INCARCERATION
BY DESIGN
by Richard Solash
Well, there won’t be any safety
concerns in this hostel. We wager you’ll feel quite
secure once you lock the metal-barred doors behind you.
Celica, meaning "cell" in Slovene, is the
name of the establishment that has emerged from its
former use as a jail to become one of Lonely Planet’s
hippest hostels in the world. In the capital city of
Ljubljana, where there is still a dearth of boutique
hotels, prison is the place to go. The trick to Celica’s
success is in playing upon rather than forgetting its
origins. That translates into a choice of 20 unique
cell-rooms, each one accommodating two guests, and outfitted
by a different team of Slovenian interior designers.
Cell 117, ornamented with charred wood and pebbles,
is a stylistic standout. For only 27 euros per person,
a traveling duo can make it their own. Before bed, the
Tuesday night jam session is a popular inmate activity,
or opt for more low-key lounging in the hookah bar.
You’ll feel the metallic edge of the former Yugoslavia,
updated with artsiness. www.souhostel.com
[Published:
April, 2008]
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