Mercure Tallinn hotel interior project by Aure Studio in Estonia integrates local landscape references and artistic glass installations by Edyta Barańska to create a narrative-driven hospitality environment. Drawing inspiration from Lake Ülemiste and Estonian folklore, the design contrasts industrial architecture with soft, organic materials and custom lighting strategies. Glass elements, including a sculptural bar and underwater-inspired reliefs, act as spatial focal points. Developed through a collaborative process between architect and artist, the project highlights material storytelling and emotional resonance. Recognized with the Platinum MUSE Design Award and LIV Hospitality Design Award in 2023, the project reflects a cohesive vision grounded in site-specific context and cross-disciplinary trust, positioning Polish interior design confidently within the European hospitality sector.
The Mercure Tallinn hotel interior, developed by Aure Studio of Warsaw, is a hospitality project grounded in ecological reference, material storytelling, and creative trust between architect and artist. Located near Lake Ülemiste, the hotel draws from the surrounding Estonian landscape and local folklore. Architect Martyna Wojtasik, founder of Aure Studio, led the design process with a focus on capturing the spirit of place through a composition of organic forms, layered lighting, and expressive materials. The hotel’s existing structure, defined by raw concrete and expansive glazing, became the framework for interventions that softened its industrial presence with natural texture and atmospheric depth.
The design references the nearby lake through a series of metaphoric spatial elements rather than literal representations. Furniture pieces are sculpted with fluid, plant-like profiles. Metal surfaces exhibit irregular textures that evoke underwater erosion. A restrained color palette enhances the perception of natural calm. Above all, the use of glass shapes the core identity of the project, forming a direct dialogue with the themes of water, reflection, and transformation.
Glass works by Edyta Barańska of Barańska Design were developed specifically for this context. In the foyer, she created a suspended piece inspired by a school of fish, each form shaped by hand. In the restaurant, a 2.5-meter bas-relief composed of submerged plant motifs captures movement in the surface of water. These installations were conceived through a gradual process involving sketches, miniatures, and in-person reviews. Barańska describes the collaboration as one of “trust and mutual sensitivity,” where creative freedom and consistent dialogue shaped the outcome.
A focal element of the project is the custom-designed bar within the restaurant. Constructed from a large single piece of glass, it resembles a submerged surface overtaken by algae. Light refracts across its textured surface in response to changes in time and position, producing the effect of living movement beneath the countertop. “This countertop is a functional sculpture,” says Barańska. “Within the glass, you can see movement and depth – as if something is alive beneath the surface.” The piece operates as both practical furniture and narrative object, aligning with the larger interior concept that binds natural references with contemporary expression.
The integration of light into the interior was equally considered. The building’s original facade presented challenges due to its extensive glass surfaces, resulting in harsh brightness during certain hours. The design team introduced a system of perforated panels and light-filtering curtains that addressed this without compromising transparency. These elements soften and modulate sunlight, creating shifting patterns that animate the walls and surfaces as the day progresses. According to Wojtasik, this transformation allowed what began as a flaw to become an active component of the experience.
Throughout the process, the design partnership between Wojtasik and Barańska was built on continuity and respect for independent authorship. Their previous collaborations enabled a clear understanding of conceptual direction and artistic identity.
“Whenever we bring in artists, we provide a direction, but never impose a rigid vision,” says Wojtasik. “Edyta thrives in that space – her work is very distinctive, textural, and consistent with the overall concept.”
Art was conceived as a structural element rather than an accessory within the interior. For Wojtasik, emotional resonance in public space design is integral, and this position is reinforced through the use of custom glass installations by Barańska. These works offer a tangible expression of the project’s sensory and narrative ambitions, allowing the interior to operate as a site of experience rather than mere function.
As Wojtasik explains, “An interior without art lacks emotional resonance. And it’s precisely through emotion that we want to build a connection with the guest.”
In 2023, the Mercure Tallinn project received the Platinum MUSE Design Award in the Interior Design – Hospitality and Hotel & Resorts categories, along with the LIV Hospitality Design Award. These recognitions highlight the strength of the design’s conceptual clarity and its execution through interdisciplinary collaboration. The project illustrates how Polish design, when grounded in context and enriched by collaborative authorship, can contribute a distinct voice to the broader European hospitality field.
As Edyta Barańska reflects, “It was a truly exceptional collaboration. A joint project where we listened to each other, complemented each other, and created something more than just a ‘pretty interior’. It’s a space with soul.”
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