Portfolio

Nine Elms

Category

Hotels

Location

London

Welcoming guests and fostering art on Nine Elms Lane.

Just east of Battersea Park, Nine Elms is one of the largest and most exciting redevelopment projects in London. So, when we acquired this plot – just next door to the new US Embassy building – we wanted to create a place in keeping with the excitement and buzz of the wider neighbourhood.

We gained planning for two hotel buildings rising between 11 and 15 storeys. Because of the desirable south-west London location on one hand, and the proximity to the new US Embassy on the other, we knew we’d be catering to guests visiting for both business and pleasure.

Working alongside the innovative architecture team at Squire and Partners, we designed two buildings that provided affordable, midscale and high-end hotel offerings to meet the needs of these two key audiences.

As well as considering the clientele, we also got thinking about how we could best meet the needs of the wider community.

Our thinking led us to create a new Green Link running through the heart of the site. This public space includes a large tree-lined walkway, along with benches, pocket lawns and other relaxed seating areas. We also incorporated a public café and top-floor restaurant in the southern building.

But this community ethos wasn’t just limited to the design of the development. Throughout the planning phase we collaborated with two community partners – Matt’s Gallery and the Nine Elms Arts Ministry – to put the site to good use before we began construction.

We worked alongside Matt’s Gallery to hold an art exhibition, which included an installation by artist Phil Coy and a musical composition by jazz trumpeter Byron Wallen. The experimental composition was modulated by local wind speed and accessible via a QR code. While these pieces were exhibited, the community corner showcased artworks by local people, bringing visitors, our on-site partners, and the local community together.

But this community ethos wasn’t just limited to the design of the development. Throughout the planning phase we collaborated with two community partners – Matt’s Gallery and the Nine Elms Arts Ministry – to put the site to good use before we began construction.

We worked alongside Matt’s Gallery to hold an art exhibition, which included an installation by artist Phil Coy and a musical composition by jazz trumpeter Byron Wallen. The experimental composition was modulated by local wind speed and accessible via a QR code. While these pieces were exhibited, the community corner showcased artworks by local people, bringing visitors, our on-site partners, and the local community together.

ESG

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QR code scans to access Byron Wallen’s composition

2100

unique website visits during the art exhibition

More art arrived on site in December 2021, when we partnered with Nine Elms Arts Ministry (NEAM) to launch the Advent Calendar Trail, which involved 24 artists using their allocated spaces to create pieces around the theme ‘Peace on Earth.’ We celebrated the launch with journalists, members of the local community and the Battersea Power Station Community Choir.

NEAM Advent Calendar Trail:
24 locations and unique art installations
500,000 impressions across social media
60+ organisations and artists