Robertas Society – from library to hotel with a focus on culture and community

By: Carsten Holst – Photographer: Sophie Dreijer

When the old main library in Aarhus opens its doors again, it will be like Roberta's Society – a combined hotel, hostel and cultural center with accommodation from bunk beds to suites and a focus on community and culture in everyday life. According to Alexander Kølpin, who, together with a strong team, is behind the concept, the price is low, but the cultural ambitions are high. For example, with a stage to help young talents on their way.

Carsten Holst: “When I first heard you talk about your plans for a cultural hotel in the old main library in Mølleparken, it struck me how important these kinds of projects are. Because culture should not only be experienced in places like ARoS, Musikhuset or in libraries, but should also be a part of everyday life. And sometimes we only discover culture when we are in the middle of it – for example as a guest at Robertas Society. I would like to talk to you about that.”

“So Alexander – when you hear the word culture, what does it mean to you?

Alexander Kølpin: “For me, culture is about encounters between people – what happens in the space between product and person. It can be music, food, wine, conversation – but also just being present in a space where something happens. I come from the theater myself, and have always worked with staging, and now I am trying to transfer that approach to the hotel industry. At Robertas, we are not just about selling a bed or a beer – we are about creating a community and a meeting place where people experience something authentic.”

“When we were introduced to the building in Aarhus, we could immediately see the possibilities. The architectural and historical setting is ideal. The old main library is a brilliant setting for gathering an audience and creating a unique meeting place where culture is already embedded in the building.”

Robertas and culture in everyday life

Carsten Holst: How will Robertas Society become part of everyday culture in Aarhus? I understand that you also want to create something for those who don't necessarily stay overnight – an open environment?

Alexander Kølpin: “Absolutely. Robertas Society is intended as an open and popular place where you can stay for 129 kroner. We will have school classes, sports teams, local students and Aarhusians who may just want to have a communal meal at 18 pm every day. We want to create an open, popular place. In addition, we are building perhaps Denmark's smallest stage of 4 x 2 meters down in the basement, where there used to be cupboards and washing machines. It will be a place for lectures, concerts, open mic, Stand Up and much more. We will create content every week with a cultural program that we are sure we can deliver. Quality takes time, and we need to get to know the city.”

Carsten Holst: "That's exactly what I find interesting - that you tap into the pulse of the city. What does it do to everyday life to establish a place like yours, where culture is not just something you have to seek out, but something you create, and sometimes maybe a little by chance?"

Alexander Kølpin: “It's about creating something meaningful, where people feel at home. We are not a five-star product, but a hybrid where both students and grandparents with grandchildren can find space. We have communal dining, workplaces in common rooms and screening of AGF matches. We try to reflect and be a part of everyday life.”

“I come from the theatre, where you know the deal: You buy a ticket, you see a performance. In the hotel world, you buy a room or a beer – but what’s interesting is the gap that arises between product and person. This is where “music”, dialogue and resonance arise. Our ambition is to stage the entire guest journey – from “hello and welcome” to departure. If we only focus on the product, we lose the magic. It’s also about the warmth and generosity you encounter. The experience doesn’t just start when the curtain goes up, but also in the preparation”

Culture and commercialism

Carsten Holst: "People often talk about art having to live on its own terms. How do you view the relationship between culture and commercialization? Is it a challenge for you, and can the two things coexist?"

Alexander Kølpin: "Yes, and in an ideal world I would take my entire cultural background – as a director and producer – and use it to stage experiences in the hotel world. If we can unite food, wine, conversation and entertainment in a genuine, joy-filled space, then I think the case holds. It is not driven by subsidies, but by the interest of the people."

It's liberating that it's only the audience that decides whether what we're doing is viable. It's not artificially kept alive.”

“That's why I don't see art and commercialism as a contradiction. Commercial culture doesn't have to be of low quality, and being narrow is not a quality in itself. What's important is what drives the project. If it's about touching people – with a song, a lecture, a concert – then I see no problem with it taking place in a commercial setting.”

"Carsten Holst: So the cultural aspect is not an extra layer – it is the very core?"

Alexander Kølpin: “Yes, culture is the top layer – our rooms and food are of course our economic foundation, which supports our cultural content. We don’t say: Come and stay the night, and you’ll get some culture. We say: Come and join in on something – and you can stay the night too. That’s a fundamental reversal of the premise. It’s the culture and the experiences that are the reason people choose us.”

Culture as part of the development of Aarhus

Carsten Holst: “You know Aarhus – maybe not so much from recent years, but you were here during the Capital of Culture in 2017. When you look at the city, what is it missing culturally, and what makes Aarhus a good place for Robertas?”

Alexander Kølpin: “Aarhus has a strong cultural dynamic. There are many young people, educational institutions and commitment to cultural life. And we have been met with enormous goodwill, both from the municipality and the citizens. We have not approached the project with analyses and segments, but with intuition and the desire to create something, and the city has welcomed it. Of course we have a business case and control over the economy, but the core is that with Robertas we have something we want to pass on – and the desire for dialogue.”

"Compared to Aarhus in general, the city may lack a large venue – something the size of the Royal Arena with space for 12-15.000 people. I think there is a gap in the city's offer for larger cultural and conference events. That could perhaps create even more dynamism and would be healthy for the city."

A platform for young talents

Carsten Holst: "Let's look a little ahead. What do you dream of for Robertas?"

Alexander Kølpin: "For Robertas, I dream that we create a platform where young people can try things out. A place for experiments and meetings. That's why it's not our intention to book big names for entertainment. We would rather collaborate with young artists and talents. For example, with the conservatory to let students plan events. Robertas will be the framework for others to fill it with life."

"We have to pay rent and salaries - and at the same time create a platform where talents can flourish. That is why we must also take culture as seriously as our food and rooms. We do this, among other things, by hiring a dedicated Culture and Program Manager (and working to establish a "Culture Panel") who can set a direction for each of our houses. Because art is different in different cities, and Aarhus has its own audience and its own profile.

Carsten Holst: “Is there anything you would like to add at the end?”

Alexander Kølpin: "We have received an incredibly positive reception in Aarhus – both from the city, the mayor and people like you. The openness and goodwill have made a big impression. The capital could learn something from that."