1 HOTEL MAYFAIR, LONDON, UK

Posted in Projects on 10 November, 2023

The European debut of sustainable brand, 1 Hotels, sets the standard for modern luxury in the most glamorous corner of London.

Words by Jess Miles | Photography by Milo Brown and John Day

Mayfair – the ritziest enclave of central London – might be one of the most unlikely spots one would imagine an environmentally conscious hotel to be located. But for mission-driven 1 Hotels, this isn’t their first urban rodeo. Having proved their nature-led worth in some of North America’s best-loved city destinations – from New York to Hollywood and San Francisco – London seems like an easy feat for the brand that’s leading the way in sustainable hospitality. Operated under the umbrella of US-based SH Hotels & Resorts founded by hospitality virtuoso Barry Sternlicht, the new location marks many firsts for the brand. Not only is it the first European foray for the 1 Hotels portfolio, but it also makes claim to be London’s very first sustainable luxury hotel – a weighty claim indeed, though seemingly with all the sterling eco-credentials to back it up.

Sitting on the corner of Berkeley Street surrounded by the classical Georgian architecture of the area, the former Holiday Inn’s new nine-story living façade makes it hard to miss. Inside, the au naturale narrative isn’t the only thing that makes this hotel rather special. Along with the largest penthouse suite in Mayfair sprawling a huge 274m², and Dovetale, a stellar farm-to-table destination restaurant by two Michelin star chef Tom Sellers, 1 Hotel Mayfair is the epitome of modern luxury. Against the backdrop of some of London’s grandest hospitality dames that it rubs neighbourly shoulders with (The Wolseley and The Ritz to name just a couple), the new kid on the block offers a welcoming breath of fresh air – in both aesthetic and ethos – for those who have grown jaded with the old-school glitz and glamour of the capital.

SUSTAINABILITY
As a blueprint, sustainable practices throughout operations are at the core of the 1 Hotels concept. Every property has systems in place to reduce its environmental impact by minimising energy usage, harnessing local resources, preserving non-renewable materials, reducing plastic and paper consumption, and reducing landfill waste. Specific to the Mayfair site, a combined heat and power system that produces electricity that feeds back into London’s utility grid has been installed, saving on electricity, while at the same time capturing the waste heat. In terms of output, less than 5w per square metre (0.46w per Square Foot) of pure LED lighting is used, which is 50% less energy than the standard hotel in the UK. On a smaller scale, natural FSC certified and reusable wooden key cards are used, all linens are 100% sustainably sourced from Kassatex and certified MADE IN GREEN by OEKO-TEX®, and of course, single-use plastics are nowhere to be seen – list by no means exhaustive. Whilst the building looks as if it were an entirely new build, 80% of the original structure was repurposed in order to save roughly 4,200 tonnes of carbon and reach BREEAM ‘Excellent’ standards. 

DESIGN NOTES
The overall look and feel is as expected; awash with earthy tones, natural materials, and an abundance of greenery – over 200 species of plant life, in fact. You would, however, be mistaken for picturing a rustic, back-to-basics aesthetic. With GA Group leading the design and Studio Moren called upon for the interior architecture, it appears no compromises were made to achieve ‘sustainable luxury’ – and for once, the two terms don’t feel at odds with one another. The quiet opulence of the design is found in the attention to detail – the seamless quality of finishes, ethically sourced materials, and the considered curation of chic furniture and plush furnishings. Weaving authenticity and materiality into the story, collaborations with like-minded artisan makers and creators are aplenty.

PUBLIC AREAS
As soon as you step through the bespoke bronze doors, you’re immediately relieved from the hustle and bustle outside – as far as entrances go, it’s a showstopper. Overhead an incredible chandelier-inspired installation by Patrick Nadeau is impossible to miss – a mammoth illuminated dome stretching 4 metres in diameter, engulfed in over 50,000 strands of Tillandsia Usneoides. Acting as a backdrop for Nadeau’s work of art whilst also providing structural flow to the vast open space, raw-edged stone panels shoot up to the ceiling with more living greenery trailing through the spaces between. More design statements wow at check-in. A fallen, solid tree trunk sourced from the Balcombe Estate in Sussex brings in another layer of organic texture to form the reception desk. Behind, a wall of reclaimed Yorkshire stone is meticulously arranged and repeated further afield in other areas such as the lobby-side café, Neighbours, and swanky cocktail bar, Dover Yard – creating a subtle design thread throughout the ground floor public spaces.

Weaving your way through the lobby to the back of the building brings you to the star of the F&B show, Dovetale. Food is a huge aspect of the sustainable story, so any culinary partnerships had to be chosen wisely. And wisely they chose, with Tom Sellers at the gastronomic helm. A refined menu of responsibly sourced produce proves faultless in taste, where no ingredient is left to waste – in the kitchen or on our plates. In keeping with the overall design narrative, the restaurant carries through the use of raw natural materials but switches up neutrals for richer autumnal tones. Wooden beams define the ceiling where skylights are tucked up above and soft mushroom pendant lights dangle down below. Blurring the lines between indoors and outdoors, exterior panel blinds mimic the sight lines of the beams covering the outdoor terrace. Cocooned by ferns and shrubbery, complete with a stone fireplace, it’s a cosy dining space to remember.

GUESTROOMS & SUITES
Comprising 181 rooms distributed across 14 distinct categories, guests have a wide array of options to choose from. Each room exudes a sense of elegance and ease, featuring flooring crafted from fallen British Oak trees, Welsh slate bathroom vanities, and unique furniture such as handcrafted sisal coffee tables and smoked timber mirrors. The upper two floors of the building are a contemporary addition to the property and house the exceptionally impressive Signature Suites. Design-wise, a slightly darker palette and floor-to-ceiling windows differentiate the suites from the guestrooms, and the separate living room space highlights the laid-back yet sophisticated approach, creating a relaxed, residential feel. Some suites even boast gorgeous city-view terraces that feel more New York than London. Notably, the enormous double-height Green Park Penthouse Suite showcases a surrounding terrace and retractable sliding doors that unveil stunning park vistas one side, and Piccadilly Circus on the other. 

FINISHING TOUCHES
Though sustainability is a key theme here, so too is luxury given the expected clientele in this upmarket end of town. A number of partnership affiliations help the hotel go the extra mile – from a style concierge by fashion rental company, Cercle, to a dog walking and sitting service from the local Marylebone Walkers for those outings your dog can’t tag along to. There’s also the electric Audi ‘house car’ to explore the city, which is available on a daily first come, first serve basis.

Wellness is a holistic concept at 1 Hotel Mayfair, which of course begins at the Bamford branded spa, but doesn’t end there. Whilst a Rejuvenating Signature Facial might be more than enough to keep me feeling ‘well’, others may opt to sweat it out at the state-of-the-art Fieldhouse Fitness Suite, or out in the Royal Parks with the 1 Mayfair Run Club every Friday with other guests. Other, more subtle, pick me ups include fresh air intake from the roof into the whole building, filtered water taps framed by a living moss wall in every room, and last but not least, a Knickerbocker Glory trolley serving up tableside nostalgia at Dovetale.