American Embassy London, US Building Mayfair Photo, Luxury Hotel Design Architect Shortlist, Location
American Embassy Building London
Redevelopment of US Building in Mayfair: Architecture, England design by Eero Saarinen architect
20 Sep 2017 + 7 Apr 2016
Location: 30 Grosvenor Square, Mayfair, West London, UK
Original Design: Eero Saarinen
Renewal Design: David Chipperfield Architects
American Embassy Building in London Mayfair
DBOX for Qatari Diar
American Embassy Building in London
Following a thorough consultation process with the world’s leading hotel operators, Qatari Diar today announced the appointment of Rosewood Hotels & Resorts as the operator for its newly commissioned hotel located on Grosvenor Square, Mayfair within the iconic U.S. Embassy building.
The selection follows a long and detailed undertaking involving several other world renowned hotel operators, who each put forward similarly inspiring proposals. In the end, it was felt Rosewood Hotels & Resorts would be the best partner to take Qatari Diar’s vision forward and to revive the renowned mid-20th century listed building, reimagining the space and delivering a destination set to become the heart of Mayfair.
Over the coming months Qatari Diar will work closely with Rosewood Hotels & Resorts on the final design, to deliver this ambitious world-class hotel, retail and event space, ahead of the Embassy staff moving into their new home in Nine Elms later this year.
Sheikh Jassim Al-Thani, Chief Development Officer, Qatari Diar Europe & Americas, said: “We are delighted to welcome Rosewood Hotels & Resorts on-board with this exciting re-development of the U.S. Embassy building. This is a major opportunity for London and a hotel of this exceptional calibre perfectly aligns with our vision and ambition to renew the heart of Mayfair and cement the neighbourhood’s unique character as the leading hospitality, arts and luxury retail quarter in London for residents and visitors to enjoy.
New visuals of the proposal by DCA:
DBOX for Qatari Diar
Appointing an operator for the first Qatari Diar hotel in London has been an exhaustive process and we would like to thank all the parties involved who have helped to get us where we are today. We look forward to working in partnership with Rosewood Hotels & Resorts to realise our long-term commitment to deliver a world-class hotel that seeks to re-establish Mayfair’s distinguished reputation as an outstanding place to live, work and visit.”
“Rosewood is honoured to partner with Qatari Diar on this extraordinary hotel project in London’s prestigious Mayfair neighborhood” said Sonia Cheng, Chief Executive Officer, Rosewood Hotel Group.
“As we continue to expand our brand’s global footprint in exceptional destinations within Europe and beyond, the re-development of an iconic building currently occupied by the U.S Embassy building on historic Grosvenor Square truly embodies Rosewood’s Sense of Place philosophy.”
Hotel entry, note the amusing ‘contextual throwback’ car!
DBOX for Qatari Diar
Qatari Diar last year announced the appointment of prominent British architect, Sir David Chipperfield, as the lead architect on the project, who was commissioned to breathe new life into the Grade II listed building. Reimagined in the spirit of its pioneering architect Eero Saarinen, the new design retains the unique external façade, while the refined interiors will present a perfect setting for the landmark mixed-use development.
The approved proposal includes 137 guest rooms, five restaurants, six flagship retail units, a spa and a ballroom with space for 1,000 guests, and as such will create many new job opportunities for London.
Plans for the site also include significant enhancements to Grosvenor Square which will restore permeability to the neighbourhood, removing the existing security bollards and barricades to provide additional pedestrian walkways.
Working alongside the Grosvenor Estate, these works will support Qatari Diar’s further public realm improvements to restore Grosvenor Square as an open, expansive green space fitting for one of London’s most prominent and established gardens.
Developer: Qatari Diar – purchased site following decision in 2013 by the United States Government to relocate the Embassy to Nine Elms in Battersea, which will happen in 2017.
About Qatari Diar
Qatari Diar is a global leader in sustainable real estate, building landmark projects of unrivalled scope and vision. We create vibrant communities dedicated to capturing the hearts and imaginations of the people we serve. These developments are conceived from our commitment to preserving and reflecting local characters and traditions and our visions have created places with a sense of identity and purpose where people aspire to live, work and visit.
