What was the inspiration for your design concept?

We were designing a space for citizens of the world. Somewhere for seasoned and business travellers alike, which maintains a London edge. The art concepts in the rooms are bold and colourful and represent luxury travel and create a sense of place by referencing London’s cultural and entertainment hub; Trafalgar Square. The materials and touch points also subtly remind the guest of their unique location.

The rooftop has a clean, urban, London feel. It's a contemporary space with unique views, which embraces the cultural and vibrant entrainment hub that is Trafalgar Square.

What was the most exciting part of the project, and what was most challenging?

The most challenging part of this project was working with the existing building infrastructure. Hardly any one room was exactly the same as another, and each room had its own quirk – for example, the windows would differ from room to room so the window treatments would need to be amended to suit. Over 100 rooms that can be difficult.

The most exciting part of the project was designing some unique items of furniture for the rooms, as well as the custom London/Trafalgar Square focused artwork in the bedrooms and corridors with Peter Millard Studio.

With the rooftop bar, the most challenging part was creating an engaging space in what needs to be a highly functional, external setting. All the finishes & furniture items are exposed to the elements, so a thoughtful material palette was chosen to handle London weather conditions. Working within the building restraints of listed views and planning consents was also rather challenging.

The most exciting part was the opportunity to work on a building in such a prime location. It was really stimulating to design a space that maximises the incredible views out to London’s most iconic buildings, monuments, streetscapes and parks.