HBA's Great Scotland Yard hotel references its police HQ heritage
by Stu Robarts | 19 Mar 2020
We were challenged to keep the soul of the building and pay homage to its heritage rather than just bringing new life to old walls.
– David T’Kint
A 152-room luxury hotel, designed by Hirsch Bedner Associates (HBA), recently opened in an 1820s listed building that used to house London's Metropolitan Police headquarters.
Great Scotland Yard is now the first Unbound Collection by Hyatt hotel in the UK, but is described by Hyatt as one of the UK capital's most historic buildings.
David T’Kint, partner at HBA, explained: "This building is an icon hiding a century and more of dark and infamous secrets. We were challenged to keep the soul of the building and pay homage to its heritage rather than just bringing new life to old walls.
"Our design team created a destination that invites guests to experience the rich history of the building through new eyes as they enter a place where the past and present merge, to journey through various aspects of local culture, unlocking the secrets of the storied Great Scotland Yard along the way.”
The result is a hotel with an aesthetic that is reminiscent of a country estate, mixing Edwardian-inspired hues and patterns, bursts of colour and contemporary details.
On arrival, guests are welcomed into the building's former inquiry room with reception desks that are made of antique luggage.
The entry space also provides access to a lounge and various other social venues, including a parlour, a bar, a restaurant and a club room.
Hidden behind secret doors disguised as bookshelves, there is also a whiskey club replete with copper-leafed distressed wood floors, a broken-glass chandelier and glass-engraved portraits hanging on the walls.
Guest rooms feature a warm, neutral colour scheme with touches referencing the building's police history, such as badge- and uniform-patterned carpets, blue herringbone-patterned luggage rack walls and wardrobes concealed behind bookcase-like façades.
The hotel's suites, meanwhile, have marble fireplaces, blue-veneered nightstands, luxurious bathrooms with book-matched stone and four-poster beds.
hotel Hirsch Bedner Associates HBA Great Scotland Yard London police
The hotel's aesthetic is reminiscent of a country estate / Will Pryce
There is also a whiskey club hidden behind secret doors / Will Pryce
Social venues include a parlour, a bar, a restaurant and a club room / Will Pryce
Glass-engraved portraits hang on the walls of the whiskey club / Will Pryce
HBA used bursts of colour and contemporary details to animate the hotel / Will Pryce
Guest rooms feature a warm, neutral colour scheme / Will Pryce
There are touches in the guest rooms that reference the building's history / Will Pryce
There are 152 rooms and suites at the hotel / Will Pryce
Luxurious bathrooms in the hotel's suites feature book-matched stone / Will Pryce
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