ISPA Conference & Expo
ISPA Conference & Expo
ISPA Conference & Expo

New Opening

River retreat

Following a three year renovation project and the addition of a Floating Spa by Champalimaud Design, YTL has launched the long awaited Monkey Island Estate on the Thames, near London, UK


Monkey Island Estate has opened in Bray-on-Thames, England. Part of the YTL Group, the historic estate is set across seven acres on an island with a rich history dating back 800 years. The hotel consists of 41 bedrooms and suites, designed by New York-based Champalimaud Design. Champalimaud have created a ‘contemporary, English country house feel’, with custom furnishings and rooms with views over the Thames. It also features a Floating Spa on a bespoke crafted barge.

The island is thought to get its name from the monks that settled there in the 12th century. Charles Spencer, the 3rd Duke of Malborough, bought the land in 1723 to create an angling retreat, and commissioned two buildings from architect Robert Morris; a Fishing Temple and a two storey Fishing Pavilion. By 1840, the pavilion had become an inn; over the years the estate hosted famous guests including Edward VII, HG Wells, Siegfried Sassoon and Edward Elgar.

The island was bought by YTL Hotels in 2015 after the late YTL founder Yeoh Tiong Lay visited and fell in love with the property.

Gallery
Click on an image to open the image gallery
company profile
Company profile: Alliance Leisure
The company’s core business is the provision of facility development and support for local authorities, educational establishments and leisure trusts that want to improve or expand the leisure products and services they offer.
Try cladmag for free!
Sign up with CLAD to receive our regular ezine, instant news alerts, free digital subscriptions to CLADweek, CLADmag and CLADbook and to request a free sample of the next issue of CLADmag.
sign up
features
The hotel is created using concrete and glass
"We want to create the illusion that guests are entering another world when they arrive at the resort"

An Icelandic spa retreat inspired by surrealist folk tales

Musée de la Romanité
French-Brazilian architect Elizabeth de Portzamparc designed the museum
"This museum is the smallest public facility I’ve worked on, but the most symbolic"

On her futuristic new museum

The museum of Contemporary Art and Planning Exhibition houses an art gallery and meeting and exhibition space
Wolf Prix, the CEO of Coop Himmelb(l)au,
has criticised design competitions
"I don't want to work for nothing. It's a diminishing of the value of our thinking"

The case against design competitions

Catalogue Gallery
Click on a catalogue to view it online
To advertise in our catalogue gallery: call +44(0)1462 431385
The museum features 3,400 square metres of archaelogical gardens
Elizabeth de Portzamparc
"We need to stop the destruction of our world through predatory practices. We need to think of the future"

The architect behind Nimes’ Musée de la Romanité on designing to counter loneliness and the need for more cultural buildings

The wa_sauna sits on a 23sq m platform fitted with an electric motor. It can hold six people
"You could have cultural events and museums that go from city to city. It’s a new way of thinking"

Rising sea levels and a shortage of land are leading to increased interest in floating buildings. We take a look at some fascinating projects

features
Andrew James heads a new partnership between Populous and Alisports, the sports arm of Alibaba
"Alibaba has set its sights on operating 50,000 sports venues in China over the next 10 years to build a connection with its 470 million subscribers"

The Populous director explains a major deal which will transform China’s sporting infrastructure

cladkit product news
Siminetti unveils iridescent decorative panelling range inspired by plants
The Clematis design
Megan Whitby
The Botanicals is Siminetti’s newest Mother of Pearl decorative panelling collection, inspired by the distinctive patterns found in botany and ...
Koto Design introduces wood-fired hot tub
Koto is known for crafting modular, energy-neutral cabins and homes
Katie Barnes
A striking wood-fired hot tub has been unveiled by Koto, an architecture and design studio which has a passion for ...
Mather & Co and ITV unite to create Coronation Street Experience
Mather & Co has transformed the visitor centre into the ultimate haven for ardent Coronation Street viewers
Magali Robathan
Experience designers, Mather & Co, have orchestrated a remarkable collaboration with ITV to unveil the new Coronation Street Experience, a ...
cladkit product news
Eco Resort Network conference to convene in Mauritius this May
The event will be hosted in the Mauritius in 2024
Megan Whitby
Hospitality industry event Eco Resort Network is set to take place at the Ravenala Attitude Hotel, Turtle Bay, Mauritius, from ...
Alberto Apostoli designs tech-forward Wellness Therapy furniture collection for Varaschin
The furniture collection draws on absolute geometries, pure lines, neutral colours and strong references to nature
Megan Whitby
Furniture manufacturer Varaschin has unveiled the new Wellness Therapy range, designed by Italian spa and wellness architect and designer Alberto ...
Alberto Apostoli and Newform collaborate to launch the A.Zeta showerhead
The showerhead offers two modes; rainfall or waterfall
Megan Whitby
Italian architect Alberto Apostoli has renewed his partnership with Newform – an Italian wellness company – and designed A.Zeta. A.Zeta ...
cladkit product news
Eden project uses drones to spell out climate change warning
Magali Robathan
Almost 300 drones were used to signal an environmental message above the Eden Project’s biomes, during the UN Climate Change ...
Jaffe Holden helps bring Academy Museum of Motion Pictures alive
Jaffe Holden provided architectural acoustics for the Academy Museum
Magali Robathan
Acoustical consulting firm Jaffe Holden provided architectural acoustics and audio/video design services for the recently opened Academy Museum of Motion ...
Codelocks develops new glass door smart lock
The new lock model allows facilities and building managers to create and manage access via an app or online portal
Megan Whitby
Codelocks has launched its first glass door smart lock to bring intelligent access control to modern spa, leisure, fitness and ...
ISPA Conference & Expo
ISPA Conference & Expo