers. http://www.radisson.com/bloomington-hotel-mn-55425/usablma or call 1 (952) 881-5258

About Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group
Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group is one of the world's largest and most dynamic hotel groups. The portfolio of the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group includes more than 1,300 hotels in operation and under development, a global footprint spanning 100 countries and territories and a powerful set of global brands (Radisson Blu, Radisson®, Park Plaza®, Park Inn by Radisson, Country Inns & Suites By CarlsonSM and Hotel Missoni). In most of the group's hotels, guests can benefit from the loyalty program Club CarlsonSM, one of the most rewarding loyalty programs in the world. Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group and its brands employ more than 80,000 people.

Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minn., and Brussels, Belgium.

http://www.carlsonrezidor.com.