Six Senses to open new location in redeveloped art deco department store

– Neil Jacobs, Six Senses' CEO
Wellness resorts operator Six Senses is to open its first UK property in part of a historic former art deco department that will be renovated by Foster + Partners.
Six Senses London will be located in London's redeveloped Whiteleys store, which was first opened as a drapery shop in 1863.
Having grown to become a department store, it was redeveloped in the 1980s as a shopping centre with a cinema and bowling alley, before eventually closing last year.
“I feel nostalgic when talking about Whiteleys," said Six Senses’ CEO Neil Jacobs. “I grew up in the neighbourhood and my parents used to bring me here. It’s a wonderful opportunity to pay homage to this heritage and bring our brand values to life while celebrating our first port of call for Six Senses in the UK.”
The new venue will accommodate 110 guest rooms and suites, 14 branded residences and a spa referencing old London Underground stations in its design with a fitness space, an indoor pool and a relaxation room.
A 1,300sq m (14,000sq ft) ground floor will be laid out to encourage socialising, with a lobby bar and lounge, an all-day dining restaurant with an open kitchen and a seating area in the courtyard.
On the second floor, residents and members will access a new kind of social and wellness club. Conceptualised as a haven from busy city life, it will feature a central bar and lounge, co-working spaces, a restaurant and wellness rooms.
Foster + Partners plan to preserve the building's original grade II facade, central courtyard and dome, along with the internal staircase which is modelled on the staircase of the La Scala opera house in Milan.
Its interiors will be designed by AvroKO in conjunction with executive architects EPR and its features will blend classical detailing and art deco influences with a modern streamlining, while the public spaces will draw on biophilic design.
Six Senses London is scheduled to open in 2023.
Six Senses Whiteleys Neil Jacobs Meyer Bergman Finchatton Foster + Partners AvroKO EPRSix Senses builds fourth Bhutan lodge using Bhutanese farmhouse architecture at 9,800ft
Six Senses to open in Galápagos Islands
Martin Brudnizki brings village feel to new Six Senses ski resort and residences
Six Senses to open in France’s Loire Valley in 2022
Six Senses Maxwell launches spa pods
Six Senses Spa Ninh Van Bay launches new programming and unveils new look following major revamp
Six Senses announces it will build incredible Icelandic wellness retreat designed by John Brevard
Six Senses to open first resort in Central America
Six Senses ‘Grow a New Body’ programme includes energy medicine, neo-shamanism
FEATURE: Spa Programmes – On the menu
FEATURE: People profile – Neil Jacobs


Scott Brownrigg-designed Museum of Military Medicine in Cardiff given planning approval

Work starts on US$898m e-sports arena in Shanghai


OMA designs Miami Beach's ReefLine – a seven mile-long underwater sculpture park

Ole Scheeren and Shigeru Ban team up to design art and cultural destination in Hangzhou

FIFA files criminal complaint over funding of €459m world football museum

ReardonSmith leads design of Heya – a hotel room concept offering personalisation for each guest

Disney reveals first visuals of ambitious Star Wars attraction – including designs for hotel 'pods'

Flaxmill Maltings – the world's first cast-iron framed building – is to be redeveloped as a visitor attraction by Mather & Co

LVMH announces Bulgari Hotel for Miami Beach, with design by Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel

Technogym opens retail store in Los Angeles

AZPML and UKST win competition to design Korean Museum of Urbanism and Architecture

Delos partners with TPP Capital to advance access to health and wellbeing solutions in urban communities

The Well creates integrated wellness retreat in New England countryside for Auberge Resorts

Architects 10 Design reveal plans for ambitious Edinburgh city centre plans

Perth's Boola Bardip museum opens in new AU$400m building designed by Hassell and OMA

UK Government's £1bn scheme to decarbonise is 'a huge opportunity' for the leisure industries

Museum devoted to the history of the US Army opens its doors

Architrave designs Banyan Tree Krabi with rainforest-themed spa

Anantara to debut in Seychelles following rebrand of luxury Bill Bensley-designed resort

World’s first energy-positive hotel and spa to be completed with interiors by Space Copenhagen

3XN design Denmark’s first climate-positive hotel with rooftop spa

BRC Imagination Arts completes new Glenkinchie Distillery brand home for Diageo as part of cycle of Scottish whisky attractions

First look: Contreras Earl Architecture creates Living Coral Biobank for the Great Barrier Reef Legacy

Heatherwick Studio reveals plans for 'The Cove' on San Francisco waterfront

Millimetre Design create new spa for Johnstown Estate in Ireland

B2Ai and SCAU to design new €100m Club Brugge stadium

Legorreta + Legorreta reveal cascading hillside design for Four Seasons Tamarindo

Celebrating Terence Conran

Nikken Sekki and Layan Architects + Designers design mountainside resort in Japan for Ritz-Carlton

Croatian architect Tomislav Alujevic creates contemporary eco resort in Hvar
