Following the success of the multi-award-winning Ampersand Hotel in South Kensington, Dexter Moren Associates were re-appointed by the client Anton Fedun to realise Vintry & Mercer, a new destination hotel situated between the architectural triumph of St Paul’s Cathedral and the modern optimism of 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.
DMA were appointed to redesign a pre-existing planning-approved scheme with bedrooms focussed around a small internal courtyard which had already commenced on site.
The client requested a design that would be both immersed in and visually reference its community, comparable to our design for The Ampersand.
Our team redesigned the existing scheme, working within the approved external envelope and increasing the number of external aspect rooms, with an improved entrance and guest experience aligned with more efficient servicing. Our team drew upon their fundamental understanding of the varied and individualistic nature of London’s districts to create bespoke design features to engage guests with the story of the hotel’s creation, neighbourhood and history. With this in mind, signature aspects of The Ampersand such as a grand stair were reinterpreted for this site with the added feature of rooftop space harnessing the site’s unique view of St Paul’s.
The hotel features bespoke designed carpets that reflect the fine fabrics traded by the mercers, thoughtfully curated art work which connects to each of the guilds, and a stunning 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 allows for views of St. Paul’s Cathedral, and natural light is maximised by the mirrored panelled ceiling over the bar.
The opulent basement speakeasy bar, Do Not Disturb, revels in its freedom from architectural intervention and makes a feature of the lack of windows and roof lights, accentuating the darkness. DND 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 to set the mood.
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.
