Hospitality Design - October 2009 - 48

city spotlight london Clockwise from far left: The rooftop suite at the Athenaeum Hotel; one of the new lifestyle suites at Landmark London; and purple “pouf” seating at the Driver. arranged species. This represents Blanc’s first UK project although his work can also be admired at the Athenaeum Hotel (see below). www.driverlondon.co.uk brick walls. Music is a key factor here, and the latest sounds are played through a state-ofthe-art Bang & Olufsen sound system, while uploaded iPods are docked at individual tables. www.napket.co.uk contrasting transport methods and fashion Athenaeum Hotel At the Athenaeum Hotel, which faces Green Park in London’s Piccadilly, Martin Hulbert, design director at Fox Linton Associates, has finished work on the penthouse suite, refreshed the public areas, and even added a living wall to the exterior. The penthouse, now known as the rooftop suite, has been transformed from two small bedrooms into a vast and stylish threebedroom suite. Floor-to-ceiling glass walls were built with sliding doors that open onto a newly installed balcony, capitalizing on the magnificent views. Marginally smaller than average sofas and chairs have been made to enhance the feeling of space in the lounge and neutral tones are used throughout with occasional accent colors of lilac and pale green to complement and blend with the hues of the park. Carpets have been replaced with a polished herringbone parquet f looring although handwoven rugs help to retain a feeling of warmth. Throughout the hotel everything is designed to bring the outside in: the Garden Room, a long galley-space, originally used as office accommodation, was opened up and designed to incorporate a series of semiprivate lounge areas for meetings and afternoon teas. Each lounge area enjoys newly installed floor-to-ceiling bay windows facing a brick wall clad with a living wall. The living wall also wraps around the side and front of the building to stunning effect. www.athenaeumhotel.com ideals from 1899, when the Landmark first opened, and from 2009. The hotel has also introduced eight newly designed lifestyle suites and a presidential suite, with prices starting at $1,600. www.landmarklondon.co.uk Landmark London Fusion by Design has sympathetically refurbished twotwentytwo restaurant and bar at the 5-Star deluxe Landmark London in fashionable Marylebone. The original oak-wood paneling, sculpted ceilings, and antique fireplaces from the Grade II listed building have been retained, while the custom furniture is upholstered in glossy leathers and fabrics by Zoffany, Andrew Martin, and Harlequin Harris. Custom double-sided banquette seating provides a focal point, while custom pendants are suspended over butcher-block-style tables featuring polished pewter tops with inset champagne bowls. A 36-foot-long Chesterfieldstyle sofa sits in front of the large front windows. As a playful reference to the horsedrawn carriages that used to drop off guests in the Landmark’s courtyard, a life-sized black horse lamp by Moooi has been positioned at the entrance. Elegant lighting is key to the design, and three contemporary “Flower of Life” chandeliers by Willowlamp, which were handmade in South Africa, glisten through hundreds of silver beads. Additional features include polished oversized mirrors and a Wine Library, which runs along one side of the bar, showcasing a large display of f ine wines. Two specially commissioned artwork pieces take pride of place next to the original fireplace; these depict The Driver Once known as the General Picton, this typical old London boozer has been transformed in much the same way as its surrounding neighborhood, King’s Cross. Recognizing the area’s clubbing heritage and respecting its changing landscape, the Driver is to become an institution where music, food, art, and socializing are served on a daily basis across all five floors of the building. The brainchild of Billy Reilly, who has been steadily composing a behind-the-scenes narrative in this neighborhood for the past couple of decades, the Driver comprises a gastro pub, a restaurant, three bars, a members’ lounge, and a roof terrace. All levels of the building are individually designed and furnished with handpicked pieces, as well as permanent and temporary art. But perhaps its main wow factor is its living wall façade. An invention of Parisian virtuoso Patrick Blanc, who has begun to bring his pioneering work to the UK, the Vertical Garden consists of hundreds of carefully hospitalitydesign www.hdmag.com

http://www.driverlondon.co.uk http://www.napket.co.uk http://www.landmarklondon.co.uk http://www.athenaeumhotel.com http://www.hdmag.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Hospitality Design - October 2009