An abandoned church on London’s Southampton Row has been transformed into the 39-room L’Oscar. Parisian architect Jacques Garcia has conjured an ornate interior in a bold palette of deep purple, red, petrol blue and canary yellow, with evidence of the hotel’s ecclesiastical past cleverly woven into the design.
There are original details from tiled floors to fireplaces that feature terracotta panels that depict scenes from the bible. Sharp-eyed guests will spot elements from these panels creatively reinterpreted by Garcia in details around the hotel such as the 495 individual Lalique-style birds that are used as light fittings throughout the hotel or the flora and fauna that is embroidered into bespoke fabrics and furniture designed by Watts of Westminster.
Meanwhile, the building’s Grade-II listed chapel now houses a restaurant run by chef Tony Fleming and a bar is installed where the organ used to be.
There are 2 original fireplaces with royal Doulton terracotta panels. 3,500 bottles of roja Dove perfume have been made for l’oscar as its signature scent
INFORMATION
ADDRESS
6 Southampton Row
-
Highlights from the transporting Cruise 2026 showsThe Cruise 2026 season began yesterday with a Chanel show at Lake Como, heralding the start of a series of jet-setting, destination runway shows from fashion’s biggest houses
-
Behind the design of national pavilions in Venice: three studios to knowDesigning the British, Swiss and Mexican national pavilions at the Venice Architecture Biennale 2025 are three outstanding studios to know before you go
-
Premium patisserie Naya is Mayfair’s latest sweet spotHeritage meets opulence at Naya bakery in Mayfair, London. With interiors by India Hicks and Anna Goulandris, the patisserie looks good enough to eat
-
Hamburg’s Tortue hotel opens following renovation by David Chipperfield Architects and Stephen Williams -
Artful lodger: Dexter Moran Associates designs London's Vintry and Mercer -
Artful lodger: The Jacques Grange-designed Hotel Mamá opens in Palma -
Artful lodger: Botswana’s Mombo Camp is refurbished by design firm Artichoke -
Artful lodger: The former Hotel Russell gets a makeover by Tara Bernerd
