Four Seasons Hotel at Ten Trinity Square London Building, News, Design, Beaux-Arts Property Images

Four Seasons Hotel at Ten Trinity Square

Beaux-Arts Hotel Development + Apartments in London, England – conversion design by Aukett Swanke

27 May 2017

Four Seasons Hotel at 10 Trinity Square, London

Design: Aukett Swanke

Former Port of London Authority HQ transformed into luxury landmark hotel and residences

Aukett Swanke has completed the conversion of the spectacular, Beaux-Arts former headquarters of the Port of London Authority at Ten Trinity Square, into a luxury landmark hotel and residences in the heart of the capital – which launched on the 25th of May 2017.

Four Seasons Hotel at Ten Trinity Square — 10 Trinity Square, Tower Hill, London. Redevelopment for hotel, residencies and apartments.

Photos courtesy Four Seasons

As lead architect, Aukett Swanke coordinated a large project team including six interior designers for different areas of the building, as well as the close collaboration of a number of specialist artisans and fabricators working to realise an ambitious level of quality to match the grandeur of the existing building.

The four year project restores the Grade II* listed building, which was designed by Sir Edwin Cooper in 1922 on a prestigious site adjoining the Tower of London. Clad in Portland stone with a granite plinth, his Beaux-Arts design took the form of a chamfered square with a rotunda in the centre courtyard and a grandiose portico of Corinthian columns across the main entrance elevation.

The building is adorned with symbolic statues including figures representing Transportation, Navigation, Commerce, and Father Thames to reflect its role overseeing what was then the most important docks in the world.

Aukett Swanke’s conversion accommodates the Four Seasons Hotel London at Ten Trinity Square on the lower ground to third floors of the building and 41 apartments on floors four to seven. This five-star hotel contains 100 guest rooms and suites, a spa and swimming pool, ballrooms and meeting suite and three restaurants by an array of international interior designers.

The project includes some major architectural interventions, such as the introduction of a transfer structure to support the new apartments as well as an enlarged basement and the insertion of a contemporary glazed rotunda into the central courtyard. This references the original rotunda that once housed the Rates Office and was badly damaged during World War II.

As well as the rotunda and entrance hall, key spaces in the hotel include the ornate UN Ballroom, so-named after hosting the reception following the inaugural meeting of the General Assembly of the United Nations in 1946, and two grand circulation spaces on either side of the double-height entrance hall.

Commissioned by Reignwood Group, Aukett Swanke worked collaboratively on the restoration with heritage building specialist Donald Insall Associates to ensure that the new designs were sensitively detailed with minimum impact on the listed building fabric. The unobtrusive introduction of servicing to suit contemporary requirements was a particular challenge.

The practice also collaborated with the Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA), which conducted investigative digs prior to the enlargement of the basement.

“We have taken a considered, sensitively detailed response to bringing this listed building back into use. While it was important that the original design intent of the building was respected we were careful to avoid a pastiche replication of elements.” says Suzette Vela Burkett, Managing Director of Aukett Swanke.

The residential apartments range from one to five bedrooms in size and the building’s original neo-classical interiors of marble, walnut and ornate plasterwork are complemented by sympathetic new finishes.

The conversion is the building’s second major repurposing. In 1970 it underwent restoration before becoming the European headquarters of insurance broker Willis Faber Limited.

Aukett Swanke’s hospitality portfolio in London includes the Grade II listed Sanderson Hotel and the St. Martins Lane Hotel. They were one of five designers selected to design a concept room for the 2016 SLEEP Hotel conference. Based on the Sensation-Oriented ‘Science of Tribes’ market segmentation approach, the room explored how through sight, sound and touch the visitor can participate in creating a fully immersive experience in the room. This full scale prototype is part of the studio’s ongoing research and development, which seeks to creatively explore trends and developments in hospitality design.

About Aukett Swanke

Aukett Swanke is an award-winning architecture and interior design practice defined by its collegiate and interactive approach to design and its delivery. Blending cross-sector experience with market leading R+D, the studio prides itself on establishing a creative collaboration with clients, project teams and major stakeholders. They firmly believe that a collective drive for excellence creates innovative, elegant and agile designs. Its talented and international team act as custodians for a sustainable built environment, working on bold new additions to urban and rural landscapes as well as grand heritage projects. Schemes range from place making masterplans, agile and people focused architecture and enlightening interior spaces. The studio’s collegiate design culture enables architects and designers across the practice to share knowledge, balancing creativity and budgets for projects of the highest quality at every scale.

Encompassing over 60 years of professional experience, Aukett Swanke has a network of over 450 staff in 14 offices across 6 countries: UK, Germany, Russia, Turkey, UAE and the Czech Republic. The studio’s expertise includes work in mixed-use, commercial office, hotel, retail, residential, education and healthcare sectors as well as workplace consulting.

For more information, visit: www.aukettswanke.com

About Reignwood Group

Founded in Thailand in 1984, Reignwood Group is a global Chinese investment firm with headquarters in Beijing and offices in Singapore, Thailand, Canada, the USA and UK. The group’s activities span the consumer goods, residential, leisure, sport and industrial sectors. Under the Chairmanship of Dr Chanchai Ruayrungruang, the Group’s extensive financial resources and global network have created a strategic international platform that not only invests in a wide spectrum of industries, but gives back to society, improving the lives of local communities and assisting in the protection of the environment. For more information, visit reignwood.com

About the Four Seasons Hotel at Ten Trinity Square

In a landmark of power and prestige, Four Seasons Hotel London at Ten Trinity Square celebrates its place within the capital’s rich history, while being an integral part of what makes London so dynamic today. Steps from the Tower of London, Tower Bridge and the River Thames and a short walk from business in the City of London, the Hotel is a destination in itself with two destination restaurants, including the first UK outpost from acclaimed French Chef Anne-Sophie Pic, the largest Spa sanctuary in the City, and dramatic function spaces. Thoughtful Four Seasons service and a team of sophisticated local insiders combine to reveal the capital in a whole new light. For more information, visit: fourseasons.com/tentrinity/

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