The team at Inspired has thoroughly enjoyed creating this project, proving that the company's unique approach to brand experience is just as relevant outside of the conventional events space.
The Sheraton Park Tower Hotel, in London's Knightsbridge, has been open for some 40 years. When the time came to refurbish and transform the property's main reception and bar facilities, Inspired were asked to look at creating a temporary space elsewhere with the hotel.
The brief from the outset was very clear: to design a reception, concierge and main bar environment that would not only be practical and durable enough to withstand the demands of hotel operations, but that would also uphold the brand standards befitting a five star property.
Inspired writes: "Our challenge was to transform a first floor meeting room into two distinct areas - an arrival experience, with reception desk, concierge, guest relations and back office areas; and a fully functioning lounge bar with prep areas and access to an outdoor landscaped terrace. With just six clear weeks between sign off and completion, a fixed budget and a venue with curved walls and pillars, our team had their work cut out!
"Liaising closely with the hotel's General Manager and senior operational teams, we first took time to understand the operational requirements of each area, from the working space needed behind the bar, to the size of all of the stationery items and IT equipment that would need to be accommodated in the reception counters. With the hotel having no existing scale drawings of the room, we then measured every wall and angle by hand, before mapping our proposed layout onto the newly created plan. Our design team even spent a full day within the room marking the floor out to scale and inviting operational staff to review and approve each key element.
"The finished design blended existing artwork and furniture from the venue with bespoke walling and a custom built bar and registration counters, to provide a seamless finish within the space. Outside, the scheme was completed with decking and a wooden pagoda, with both existing and new planting illuminated after dark in vibrant colours, as a backdrop for guests enjoying a drink in the bar.
"The environment will be in situ until early June when the permanent reception and bar areas will re-open on the ground floor. Already there has been unanimous praise for the scheme from hotel guests, long-term residents and senior management from Starwood, owners of the property."
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