Sea Containers — London, UK

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Outside look at the Sea Containers hotel from the river. Wide building, with floor-to-ceiling windows and a "Sea Containers" sign at the top. We can see other buildings in the distance, as well as the London Eye.
(Image credit: Catherine Hyland)

Occupying Warren Platner’s iconic 1978 Sea Containers House, this South Bank hotel is a first for designer Tom Dixon and his firm Design Research Studio. Taking his cues from the building’s architect, while also paying tribute to its seafaring heritage, glamour meets brutalism with a design that nods to a 1920s transatlantic cruise liner.

The dramatic entrance is flanked by a 68-metre copper hull, which extends into the lobby, before tapering off into the riverside restaurant.

Also on the ground floor, the Dandelyan cocktail bar, overseen by barman Ryan Chetiyawardana (W*178), is characterised by the use of bold green, accented with a marble bar, brass detailing and parquet flooring. 

The 359 guest rooms feature a palette of subtle greys and whites, with bespoke furniture by Dixon complementing the designer’s signature wingback chair. Thirty of the 43 suites have river views, but the panoramic vistas from the rooftop bar are sure to be the biggest attraction. 

Copper curved wall to the left, with dark wooden boards that cover the other wall and brown tiles on the floor in the Sea Containers hotel.

(Image credit: Catherine Hyland)

Copper curved wall with light fixtures and a wide column supporting the top part. Dark wooden boards cover the other wall and brown tiles are on the floor in the Sea Containers hotel.

(Image credit: Catherine Hyland)

A room in the Sea Containers hotel. Deep green walls with a geometric window, light pink leather couches that cover the entire length and width of the room, with golden tables.

(Image credit: Catherine Hyland)

A room in the Sea Containers hotel. White walls, with dark gray built-in furniture. A rounded glass table is surrounded by dark brown chairs.

(Image credit: Catherine Hyland)

A room in the Sea Containers hotel. White walls, floor-to-ceiling windows with a terrace, a dark gray couch that looks at the tv handing on the wall, black work desk with a gray chair.

(Image credit: Catherine Hyland)

One of the bathrooms in the Sea Containers hotel. White walls, with a huge mirror to the left and a walk-in shower, next to it. The sink area is to the far wall, with a mirror with light fixtures on it.

(Image credit: Catherine Hyland)

The cinema in the Sea Containers hotel. Dark blue sitting and walls, with golden railing in between, and the screen of the far wall.

(Image credit: Catherine Hyland)

A large room in beige tones, with a stair-like structure to the left. To the right, we have chaise longues with a lamp beside them. In the center, there is a floor-to-ceiling copper structure.

(Image credit: Catherine Hyland)

INFORMATION

Catherine Hyland

ADDRESS

20 Upper Ground
London SE1

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Lauren Ho

Lauren Ho is the Travel Director of Wallpaper*,  roaming the globe, writing extensively about luxury travel, architecture and design for both the magazine and the website. Lauren serves as the European Academy Chair for the World's 50 Best Hotels.