The reception and lobby are designed to be playful with reflective finishes and significant artwork installations for guests to discover. Behind the reception, a circular neon art piece reflects off the bronze mirror. And at high level, large scale gilded glass panels created by Studio Peascod depict a rising copper sun.
Goddard Littlefair retained the hotel’s original strongly patterned floor and juxtaposed this with a concrete desk, pattina walls and reflective surfaces to create a strong sense of space.
In homage to installation artist Yayoi Kusama, the firm created a fully mirrored room using globe lights to give the viewer a sense that they are seeing themselves in infinity reflecting the use of life in a selfie image.
Tactile fabrics, leathers and linen window dressings combined with a graphic hand tufted rug soften the lobby space and introduce colourings of sage grey and dusky blue, off-set by the white linen.
Throughout the reception lobby and across the ground floor to Christina’s Shoreditch cafe bar, a pendant light fitting was designed as a contemporary interpretation of the gas lanterns that were used as local London street lights. The lanterns run through the centre of the spaces, drawing guests from the external lobby to the new bar area.
In Christina’s, a curved copper bar transforms the ambiance using the changing light coming in.
The rooftop restaurant, Altitude at The Curtain, is bright and refreshing during the day, serving Californian Cuisine in the evening. A black framed pergola is softened with festooned striped fabric and the oversized rattan pendants and cane furniture speak a language of relaxed living.
The influence of biophilia runs throughout the restaurant with planting taking a centre stage. The form of foliage is translated onto fabrics and onto walls on an oversized mural hand-painted by Lucy Robinson, Associate at Goddard Littlefair, who led the interior design team.
A fireplace anchors the central seating area, while a banquette lines the glazing to allow some privacy for guests in the pool. The bar overlooks the interior section of the rooftop space while externally sun loungers allow guests to take in the views.
Goddard Littlefair’s specialist food and beverage division Epicurean were responsible for the design of the BiBo restaurant. Founded by 3 Michelin Star chef Dani García, the launch marks García’s first UK restaurant and British culinary concept.
BiBo was designed as a theatrical and urban space for lunch and dinner. In striving to brighten the space, the studio infused the design scheme with a light and natural colour palette. Light oak floors, soft clay rendered walls, reflective surfaces and a new lighting scheme was introduced throughout.
Adding movement to the space, an installation of ceramic fish suspended from the ceiling swim through the room. Polished copper walls and rafts bounce around light and have dramatic oversized rattan pendant lights hanging from them. Over the central island bar a statement mirrored raft and oversized globe light are housed within a copper rod structure, a nod to the hot air balloon which features in other BiBo restaurants globally.
BiBo also enjoys a small indoor/outdoor courtyard, designed to feel like a Spanish haven in central London. Bold red walls and hanging plants all sit below a retracting glass roof. A private dining room for 12 people is located on the floor below, with the same character as the restaurant.
The guest room refresh encapsulates a luxurious, theatrical aesthetic with fresh white brick walls framing the headboard wall. Rugs inspired by painterly strokes on canvas float under beds while the guest dining table area has been refreshed using uplifting colours and styled in a contemporary direction.