Interior Design by Piotr Wiśniewski

What was your vision when you started working on The Companion?
To me The Companion is a living conversation with the past. We wanted to preserve the soul of the building while giving it a vocabulary that speaks to today’s travellers: open, layered, and curious about Vienna’s creative heritage.

“The Wiener Werkstätte taught us that design is at its most powerful when every detail matters.”

The hotel takes inspiration from the Wiener Werkstätte. How did you bring it to life?
The Wiener Werkstätte taught us that design is at its most powerful when every detail matters. From a single light fitting to the rhythm of the floor pattern, each element is intentional and functional. You will feel a sense of joy and artistry in the details.
The focus is always on the ‘Gesamtkunstwerk’, the unity of all arts...
The shelves for example made of glossy bubinga veneer frame the fireplace, creating a balance between solid and void. 


Original pillars marked by time stand alongside new wine-red metal beams, it's the dialogue between heritage and contemporary presence. Decorative objects and a curated library animate the shelves, you will feel that it's a space for both quiet moments and thoughtful interaction. 
 This is how the principles of the Werkstätte remain alive: every object is designed with purpose, and every functional element is treated with integrity.

How did you approach the mix of raw and refined materials?
We resisted the temptation to erase the building’s imperfections, after all it's what shows us the history. Exposed infrastructure sits comfortably beside polished marble and hand-finished wood, because for us, authenticity is as important as beauty.
By doing that we ensured that the hotel feels distinctly Viennese while remaining uncompromisingly contemporary.

Let’s talk about the guest rooms. What kind of experience did you want to create?
Each room has its own atmosphere and design, but at the same time conveys the same feeling: a retreat in the city: warm, tangible, and functional. Horizontal wall divisions soften the proportions, while selected colors define each of the seven categories.

“We resisted the temptation to erase the building’s imperfections, because authenticity is as important as beauty.”

The lobby and public areas have a very different energy. What role do these spaces play?
We designed the lobby and bar not as hotel amenities, but as neighbourhood salons ... places where guests and locals cross paths, where design can spark conversation as easily as sipping a glass of wine.
 Original design classics meet contemporary art, terrazzo floors recall material history, and custom lighting anchors the grid-based geometry. It's like building a stage for dialogue and community.

What is one detail that makes The Companion stand out?
A continuous black wall moulding runs through the entire building, inspired by traditional Viennese design. This thin line guides guests through the interiors and gives the spaces an elegant and playful atmosphere.

What’s essential to you in hospitality design?
Context is decisive in architecture. In interiors, the aim is to create or evoke a certain feeling. In furniture design, functionality is paramount. These three elements cannot be separated, especially in hospitality design. When combined, they create a perfect scenography for the guest.

How would you describe the identity of The Companion in one thought?
This hotel is a choreography of opposites: heritage and modernity, precision and play, restraint and exuberance. Because of this purposeful tension, it feels both familiar and entirely new.