In recent years, accommodation for travellers has firmly been divided into two camps: home rentals, like Airbnb, or traditional hotels. Both have their pros and cons, the former, most prone to last-minute cancellations, the latter, a much more convenient option, but not as economical or practical- especially when travelling in a group.
Lately, a new hybrid has started to emerge, with innovative design-led brands from Locke Hotels to The Assemblage in New York, offering the best of both worlds.
One such brand making waves is Native. With over 11 outposts in London already, it was the opening of its Bankside property a couple of years ago that marked a turning point for the brand and set the bar in terms of design. ‘The launch of Native Bankside is the first milestone in plans to expand our aparthotel business in all major cities across the UK and will set a benchmark for the category in terms of design,' says Guy Nixon, CEO of Native.
The exterior of Native Bankside, on a quiet cobbled street on London's Bear Gardens
Occupying a 19th-century former tea warehouse on a quiet cobbled street adjacent to the Tate Modern, the property's transformation is the work of SPPARC Architecture, the London-based firm retaining the building's original façade and smartly creating an impressive double-height lobby that leads to a series of 75 one or two bedrooms suites - each with a bespoke layout featuring kitchenettes and living areas – a small fitness suite and a pantry and co-working area. This all makes way for a deeply set comfy sofas, geometric rugs, marble coffee tables and leather arm chairs in a bold deep blue and burnt orange colour palette.
The light-filled upper floor rooms at Native Bankside
Faultlessly set back from the River Thames, just a few steps from highlights like The Tate Modern, Borough Market and St Paul's Cathedral, Native Bankside was followed closely by the openings of Native Glasgow and Native Manchester, a 166-studio property housed in a vast Grade II-listed former Victorian warehouse with a cinema, outdoor terrace and fitness classes. Raising the bar even further will be openings in Leeds, York, Bristol, Oxford and London's Soho.
Native Manchester
Native Manchester
Native Manchester
INFORMATION
-
How architects are redefining disaster relief through designDisaster relief architecture is a critical component of humanitarian aid across the globe; read our ultimate guide on how architects can make a difference through design
-
Paul Gulati on storytelling, multi-sensory design and the evolution of Universal Design Studio'f a space works – not just as a beautiful image, but for the people using it – then we’ve done our job,' he tells us
-
Seiko and Datsun mark a shared heritage and history with three new limited-edition watchesThe Japanese brands pay tribute to the Datsun 240Z and Prospex Speedtimer in a new collaboration
-
London’s best pizza restaurant gets a new home in MayfairSecure a slice of New York-style pizza in central London as Crisp Pizza teams up with the Devonshire pub to set up shop in the relaunched The Marlborough
-
At this east London listening bar, mezcal-fuelled cocktails hit as hard as the basslinesIn Bethnal Green, Little Fires pairs vinyl grooves with mezcal margaritas and Oaxacan sharing plates
-
Harry Nuriev’s Noisy Oyster London bistro isn’t quite finished – and that’s the pointA futuristic, work-in-progress aesthetic forms a striking backdrop for a new, sustainably focused seafood bistro in Shoreditch
-
Head to Lupa for a taste of Rome in the heart of HighburyEd Templeton, Theo James and Naz Hassan unveil an intimate 28-seat restaurant that balances a cosy, candlelit atmosphere with Roman-style dining
-
Underground grooves and a touch of ‘controlled chaos’ make this exciting Japanese-inspired restaurant one to bookMoi, a new subterranean hotspot in London, is a feast for the senses
-
Café Kitsuné doubles down on London with a new locationCafé Kitsuné continues its global expansion with a bijou two-floor venue in Covent Garden that prioritises both craft and flavour
-
You can live out your Gatsby dreams, thanks to Claridge’s new Jazz Age-themed sleepoverCheck in for the legendary hotel's Bright Young Things Sleepover — Shalimar perfume included
-
Do luxury hotels need a farmer-in-residence?From Ibiza to Indonesia, hospitality brands are cultivating a new travel experience, where wellness begins in the soil and ends at the table
