Grange St Martins Hotel
The Grange St Martin’s Hotel project involves the conversion of the former Central St Martin’s site into a new hotel and mixed use scheme.
AGENCY
Orms Architects & Designers x Grange Hotels
ROLE
Architectural Assistant
DATE
September 2019 – Present
Elegant — Functional
This mixed use scheme involves a Grade II* listed building names ‘The Lethaby’ which sits along side a 1960s building. A building very much lacking in its engagement with the public realm with an underwhelming character in comparison to the very elegant and enchanting Lethaby building.
This project was developed by a core team of eight – John McRae, Simon Whittaker, Paul Gallie, Ignacio Fernandez, Joao Alves, Georgios Chatzikomnou and myself.
My role in this project included helping model the buildings, creating drawing and diagrams for the Stage 02 planning application (including plans, sections and axonometric drawings), aiding concept development as well as the overall research required for the scheme.
The Design
The slender tower sits between two blocks, which clasp it at either side. This illustrates an analogy for the the Arts and Crafts movement, like a jewel. An additional two storeys are added to the existing building mass to create a rooftop terrace and public bar which overlook the Square and skyline of London.
The massing is expressed vertically to emphasise it as a marker, which has a conversation with the lantern of the original Lethaby Building. The maximum height around the square is expressed by the top of the main facade, the clasps, while the roofscape sits above this level.
The steel frame of the 1960s building will be retained, while almost the entirity of the Lethaby will be kept and protected with the addition of an extension in the courtyard. This section was created using the team model on Revit.
The overall proposals for the project:
1/ Create a Hotel.
2/Create a genuinely mixed use scheme.
3/ Introduce affordable residential use.
4/ Reintegrate a former historic building and create a high quality public realm.
5/ Create a large basement conference venue space.
The project recently won planning permission to convert the former UAL campus into a £242 million hotel complex.
Visualisations produced by Haines & Davidson.
Historic Context — Red Lion Square
The project then developed to be more in tune with its historic context and the materiality of Red Lion Square.
The proposal was partially inspired by the mansion blocks along the square. Thereby, the facade illustrates a modern interpretation of the mansion block. These visualisations were produced by Haines & Davidson from the model myself and the team created.
