Bayswater, London, United Kingdom, 1993–1996

Whilst Living in Amsterdam, Russell Jones was invited by Japanese client Fujita to come to London to join the team to develop the design for a new hotel within 5 Late Georgian townhouses in Bayswater, for the Hotelier and Designer Anouska Hempel.

This project involved the reduction of each of the five existing buildings back to their facades and party walls, to facilitate the design of a new 45 room hotel, with adjoining garden square and apartments. The composition and layout of the new hotel was influenced by the remaining five equal volumes, and disposition of fenestration across the front facade. A primary consideration of the brief was to a design a hotel with an atmosphere, sense of calm and level of privacy for guests unlike mainstream London Hotels. A central atrium from ground level to roof admitting soft light into the interior and cruciform plan with reception hall spanning the width of all 5 buildings, forms a simple axial diagram that guides the placement of all rooms and suites above. A basement restaurant aligns with the volume of the reception hall at ground level.

From levels one to five, 45 individually designed rooms and suites are disposed according to the cruciform plan and central atrium, with half of the rooms looking directly towards the adjoining garden square, and half towards the Queens Gardens terrace. The varying section with ceilings from 2.5 to 4.1 metres in height, views to the adjacent garden square and natural light influenced the choice of materials and finishes. Portland stone and polished plaster are used extensively throughout the reception area; Portuguese and Belgian limestone, Douglas Fir, English Oak and polished plaster are the primary materials for the rooms and suites. The design of furniture, bathroom fixtures, ironmongery and graphic identity were also an essential aspect of the project.