Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park

(Image credit: James McDonald)

In the first phase of its top-to-toe refurbishment, London’s Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park is just emerging from behind a massive collage slash hoarding designed by Sir Peter Blake. The ambitious 18-month project which began last September has involved keeping the hotel running while a crack team - including local architects Purcell and Hong Kong-based design maven Joyce Wang - have worked behind the scenes to spruce up, in stages, all 181 rooms and public spaces.

Wang’s design scheme is informed by the hotel’s location next to the city’s beloved Hyde Park. What might, in less experienced hands, have turned into a literal translation of arboreal themes, has, instead, been translated into subtle gestures. The reception area, for instance, is dominated by a glass chandelier that echoes a spring bloom. Acorns are palimpsests for light fixtures, and rugs hint of autumn leaves. In the Knightsbridge-facing bedrooms (the Hyde Park-facing rooms will be completed in the second phase), grey paneled walls frame a palette of Art Deco features, leather tufted headboards and bathrooms lined in Volakas marble.

Elsewhere, Adam Tihany has been tapped to revisit the spaces he had originally designed for Bar Boulud and Dinner by Heston Blumenthal. The hotel’s iconic marque of the open fan for the lobby, meanwhile, has been reinterpreted by Jenny Packham, the British designer fashioning the rosewood spokes on the railings of the gates of Apsley House, and sprinkling sequins and Swarovski crystals drops over organza chestnut leaves.

A room in the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park. Walls with trimming are painted in light gray and beige, with a mirror and light fixtures in black. A dark blue velvet couch with a mirror-like coffee tale takes up most of the space.

A room in the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park. Walls with trimming are painted in light gray with an aged mirror decoration and black light fixtures. King size bed is covered with white linen and a gray blanket, while the headboard is in olive green leather.

A room in the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park. Walls with trimming are painted in light gray with a golden lineart and black light fixtures that serve as decoration. Deep purple couch, with comfortable-looking gray chairs and a black leather tabouret in between them.

A room in the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park. Four columns painted in black lead us into the living space. High ceiling gray painted walls, with shelves on one side surround tall windows. In front of the windoid is a white couch, with black wood trimming. Pale green chairs surround a rounded table.

A room in the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park. Light gray walls are decorated with glass art. Two yellow and gray chairs face each other, with a black table in between.

The lobby in the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park. A high ceiling painted in white, with gold trimming overlooks a majestic staircase in gold, brown, and shades of gray marble. The feather-like, silver chandelier is in the center, while the floors and walls are all in the same shades of marble as the staircase. Various plants are placed throughout the area.

ADDRESS

66 Knightsbridge

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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.