Boutique Design - December 2014 - 40

2014 GOLD KEY AWARDS

BEST LOBBY - MIDSCALE/BUDGET/FOCUSED SERVICE

WINNER

ACE HOTEL LONDON
SHOREDITCH
Designer: Universal Design Studio, London
THE CHALLENGE: Focus on materials and art-scene
touches that would make this 258-room property a
neighborhood haunt in a district dominated by creatives.
THE INSIDE STORY: Occupying the original site of

THE SHOWSTOPPERS: Artist Max Lamb's zinc-clad
metal bar front, bar stools and cocktail tables; the eightpanel fiber art series created by legendary UK tapestrymaker, Dovecot Studios, which was installed so that the
reverse of the weaving is also visible.
THE TAKEAWAY: Make the familiar look fantastic.

At first, some of the white lobby walls simply look like
a crisp contrast to others in a steely shade of charcoal. But, closer inspection shows they're really made
of painted bricks that add both pattern and texture to
the space. A cork ceiling provides a millennial twist on
the tin versions popular when the building debuted. The
multi-tasking 16-seat communal table becomes memorable because of its surprising bespoke blend of cast iron,
oak and copper.

"IT'S THE TWISTS THAT MAKE THIS LOBBY COOL
WITHOUT BEING ARROGANT. I LOVE HAVING
THAT PHOTO BOOTH IN THE PUBLIC SPACE,
BUT I ALSO APPRECIATE THE COMMUNAL
TABLE WHERE PEOPLE CAN WORK JUST AS
EASILY AS THEY CAN SOCIALIZE"
-SERENA RAHKLIN, TRUMP HOTEL COLLECTION

SOURCES
CLIENT: Starwood Capital; DESIGNER: Universal Design Studio (in collaboration with Atelier
Ace); ARCHITECT: EPR Architects; GENERAL CONTRACTOR: County Contractors; PURCHASING
COMPANY: Benjamin West; LANDSCAPE DESIGNER: That Flower Shop; LIGHTING DESIGNER:
Elektra Lighting Design; ACCESSORIES: Karin Eriksson (hanging pots); ART: Caroline Achaintre;
Dovecot Studios; CARPET: Larusi; Peace Industry; FABRICS: Crittall (window treatments); MYB

Textiles; Yasuko Kido; Fameed Khalique (upholstery); Kvadrat (upholstery);Southern Drapes
(window treatments); FURNITURE: Adico (custom furniture); Max Lamb (custom furniture); Michael
Marriott (custom furniture);Ozo; Storage Aspects; LIGHTING: Contardi Lighting; Fabian Capello;
Foundry Lighting; Ize; La Lampe Gras; Philippe Malouin; Williams Ironmongery; Zangra; STONE/
TILE WORK: Ann Sacks; Strata Tile; SURFACING: Luxcrete; Nazing Glass; Winchmore Brick

40

boutiquedesign.com DECEMBER 2014

ANDREW MEREDITH; ED REEVE

the Shoreditch Empire (later the London Music Hall),
Ace's first London hotel seamlessly settles into its
surroundings with its extensive use of brick, metalwork
and steel-framed Crittall windows. But, just fitting in
clearly wouldn't achieve this U.S.-based brand's goal of
becoming a social hub for the artists, musicians, actors
and designers who flock to this gentrified East End
locale. A yin-yang approach strikes a thought-provoking
chord. Industrial grid details, re-imagined Klieg lights
and the interjection of a chrome-accented photo booth
stimulate conversation about how the familiar can
become novel. That's especially relevant since these
hard-edged pieces are complemented by handmade
elements and the organic lines of an oval table or the
circular disk of a wooden bar stool. The good neighbor
theme extended to sourcing local and prioritizing ecofriendly FF&E-including the handcrafted tiles for the
Square Mile coffee cafe and timber parquet flooring.
http://www.boutiquedesign.com
Boutique Design - December 2014

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Boutique Design - December 2014
