The Standard Hotel, London
Created by Shawn Hausman Design, The Standard opens its first hotel outside of the USA, located opposite London's St Pancras station.
A hotel brand renowned for its unique take on interior design, style and service, The Standard selected London as its first destination outside of the USA to open its latest hotel. Located inside the former Camden town hall annexe, an iconic Brutalist landmark for the area, the hotel has been designed by American interior designer Shawn Hausman. Introducing an unapologetically flamboyant style, the designer has encapsulated the true ethos of the hotel brand, being anything but standard.
The studio worked alongside London-based Archer Humphryes Architects to carry out internal structural changes, part of architecture practice Orms' larger redevelopment project of the structure and complex.
Containing 266 rooms and suites along with three restaurants, a bar and a recording studio, the designs of the hotel inject fun and vibrancy throughout while embracing the structure's original and unique Brutalist style.
Guests are greeted at the reception by a striking wooden grooved desk in dark and brassy tones, set against a colourful backdrop of teal tiles with graphic detailing by London-based ceramics artist Lubna Chowdhary. A former library, the interior retains the essence of the original space while dramatically transforming its use and style with a rich collection of materials accompanied by a bold colour palette to greet visitors and staying guests.
The bar and lounge areas showcase an intense and playful relationship with materials. Layers have been built up across all aspects of the spaces, from the walls adorned in colourful fabrics and weave, paired alongside beautiful mosaic tile work containing a vast array of colours that extends from the bar, across onto the floor. Varying wooden fretwork panels cover the ceiling, helping to define individual spaces within the interiors, lowering the ceiling to create an intimate atmosphere presented with an excentric Mid-Century Modern flair.
Colour continues into the guest rooms and suites of the hotel, each fitted with a flecked cobalt-blue carpet and vibrant red wardrobes; the shapes of the doors and handles echo the irregular shapes and styling seen throughout the hotel's decor. Rooms retain the original concrete ceilings, painted white and emphasise the structure’s iconic windows with plum-coloured upholstered seating following the curves of the building's instantly recognisable facade. Artwork in its own right, the bedding pulls together the room's bold colour choices with a contemporary plaid design.
Each category of room and suite features an adjoining shower or bathroom decorated with a unique colour palette of striped tile designs paired with matte taps, fixtures and accessories in contrasting colouring. A subtle nod to the building's architectural style, the mirrors, rails and under-sink storage all feature the instantly recognisable curved corner design that features so heavily in the facade of the building and windows.
Some suites within the extended upper levels of the building also contain roof terraces, complete with outdoor bathtubs that boast breathtaking views of the nearby St Pancras station and the city beyond.
Designed to inject colour into what can often be a grey London day, The Standard Hotel has already made its mark on the city, transforming a much loved Brutalist landmark into a stand-out international hotel. With the respect and careful attention to detail, it is clear to see that the brand's sixth hotel will be as much loved as it's American brothers and sisters, the other side of the pond.
