The Emory opens in Belgravia with star-studded design roster
The Emory has opened its doors in Belgravia, marking the latest launch from Maybourne, operator of Claridge’s, The Connaught and The Berkeley.
London’s first all-suite hotel, The Emory showcases architecture courtesy of the late Richard Rogers and Ivan Harbour of RSHP. Interiors meanwhile see a star-studded roster of designers coming together to bring them to life.
Guided by its striking RSHP-designed ‘sails’ structure soaring above the treetops of Hyde Park, guests of The Emory arrive through a private cobbled entrance on Old Barrack Yard, an off-street enclave nestled between Belgravia and Knightsbridge. The property’s central steel staircase, visible from its entrance, is painted a distinctive hue, dubbed ‘Richard Rogers Pink’ in homage to the late architect’s involvement in the project.
Architect Ivan Harbour has likened the innovative steelwork design of The Emory – meaning ‘home strength’ or ‘industrious leader’ – to “watchmaking on a grand scale”. Comparing the building to a Swiss watch with a skeletonised dial, he adds that “every element of the sail structure reflects a meticulous attention to detail, where the beauty of movement is apparent, and nothing is hidden.”
The designer continues: “The aspect of timelessness is very powerful in architecture. It is important to create buildings and places with impact and longevity, whose role is more than just aesthetic. The integrity of the central idea of The Emory, the distinctive skeleton, the building frame, is rooted in basic original thinking and gives it a unique timelessness.”
The Emory comprises 61 suites, complete with floor-to-ceiling glass windows set over nine floors, including a 300m² wraparound glass penthouse designed by Rigby & Rigby. Each two floors meanwhile showcase the creative aesthetic of a different designer, including Champalimaud Design, Andre Fu, Pierre-Yves Rochon and Patricia Urquiola.
Rémi Tessier is behind the design of public spaces, from abc kitchens and The Emory Bar on the ground floor, to the tenth-floor rooftop’s Bar 33 and The Emory Cigar Merchants. Tessier’s interiors seamlessly introduce a sense of warmth to the contemporary steel structure, complementing the glass façade with a sense of intimacy and calm.
Guests staying at The Emory also have access to Surrenne, a new private members’ club for wellbeing and longevity. Spread over four subterranean floors of the hotel, the space is a serene, underground oasis in the middle of the city.
