Client: Definition Capital/RGB Group Ltd
Type: Hotel
Bedrooms: 161
Construction: Hybrid reinforced concrete frame and SFS, insulated brick slip cladding
Status: Completed September 2018

Located opposite the Victoria & Albert Museum of Childhood this 161-bedroom hotel is situated on a tight urban site formally occupied by Balls Brothers headquarters.  The site previously had several applications for changes of use to hotel, the most recent consent being for a 90-bedroom hotel with a double basement.  We were asked by the client to review the project with a view to maximising the bedroom count based on our expertise in the design of limited service hotels. With this brief, including maximising bedroom layout efficiencies, servicing and circulation requirements we were able to design a 161 bedroom hotel for our client.

A challenging project in terms of planning and logistics, the building is arranged over 2 basements and an additional six floors. The elevations reflect the simplicity and regularity of the plan layouts with the guest experience being enhanced by maximising glazing to the ground floor colonnaded reception hub and bar areas.  To maximise daylight to the bedrooms within the double basement the building is setback at basement level -1 to provide a lightwell incorporating windows and rooflights to the floors below.