Jin Bo Law Skybar at Dorsett City Hotel, Aldgate London Bar Interior, Architecture Images

Jin Bo Law Skybar at Dorsett City Hotel in London

Aldgate High Street Interior Commercial Development in UK design by Dexter Moren Associates

3 Jul 2018

Architects: Dexter Moren Associates

Location: 9 Aldgate High St, London, England

Jin Bo Law Skybar officially opens at Dorsett City Hotel

Photos © Michael Molley

Jin Bo Law Skybar at Dorsett City Hotel

A new bar with an expansive terrace offering exceptional views of London’s iconic skyline.

Located on the 14th floor of Aldgate’s new Dorsett City hotel, the Jin Bo Law Skybar combines creative and contemporary architectural design with iconic views overlooking the City skyline. Kebony, was the material chosen for the rooftop terrace due to its impressive durability and unique appearance.

The wooden terrace invites visitors to marvel at the stunning views of the Capital whilst enjoying the Skybar’s Asian-inspired cocktail menu.

The project architects, Dexter Moren Associates (DMA), achieved their primary objective in bringing specialist design to the Jin Bo Law bar. Inspired by an age-old Chinese tale, the interior draws on eastern culture with ornate patterns adorning the bar and VIP areas. This modern style extends throughout, uniting different spaces under a striking overarching design theme.

The phrase ‘Jin Bo Law’ can be used to describe a ‘precious thing’ which is characteristic of every design detail and element of space within the bar. In Cantonese, the same phrase means ‘pineapple’ and is the reason for the spectacular centrepiece, one of the most distinguishing features of the project, with its stylised crisscross pattern which begins at the ceiling and runs down the bar to provide a beautiful backdrop befitting of the enchanting Bronzetto Palissandro marble top counter.

The streamlined elegance of the bar continues onto the terrace, which boasts remarkable views of the City including Tower Bridge, The Shard and The Gherkin. Lined with back-lit furniture and a linked balcony, the rooftop terrace creates a playful and modern mood for visitors to enjoy.

This imaginative use of space was key to the success of the project, alongside the installation of unique and innovative materials. Kebony, which is used to deck the entire terrace was chosen for its enhanced strength and durability whilst complementing the bar’s modern design aesthetic.

Developed in Norway, Kebony’s revolutionary technology is an environmentally friendly process which modifies sustainably sourced softwoods by heating the wood with furfuryl alcohol – an agricultural by-product. By polymerising the wood’s cell wall, the softwoods permanently take on the attributes of tropical hardwood including high durability, hardness and dimensional stability.

Kebony is highly resistant to wear and weathering and subsequently a perfect choice for the Jin Bo Law’s Skybar terrace. Although a natural material, the wood requires no maintenance beyond normal cleaning and can stand up to testing conditions far better than untreated softwood.

Mark Heyburn, Hotel Manager at the Dorsett City. London commented: “The Jin Bo Law Skybar is the perfect setting for Londoners to take in the view and enjoy a cocktail on the terrace. Kebony has proved to be the perfect material for our terrace due to the low maintenance nature of the wood and its resistance to wear and weathering. Our guests love standing outside on the deck and we couldn’t be happier with the final result.”

Adrian Pye, International Sales Director at Kebony added: “We are delighted that Kebony has been part of such an imaginative project in the heart of London. The design of the Skybar has been consistently innovative and we look forward to seeing how the appearance of the Kebony deck develops over time.”

Kebony Technology
The Kebony technology is a patented process which enhances the properties of non-durable wood species to give them similar characteristics to the best performing woods. Through a sustainable process wood species such as pines and non-durable woods are impregnated with a bio-based liquid derived from agricultural crop waste. With the addition of heat, the furfuryl polymer is permanently grafted into the wood cell wall, resulting in greatly improved durability and dimensional stability.

Kebony Wood
Kebony is suitable for both internal and external applications that demand high performance and great aesthetics such as decking, flooring, cladding, roofing, windows, indoor and outdoor furniture. Over time Kebony acquires a silver-grey patina whilst maintaining its performance characteristics.

A study by Norwegian environmental consulting firm Bergfald & Co. demonstrated that Kebony has a substantially lower carbon footprint than its tropical hardwood equivalents, with improved durability and dimensional stability the wood is increasingly becoming the choice of leading architects and developers enabling them to use wood without causing environmental degradation.

Kebony has been used internationally in commercial, public, residential and marine projects including the site of Youth Winter Olympic Games in Norway, Sweden’s first round Passive House, Rochester Marina in New York and the redevelopment of Cinque Ports Street, Rye.

Photographs © Michael Molley

Jin Bo Law Skybar at Dorsett City Hotel in London images / information received 030718

Previously on e-architect:

20 Apr 2018
Jin Bo Law Skybar, Aldgate, East London
Design: Dexter Moren Associates

image : Dorsett Hospitality International
Jin Bo Law Skybar in Aldgate
With stunning views of some of London’s most iconic buildings, the Jin Bo Law skybar opened in Aldgate, an 14th floor roof extension at Dorsett Hospitality International’s £36 m new build four star hotel.