Old-school design: Dift creates pop-up hotel and exhibition

23 : 10 : 2014 Arts-pitality : Biennale Interieur 2014 : Ikea

Kortrijk, Belgium – Take one abandoned school due for demolition, add some of the world’s most respected designers and furniture brands, and the result is Dift’s Eyes/Nights Only, a pop-up exhibition and hotel.

Espoo, Dift’s Eyes/Nights Only Espoo, Dift’s Eyes/Nights Only
IKEA, Dift’s Eyes/Nights Only IKEA, Dift’s Eyes/Nights Only
Artifort, Dift’s Eyes/Nights Only Artifort, Dift’s Eyes/Nights Only
Boss & Ydee, Dift’s Eyes/Nights Only Boss & Ydee, Dift’s Eyes/Nights Only
Arbijt, Dift’s Eyes/Nights Only Arbijt, Dift’s Eyes/Nights Only

Dift, a creative, branding and experience agency, developed the project for the Biennale Interieur 2014, a showcase of contemporary design for the home. Dift invited brands such as Ikea and Artifort to the former school to redesign the old classrooms as hotel suites.

The rooms are open as exhibitions to visitors during the day and closed for private use from 9:00pm. A two-hour period in the mornings allows for cleaning and tidying before the rooms are opened to the public once more.

The Arbijt room designed by Olivier Roels was built as a raised wooden structure, broken up by gauze panels into different zones for sleeping and dressing, while the Old Master’s Room has been kitted out by Antwerp store Espoo using minimal Scandinavian pieces and potted plants.

The Biennale Interieur 2014 is open from 17 to 26 October. Read our Art-spitality microtrend for more on how brands are using hospitality as an artistic medium to attract consumers in a post-Airbnb society.

Discover More Daily Signals
Vaseline turns viral beauty hacks into product line in creator-led innovation shift

Daily Signals

Vaseline turns viral beauty hacks into product line in creator-led innovation shift

Vaseline has transformed viral beauty hacks into a commercial product line, marking a shift towards creator-led innovation in the beauty industry.&...
Beauty : Vaseline : Branding
Foresight Friday: Ellla Murray, strategic creative

Daily Signals

Foresight Friday: Ellla Murray, strategic creative

Every Friday, we offer an end-of-week wrap-up of the topics, issues, ideas and virals we’re all talking about. This week, strategic creative Ella M...
Travel : Hospitality : Experiential Travel
Stat: Why Gen Z is embracing Country Living

Daily Signals

Stat: Why Gen Z is embracing Country Living

Country Living, the Hearst-owned media brand, has recorded 57% year-on-year growth in its All Access membership, an annual subscription s...
Media : Magazines : Country Living
The China Playbook: Why young Chinese luxury buyers love Vivienne Westwood

Daily Signals

The China Playbook: Why young Chinese luxury buyers love Vivienne Westwood

The China Playbook is a monthly briefing from Hot Pot China equipping businesses with the knowledge to navigate the complexities of the Asian premi...
Luxury : Fashion : Hotpot
Stück re-imagines the third space for intimacy and connection

Daily Signals

Stück re-imagines the third space for intimacy and connection

Stück, a new third-space venue in Dalston, London, is bringing intimacy, hospitality, co-working and community together under one roof.
Third Spaces : Private Members Club : Community
Stat: Social media drives 1.7bn annual UK high street visits

Daily Signals

Stat: Social media drives 1.7bn annual UK high street visits

American Express’s latest Hype to the High Street study reveals that nearly two-thirds (63%) of UK adults have visited a shop or hospitality venue ...
Retail : Fashion : Statistic
Budapest’s Lilith bar brings tarot-inspired rituals to cocktail culture

Daily Signals

Budapest’s Lilith bar brings tarot-inspired rituals to cocktail culture

The team behind Hotsy Totsy Budapest, recently ranked among the world’s top 500 bars, has opened a second venue in Budapest’s Erzsébetváros district.
Hospitality : Bars : Restaurant
Google DeepMind and A24 put film-makers in charge of AI’s creative future

Daily Signals

Google DeepMind and A24 put film-makers in charge of AI’s creative future

AI research lab Google DeepMind and A24, the independent studio behind films such as Everything Everywhere All at Once and Marty Supreme, have anno...
Technology : Media : AI
Stat: Young adults living at home redefine life stages

Daily Signals

Stat: Young adults living at home redefine life stages

A record 25.2m US adults aged under 35 lived with their parents in 2025, according to research from Realtor.com. One in three now sh...
Lifestages : Statistic
Healf Experience 2026: Wellbeing beyond optimisation

Daily Signals

Healf Experience 2026: Wellbeing beyond optimisation

At London’s 180 Studios from 20–21 June 2026, leading wellness platform Healf brought together influential voices in health, longevity and performa...
Health : Wellness : Fitness
You have 1 free Daily Signals remaining. Sign up to LS:N Global to get unlimited access to all articles.
BECOME A MEMBER
SIGN IN