Inside Bankside: the trendy new design hotel set to open on London's South Bank
The ranks of trendy design hotels in the vibrant South Bank area of London are set to swell in September 2018 following the opening of Bankside, a 'design-forward' property close to Blackfriars Bridge.
Following a growing trend among new openings, it will serve both as a hotel and a community hub, with a firm focus on the creative types drawn by the area's dynamic culture.
The six-storey glass structure, which is part of the emerging One Blackfriars development, will combine a sleek and modern outlook with eclectic interiors by interior designer (and former film set producer) Dayna Lee.
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"We wanted to create a genuine boutique hotel for the modern mindset, with calm rooms and creative public spaces that reflect the vibrant, history-steeped community of SE1," states Lee, who jointly heads up LA-based Powerstrip Studio.
"We’ve had fun celebrating the local artistic community including post-kiln pottery drying racks for shelves, kid-leather-covered furnishings conjuring an 'art school' experience and punctuating these with lots of luxurious, custom-made features."
With both the Tate Modern and the Hayward Gallery for neighbours, Bankside has certainly picked a competitive area in which to flex its creative muscle, which it will mainly do via collaborative work and meeting areas, a large 'white cube' gallery space, and a decorative style established around bespoke furnishings and local arts and crafts.
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Accommodation will stretch to 161 "airy-residential style" rooms, including seven suites. Rates will start from £260 a night.
Bankside also aims to serve the community with a 70-cover restaurant and bar, including an outdoor terrace for the warmer months. This will be a relaxed and informal setting with a focus on seasonal produce, and will be open to the public.
Further features at the hotel will include a lounge, a fully-equipped fitness centre and a function space with capacity for 120 people.
In an altogether different display of modernity, Bankside also aims to be one of London's most sustainable hotels.
A zero-landfill-waste target has been set, beehives are planned for the roof, and the guest rooms will all come with (as yet unspecified) power-saving features. It will rely on sustainably-sourced wood for furniture and fittings, and non-or low-VOC paints will be used throughout.
For information updates, see banksidehotel.com.
