Locke has officially opened the doors of Ember Locke, its sixth property in London and thirteenth to date.
Located in the city’s Kensington and Chelsea neighbourhoods, the aparthotel spreads across eight floors, comprising 121 apartments ranging from studios to duplex one-bedroom apartments. Complementing the lobby and common areas is food and beverage destination Eve, which comprises a coffee shop, bar and restaurant offering, sitting alongside a co-working space, meeting room and large garden.
Collaboratively designed by Atelier Ochre and House of Dré, the hotel’s warm interiors layer casual and bohemian spaces with soft ambient tones and hues. Inspired by the late Kensington Roof Gardens and the laissez-faire flamboyance of mid-century fashion brand Biba, the property’s Art Deco design style is combined with 21st century retro-futurism, resulting in a nostalgia-soaked reimagining of over a decade of Kensington glamour.
Apartment interiors have been dreamt up as a series of boudoir rooms, with colourful tones and vibrant patterns transporting guests to a glamourous bygone era. Art Deco details and bold pieces such as sweeping banquette seating, deconstructed wardrobes and retro fittings are paired with brass detailing, fringes, tassels and heavy dividing curtains.
In communal spaces, the bright fabrics continue, placed alongside crafted furniture, rattan structures and plants, which frame the view towards Ember Locke’s garden. Bespoke art pieces by House of Dré adorn the walls in the guestrooms and public spaces, while a host of local artists’ work are also displayed throughout the property.
“Bringing the concept of the ephemeral intrigue that spans across Biba and Kensington Roof Gardens to life began with teasing out the evocative details within,” says Pauline Dellemotte, founder and Creative Design Director at Atelier Ochre. “We embraced rich textures and bold patterns to embody a reserved opulence that once ruled the cultural and fashion industry. Immersed within these overflowing environments, guests can seek the shelter of intimate nooks, be more social in the open lounge, or come upon surprising moments we added to enrich the guest’s tongue in cheek sense of discovery.”
Andreas Christodoulou, Creative Director at House of Dré, adds: “Our artworks and motifs have been given the Biba treatment, with the colour palettes used responding to that of the interiors created by Atelier Ochre. The chosen pieces reflect the boudoir-meets-Modernist-and-Art-Deco style of the decor and in turn changes the context and meaning of the artwork.”
CREDITS
Photography: Courtesy of Kensington Leverne
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