Judging by the hoopla surrounding the opening of Nobuyuki Matsuhisa’s debut hotel in London’s heaving Shoreditch quarter – actually, his first in Europe – the cache of his celebrated name is clearly undiminished.
Initially designed by Ron Arad and completed by Ben Adams, the cantilevered steel beams of the five-storey building give the impression of a sleek mega-yacht in full sail. Inside, London-based Studio Mica has layered a calm Japanese aesthetic over the concrete, glass fibre and steel. Each of the 156 rooms features a quiet palette of slatted shoji screens, stylised watercolour walls by Hackney-based artist Sichi, and herringboned headboards, alongside bathrooms which include custom-designed basins by Laufen.
Flanked by an enclosed courtyard and terraces, the ground floor Studio PCH-designed Nobu restaurant is headed by Greg Seregi who turns out Hokkaido scallops with foie gras, and seabass with yuzu, tomato and cucumber salsa, and black truffles.
