Bulgari unveils London hotel designed by Antonio Citterio

The restaurant in Bulgari's new Knightsbridge hotel is accessed by a sweeping staircase, featuring a handcrafted steel balustrade. It is backed by a metalised fabric-covered wall, adorned with sketches of Bulgari's jewellery collections from the 1920s and 30s

(Image credit: Antonio Citterio)

By any standards, London has been experiencing an extraordinary spring. In the lead up to July’s Olympic Games, the city is blooming with new hotels, the latest being the Bulgari. This is only the third Bulgari hotel in the world, following the much lauded properties in Bali and Milan.

Housed in an entirely new building among Knightsbridge’s traditional architecture, it features a façade constructed from Portland Stone, a material that also adorns London’s most important sights, including St Paul's Cathedral, Buckingham Palace, the National Gallery and the British Museum.

Leading the design team is the architect and Bulgari stalwart Antonio Citterio, who has furnished the 85 rooms and suites with his trademark palette of stained oak and glossy Sapele mahogany, plus acres of leather, masculine furnishings and silver, the latter a subtle nod towards the brand's heritage of silverwork. Much of it is Italian designed, of course, from the solid-silver chandeliers and thick textiles to the custom-made silk curtains and bedside lamps that pay homage to Bulgari’s classic range of candlesticks. Many of the upholstered furnishings are collaborations between Citterio and B&B Italia for its Maxalto collections.

Robbie Pepin, who opened Alain Ducasse’s Italian restaurant La Trattoria in Monaco, headlines the in-house restaurant Il Ristorante with a Brit-influenced Italian menu. And for a post-prandial treat, there’s something to be said for settling into a plush 47-seat private cinema, which boasts a library of around 500 films, curated by British producer, David Puttnam.

But best of all is, of course, the spa, one of the largest in London, which takes over the two lower floors of the building. The pool area is faced in sandblasted Vicenza stone and features a 25m pool lined with mosaic tiles in nuances of green and gold.

The main lounge incorporates Italian-designed furnishings and a honed-granite fireplace, with a steel curtain

The design team was lead by architect and Bulgari stalwart Antonio Citterio, who also designed the oversized sectional sofa in the lounge. Many of the upholstered furnishings are collaborations between Citterio and B&B Italia for its Maxalto collections

Citterio furnished the 85 rooms and suites in his trademark palette of stained oak, mahogany and granite with leather furnishings and silver (the latter a subtle nod towards the brand's heritage of silverwork). He gave the lobby an intimate feel with dividing screens dimmed with brushed, mirrored and mesh steel

Most furnishings and accessories are Italian designed, from the solid-silver chandeliers and sturdy upholsteries to the custom-made silk curtains and bedside lamps that pay homage to Bulgari’s classic silver ranges

Mirrored surfaces abound in the 85 guest rooms, fitted with glossy Sapele mahogany and modular privacy screens

Above the restaurant - headlined by Robbie Pepin, and offering a Brit-influenced Italian menu - is a bar, featuring a sweeping oval counter, handcrafted in Italy from stainless steel

The spa is one of London's largest, and takes over the two lower floors of the building. The pool area is faced in sandblasted Vicenza stone and features a 25m pool lined with mosaic tiles in nuances of green and gold

ADDRESS

171 Knightsbridge
London SW7 1DW

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Daven Wu is the Singapore Editor at Wallpaper*. A former corporate lawyer, he has been covering Singapore and the neighbouring South-East Asian region since 1999, writing extensively about architecture, design, and travel for both the magazine and website. He is also the City Editor for the Phaidon Wallpaper* City Guide to Singapore.