London Calling

The Lobby entrance, at Whitehall Place.

RELATED ARTICLES: Joint UAE-Azerbaijan oil terminal to open in 2011 | P&T to design mental-health centre in Sharjah | Call for more buildings to 'talk' to each other

The £300m Corinthia Hotel London is the ninth collection of five-star hotels founded by the Pisani family of Malta, located in the heart of the capital overlooking Trafalgar Square and the River Thames.

The venue, which opened last month, is housed within a grand Victorian building, with 294 rooms, including 43 suites, some of which are located over two-storeys, inside historic turrets, with private lifts and terraces.

Story continues below

Advertisement

FEATURED COMMENT Please click here to comment on this article

The two-bedroom Royal Suite, at more than 470m2, will be the largest hotel room in London, and can be connected to adjacent rooms to provide additional accommodation.

Some of the world’s top designers and architects are behind the project. Interior design is led by GA Design International, which is also creating the hotel’s 3,300m2 ESPA spa (set to be the first of its kind – laid out over four levels, with pioneering design and treatment offerings), as well as the suites, public spaces and one of two restaurants called The Northall, which serves mainly British food.

Luxury interiors’ designer, David Collins, is creating the hotel’s bar, Bassoon, and fish and seafood restaurant Massimo. The interior design has a mix of sophisticated luxury and ‘residential’ style: which is a home-like take on hospitality and service.

“The brief was to provide a world class luxury hotel. The design was to be a ‘Grand Hotel’, with all that implies, but with a modern outlook and all contemporary facilities,” said Terence McGinnity, executive director, GA Designs. “Where possible, existing facilities and details were maintained and the original design intent of the building respected.”

The Victorian exterior houses fully-reconstructed elegant and contemporary interiors set around an inner foyer and garden, restaurants, luxury spa, a concept cocktail bar, boardroom meeting facilities and an original restored grand ballroom.

The inspiration was based on grand English homes but with a subtle contemporary interpretation. Oak timbers were used throughout in the joinery giving a warm ambience, combined with leathers, warm limestones and silks.

Timber borders line the edge of all the guestrooms while polished plasters and Calacatta marble were used throughout the bathrooms.

The building was once used by the Ministry of Defence and as such, there was no specific heritage listing on the venue. That said, Corinthia and GA Design wanted to respect the original as much as possible and have taken great care to restore and renovate the building as if it was a listed building.

The architectural team also worked very closely with Westminster Council to ensure the integrity of the exterior was maintained.