THDP designs Hyatt Regency London Blackfriars
THDP has revealed its design inspiration for the new Hyatt Regency London Blackfriars, which marks the ninth opening for Hyatt in the British capital.
Housed in a Grade-II listed building on the former grounds of King Henry VIII’s Bridewell Palace, Hyatt Regency London Blackfriars is influenced by its local history. The interiors by THDP honour building’s past life as one of King Henry VIII’s royal palaces, referenced in the materials used throughout the hotel, with marble ceramics and gold finishes evoking its former regality.
With Fleet Street – the historic hub of printing and publishing – just around the corner too, the property pays homage to the craftsmanship of the trade through the bespoke artwork inspired by the art of newspaper printing that adorns its walls. The overall concept is a tribute to London’s iconic landmarks and details; references around the building recall street corners, underground details, patterns and window partitions.
“The geometry of the Grade II listed building inspired us during the design process,” says Nick Hickson, THDP’s co-founder and Head Design of the project. “We took elements from the facade such as the cast iron elements, the ceramic cladding pattern and the window partitions and developed them to create a unique reference with the exteriors.”
The colour palette meanwhile is play on the greens of London. Throughout the area and the city’s landmarks, the colour green is a constant feature. The aim for THDP was to use this hue as a familiar symbol people can relate to, feeling the atmosphere of London on the journey from the outside to the guestroom.
204 guestrooms and suites provide impressive views of the listed buildings that once held iconic printing presses, while others offer the chance to marvel at the capital’s skyline. With 10 room categories and up to 753ft2 of space, the modern spaces are complemented by ergonomic work areas, rainfall showers and comfortable aesthetics. Here, classic meets contemporary with dark wood panelling behind beds, soft furnishings inspiration, green marble details, exposed wardrobes and clean lines. Every room features area rugs to define lounge area, full length mirrors, box framed TV and classic British lighting with a modern twist. The bathrooms are adorned with handcrafted tiling, a walk-in shower and a custom vanity unit with wall mounted tap.
THDP also designed two F&B concepts for Hyatt Regency London Blackfriars. The Chinese Cricket Club fuses traditional techniques and quality ingredients to offer a contemporary take on Chinese classics. The restaurant is named in honour of the captain of the Shanghai XI cricket team, Feng, who travelled to England in 1857 with his bride, Xiu. When arriving to Blackfriars’ docks, the couple made their way to Limehouse, where Xiu opened the first traditional Chinese restaurant in London. Their legacy lives on in the inviting backdrop of The Chinese Cricket Club and its diverse menu of homemade dim sum and signature specialties. The design elements here are Oriental-style seating, black ink artworks, fabric hues, boiseries with raffia wallpaper and timber inserts, rosso imperiale marble on the bar tops, tiled and wood flooring, organically shaped lighting elements and decorative wall tiles.
New York and London meet at NynLON, a neighbourhood-style bistro that celebrates the charm, heritage and influence of the two great cities. The all-day menu brings together local and sustainable dining, with elevated comfort food favourites, accompanied by an extensive drinks list showcasing authentic American whiskies and natural wines. THDP’s design features industrial and classic seating, vintage illustration artworks, industrial and Art Deco lighting. The bar meanwhile is a new creation boasting light natural marble tops and dark wood cladding.
Elsewhere, Hyatt Regency London Blackfriars offers up to 4,628ft2 of multifunctional events space. Two medium-sized rooms have been designed to optimise productivity and are well suited for meetings or small group gatherings. The main function room can seat approximately 150 people for conferences or large events, benefitting from technology-enabled features and easy transport connections.
Hyatt Regency London Blackfriars joins a growing list of Hyatt properties in the UK and nine others in London, namely Hyatt Regency London Albert Embankment; Hyatt Regency London – The Churchill; Great Scotland Yard Hotel, part of The Unbound Collection by Hyatt; Andaz London Liverpool Street; Hyatt Place London City East; Hyatt Place London Heathrow Airport; and Hyatt Regency London Stratford and Hyatt House London Stratford.
