Destination Russia by editorial contributor F.Jobard.
Crime & Punishment” by Dostoevsky.
A cultural blend of western and eastern styles and memories is Hotel Sonya in St. Petersburg. Y
ou all know that me and the House & Hotel editorial team loves storyhotels.
The Hotel Sonya design is based on the novel “Crime & Punishment” by Fyodor Dostoevsky.
Do you know the story?
The matryoshka doll holding up the massive reception table is a reference to Sonya, the girl who helps the main character Raskolnikov, to bear the weight of his guilt. The Hotel Sonya is among the newcomers on the St. Petersburg’s hotel scene and the very embodiment the special ambiance of this city. Its concept is inspired mainly by Fyodor Dostoevsky and clear-cut references to the book which can be traced on every step. Dusky winding hallways lead to the rooms and their walls are covered by large-size photos of nightly St. Petersburg. The sound of steps is muffled by carpets bearing scattered phrases referring to the lives of Dostoevsky’s characters. In the first floor reception, one can find a map, which shows Raskolnikov’s trail through the nightly city. There is a heavily bookcase, loaded with books, yet soon you will discover that those are numerous volumes of Crime and Punishment, in almost all possible languages and editions. All the guestrooms hold citations from the novel, engraved on small doorplates, both in Russian and in English. They are selected from the same chapter that has provided a theme of a particular floor. Reading-lamps cast candlelight-like shadows on the walls, while the tables are created as exact duplicates of the writer’s own working table. Some of the rooms boast a copy of Rafael’s Sistine Madonna, a painting that has been Dostoevsky’s obsession and which appears in several of his novels.
Rooms feature a rich variety of fine fabrics with different textures and typical Russian ornaments, especially floral motifs, which serve both as a decorative and a uniting interior element as well.
We had a great time and nice dreams.
Resto tip: Metamorfos
Dostoevsky’s presence can be felt at the “Metamorfos” Restaurant as well – the menu is created in a book format, and a its prologue, chapters and epilogue presents dishes and fascinates with stories about the 19th century life in St. Petersburg, Dostoevsky’s journeys to Europe and divulges his thoughts and feelings. It’s no wonder that this particular Russian writer has provided inspiration for the hotel. Dostoevsky, like no one else has understood the Russian soul and portrayed it with such a precision that it almost makes your skin crawl.But the Hotel Sonya is not only a story telling place its just a fantastic boutique hotel, located on Liteyny Prospect, the design is created by the Swedish designer Erik Nissen Johansen.
It was the idea to choose the heroine, Sonya, from Dostoevsky’s novel “Crime & Punishment” as the hotel’s name. The book is studied by all Russian pupils so we knew it would resonate with them, explains Nissen Johansen, Sonya was the logical choice -Raskolnikov, the main character, is a murderer- because she is the saviour in the story.
The Hotel Sonya has to be mentioned among the most extraordinary projects of the city.
Give it a try its worth it.
Yes, it was cold.
Photos: Oliver Sievers