Qatari Diar’s European operation is based in London, and boasts several key local projects, including a landmark residential development at the 12 acre Chelsea Barracks site in Belgravia; Southbank Place, a mixed-use joint venture between Qatari Diar and Canary Wharf Group situated in a prime central London location on the south bank of the River Thames; the current US Embassy in London, which will become a luxury hotel, retail and event space; and East Village & Elephant Park, a joint venture with Delancey and APG, offering more than 4000 private residential apartments for rent.
Qatari Diar seeks to harness the world’s greatest architectural and design talent in order to create sustainable communities that will stand the test of time.
Website: Qatari Diar
About Rosewood Hotels & Resorts®
Rosewood Hotels & Resorts® manages 20 one-of-a-kind luxury properties in 11 countries, with 15 new hotels under development. Each Rosewood hotel embraces the brand’s A Sense of Place® philosophy to reflect the individual location’s history, culture and sensibilities.
The Rosewood collection includes some of the world’s most legendary hotels and resorts, including The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel in New York, Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek in Dallas and Hôtel de Crillon, A Rosewood Hotel in Paris, as well as new classics such as Rosewood Beijing. Rosewood Hotels & Resorts targets to double its number of hotels in operation by 2020.
Website: Rosewood Hotels & Resorts
David Chipperfield beats Foster to US embassy revamp into luxury hotels
5th April 2016 – David Chipperfield Architects has revealed plans to convert the current landmark US Embassy in Grosvenor Square into a luxury hotel, reports Building Design.
photo © Adrian Welch
Chipperfield has beaten off competition from Foster & Partners and KPF to land a role on the £1bn redevelopment of the grade II-listed embassy, which is due to be vacated by the US government later this year when it moves to the purpose-built facility in Nine Elms.
The 137-bed five-star hotel will include a ballroom capable of hosting 1,000 guests as well as a spa, five restaurants and a number of high-end retailers. Plans are due to be submitted to Westminster Council next month.
The hotel redevelopment will also see a number of the security measures put in place to protect the current embassy (after the 9/11 attack) removed.
Will the prominent US eagle will remain on the facade?
photo © Adrian Welch
Exhibition on proposals from 11 to 16 April at 11 Grosvenor Hill, W1K 3QB, from 3 to 7pm except the Satuday, 11am – 2pm.
Qatari Diar will shortly be submitting an application to Westminster City Council for the redevelopment of 30 Grosvenor Square.
Qatari Diar’s proposal is to “redevelop the site to introduce a landmark hotel along with retail elements on the ground and basement floors and significant public realm improvements.”
Website: 30 Grosvenor Square Redevelopment
7 Nov 2012
American Embassy London
Grosvenor Square, Mayfair
Date built: 1955/57-60
Design: Eero Saarinen
New photos of the facade:
photos © Adrian Welch
This strong and reposed design by famous 20th Century architect Eero Saarinen has been given Grade II status (ie not the top ranking) by UK Architecture minister Margaret Hodge. The rhythmic facades were picked out for special mention.
Some interesting architectural facts about the US Embassy in London:
– largest American embassy in Western Europe
– designed by Finnish American modernist architect
– 9 storeys, 3 below ground
– Grade II listed building
– commands Grosvenor Square with gilded bald eagle on top, wingspan of over 11 m
– the architect died in the year it was completed.
photos © Adrian Welch
New American Embassy in London : Design Competition
American Embassy Building London, UK : KieranTimberlake wins Contest
The four competing architectural firms KieranTimberlake, Morphosis Architects, Pei Cobb Freed & Partners, and Richard Meier & Partners worked for nearly a year and made presentations to the jury which then recommended the winning design.
Site: Vauxhall, close to MI6 building
Shortlisted Architects (stipulated by Client as all-American for security reasons):
Gwathmey, Siegel and Associates
Kallmann, McKinnell and Wood
KieranTimberlake
Kohn, Pedersen, Fox Associates
Morphosis Architects
PEI Cobb Freed and Partners
Perkins and Will
Richard Meier and Partners
Skidmore, Owings and Merrill
American Embassy Building London : Further Information on the winning design
American Embassy London architect : Eero Saarinen, USA
Location: Grosvenor Square, Mayfair, West London, England, UK
London Building Designs
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Embassy Buildings
image from architects
US Embassy Building London context : West End
Gabriela Hearst, corner of Brook Street and Davies Street, Mayfair
Architects: Foster + Partners
photography : Nigel Young / Foster + Partners
Gabriela Hearst London Store
Website: American Embassy Building in London
Comments / photos for the US Embassy Building – Mayfair Architecture page welcome