Following the success of the multi-award-winning Ampersand Hotel in South Kensington, we were re-appointed by our client Anton Fedun to design this new destination hotel located between St Paul’s Cathedral and The Shard.
This new boutique hotel features 92 guestrooms, a gym, three meeting rooms and a main restaurant on the ground floor, rooftop restaurant with amazing views of St Paul’s Cathedral and a sumptuous speakeasy bar in the basement.
We were appointed to redesign a planning-approved scheme. With bedrooms focussed around a small internal courtyard, the scheme had already started on site.
The client requested a design approach similar to The Ampersand, both immersed in and visually referencing the local neighbourhood.
Working within the approved external envelope, we increased the number of external aspect rooms, created an improved entrance and guest experience with more efficient servicing. Bespoke design features engage guests with the story of the hotel’s creation, neighbourhood and history. Signature aspects of The Ampersand such as a grand stair were reinterpreted with the added feature of a rooftop space harnessing the site’s unique view of St Paul’s.
Specially designed carpets reflect the fine fabrics traded by the mercers and art work connects to each of the guilds. A feature light sculpture is suspended horizontally along the lobby ceiling down into the spiral staircase, connecting the spaces.
The Mercer Roof Terrace conveys the comfort and grandeur of a traditional countryside orangery using a palette of weathered timbers and muted sage green and grey in the upholstery. The glazed roof gives views of St. Paul’s Cathedral, natural light is maximised by the mirrored panelled ceiling over the bar.
Our design for the opulent basement speakeasy bar, Do Not Disturb, is heavily influenced by the Art Deco period. Ceilings are lined with decorative mouldings and trims are painted dark claret to tie-in with the curved Deco-inspired lounge banquettes. Vintage lights and curiosities are wrapped in low-level lighting.
Room types are varied in their materiality and palette to reflect the colours and type of the chosen guilds, focussing on the composition and
scale of traditional patterns and furniture forms. The rooms are intimate; grandiose winged headboards with bespoke damask and velvet upholstery take centre stage. Dressing areas are a modern play on a deconstructed travel trunk, featuring scraped textured timber veneer with brass mesh panels.
The bathrooms feature coloured glazed tiles that are laid in a herringbone pattern, while black and white mosaic tiles create bold stripes under the bespoke marble vanities. These specific patterns directly link to the fabrics used by the merchant tailors. Crittall-style glazing has been inserted into the top of the bathroom walls to filter natural light in, with fluted glass used to maintain privacy.
