Luxury 1 Hotel Group Opens First European Hotel In Mayfair, London

03.08.2023 - 09:29 / forbes.com / London

1 Hotel Mayfair, is the first European property for the American-based, sustainable hotel group. The location is great, with Green Park across the road, museums like the Royal Academy down the road and the stylish shops of Bond street and Burlington Arcade nearby. This chic new luxury hotel claims to be London’s very first sustainable luxury hotel, a big assertion indeed but one that does appear to have substance. From the moment you walk through the doors, you’re surrounded by living things, natural materials and textures, complemented by muted colors from nature. Over 1,300 plants from 200 species can be found throughout the hotel.

The nine-story hotel which includes two new floors of luxury suites has transformed a former fairly pedestrian Holiday Inn into a gorgeous new property. Opting for reconstruction over new construction, 80% of the existing structure was repurposed to minimise adverse environmental impact. Sustainably sourced and recycled materials were used throughout, including reclaimed metal floor tiles, solar panels, and large areas of green living walls.

The lobby is stunning, from the check-in counter, made of a 200-year-old oak tree, to the wall of Yorkshire stone behind it, to Rainforest, an incredible living chandelier by French designer Patrick Nadeau. Measuring four meters in diameter, the chandelier is covered with over 50,000 strands of Tillandsia usneoides (Spanish moss). The plants making up this dome, grow without the need of soil and are usually found attached to trees in the tropical forests of Central America. The Rainforest dome, perennial, organic and lively, greets guests and sets the tone of the place from the hotel entrance. Other specially commissioned artworks are each inspired by the natural environment including Flow a circular 3D piece by marine-plastic artist Steve McPherson and Torrent, by Kate McGwire, a 3,000 feather installation moulted from pigeon racers under the entire length of the glass bar counter at Dover Yard.

The 181 guest rooms (137 rooms and 44 suites) include the largest one-bedroom Penthouse in Mayfair. This top suite features a wrap-around terrace with retractable sliding doors with park views. The decor in guest rooms is muted with a color palette of slate grey, beige and green, complemented by attractive British Oak flooring from fallen trees on the Windsor Estate. And every room has a small section of living moss wall. The bathrooms feature Welsh slate and refillable toiletries from British sustainable brand Bamford. Sensors ensure electricity isn’t wasted by turning off both the lights and air conditioning. Other eco-friendly features include wooden rather than plastic keycards, guestroom glassware made of used and re-purposed glass and