Royal Lancaster London — London, UK

Architect Richard Seifert’s 18-storey Royal Lancaster London turns 50 this year and to celebrate, its Thai owners have just lavished £80m on a tip-to-toe refurbishment.
Studio Proof capitalises on the hotel’s coveted location on the edge of Hyde Park by turning the furnishings in each of the 411 rooms – a modern take on the mid-century look in sage green, white Carrara marble, Spinneybeck leather, and wool and silk throws – towards either greenery and London landmarks like St Paul’s Cathedral and Notting Hill.
The most dramatic changes, though, are the public spaces, in particular a new sweeping entrance and lobby braced in gold lacquer, brass and bronze, and anchored by a white marble staircase, and walls swathed in pale grey horsehair.
The in-house Nipa Thai is the setting for richly spiced curries and views of The Italian Gardens in Hyde Park, whilst the Island Grill scores for its mod Brit menu.
ADDRESS
Lancaster Terrace
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.
-
Minimalist architecture: homes that inspire calm
These examples of minimalist architecture place life in the foreground – clutter is demoted; joy promoted
By Ellie Stathaki • Published
-
V&A Dundee’s ‘Everything but the Clothes’ catalogues rare fashion show ephemera
‘The Fashion Show: Everything but the Clothes’ (3 June 2023 to January 2024) at V&A Dundee sees curator Ian R Webb collate a vast display of behind-the-scenes ephemera – from show invites to sketchbooks and photographs
By Zoe Whitfield • Published
-
Ron Mueck’s Paris show will capture the beauty and mess of humanity
Australian artist Ron Mueck’s forthcoming show at Fondation Cartier, Paris (8 June-5 November) will be a physical and psychological journey through the human experience
By Harriet Lloyd-Smith • Published
-
‘Where To Now’: Zara and Wallpaper* launch offbeat travel guides
Zara and Wallpaper’s ‘Where To Now’ travel guides launch with five off-the-beaten-track adventures, from California to Naoshima, for armchair and actual explorers, available to buy now
By Simon Mills • Published
-
London tour: from design shopping to exciting dining, architecture and art
Our London tour is a guide to the city’s must-sees of the moment, from Battersea Power Station to a hyperlocal design hub and the best bars and restaurants
By Martha Elliott • Published
-
Cosiest London cocktail bars for chic soirées
The best London cocktail bars for cosy drinks, from a fairy-lit terrace in Fitzrovia to snug surrounds in Covent Garden
By Martha Elliott • Published
-
Villa One at the One & Only Palmilla — Los Cabos, Mexico
By Chadner Navarro • Published
-
Notting Hill’s Sister Jane Townhouse is a theatre of whimsy
Sella Concept devise an eccentric, multi-experiential home for fashion brand, Sister Jane
By Harry McKinley • Last updated
-
Holmes Hotel carves out its own corner on London’s Chiltern Street — London, UK
By Melina Keays • Last updated
-
Aparthotels: the new breed of accommodation offering the best of both worlds
Aparthotels are big business. We take a look at Native, the design-led brand with big plans
By Lauren Ho • Last updated
-
Martim — Wroclaw, Poland
By Daven Wu • Last updated