Strawberry to Open 168-Room Lifestyle Hotel with 1,400 sqm Seasonal Courtyard at Historic Frenckelli Mill

Nordic hotel group Strawberry plans to open a 168-room lifestyle hotel with suites at the historic Frenckelli paper mill complex in Tampere in 2028, Tamperelainen reports. The project, led by local real estate investor Aare Invest, aims to turn the old factory into a year-round cultural and hospitality hub with a direct link to Teatteri Frenckelli.

Designers Fyra and lead architect Neva & Co are creating a material-forward interior that preserves exposed brick and handcrafted details. It will feel tactile and lived-in. Strawberry founder Petter Stordalen says the concept will prioritise energy, culture and social encounters over ostentation.

Inside the hotel, a 400-square-metre lobby will combine reception, bar, lounge, coworking and a boutique. By night it will switch from a daytime workspace to a live-music and DJ venue. The site will include two contrasting restaurants and 1,400 square metres of seasonal courtyard dining. There will also be 800 square metres of flexible meeting and event space.

Aare Invest bought Frenckelli from the city and has already renovated an adjacent office block. The first guest rooms are scheduled to open in 2028. The development joins other city plans to convert former industrial sites into cultural hubs, including the Hiedanranta pulp mill conversion.