Hotel Borg´s Amazing History
If ever Reykjavík’s history could be contained in one building, Hotel
Borg is a living, breathing time capsule that has only gotten better
with age. Visitors are surrounded by luxury in Art Deco that extends
to every corner of the space and brings the past confidently into the
present.
Hotel Borg was originally built for Jóhannes Jósefsson, a famous
strong-man and adventurer. Jósefsson was born in the north of
Iceland in 1883 and became a champion of Icelandic wrestling at
an early age. He competed in Greco-Roman wrestling at the 1908
London Olympics at the age of 25 and came in fourth. He then
traveled the world, ending up in America with Barnum & Baileys
Greatest Show on Earth, where he performed as an unarmed
contender fighting opponents even armed with knives. Jósefsson
became a wealthy man from his circus activities and returned to
Iceland unscathed in 1927.
His dream was to build a luxury hotel in Iceland. The first millennium
celebrations of the republic were at hand and a hotel, fit for foreign
heads of state, was needed in Reykjavík.
Jósefsson placed great emphasis on the hotel being located in the
heart of Reykjavík, which is why Hotel Borg stands dignified in a
graceful square, next to the Parliament (Althingi) and the old
cathedral.
The cornerstone was laid in 1928. Eighteen months later, in January
1930, Hotel Borg opened its restaurants and four months after that, in
May, the hotel itself was opened. As a proud owner of this landmark
building, Jósefsson was usually referred to as Jóhannes at Borg.
Through the years Hotel Borg has been entwined with Reykjavík’s
history. Now it has been renovated with every detail restored to its
former glory.
Upon entering this grand building through a set of circular sliding
doors, that are in effect a modern take on the classical rotating-door
entrance, one comes into the foyer, resplendent in Art Deco styling.
The theme reaches its climax in a grand ballroom with gilded walls
and elaborate chandeliers infused with the spirits of the socialites in
flapper dresses who once Lindy-hopped within its walls.
The renovations focused on preserving the Borg’s classical Deco
style. The modifications create a truly coherent whole: molding, door
handles, room number plaques, elevator call buttons and even the
conical silver door hinges all reflect the original pieces as they were at
the hotel’s 1930 opening.
Borg’s 56 rooms go even further to create an individual experience
for every guest. Custom-made furnishings employ three
different kinds of wood and five distinct varieties of leather to capture
the Art Deco style, interpreted with distinctive character in every room.
Veneered parquet flooring and period globe lamps combine with
radios, telephones and flat-screen televisions by Bang & Olufsen.
Hastens beds provide a full range of modern comforts in a truly
authentic atmosphere.
Resisting the temptation to cover the walls with Deco murals, rooms
have been adorned with photographs of Reykjavík life from 1925 to
1940, showing guests authentic scenes of the age represented by
the hotel’s décor.
Borg’s four-star restaurant, Silfur, provides world-class cuisine to
match the high standards set by the hotel. With its prime location,
first-class services and unique character, Hotel Borg is an ideal
representative of both Icelandic culture and sophistication. Jósefsson
would smile if he saw Borg’s splendor today.
