Imagery courtesy of Dexter Moren Associates.
Dutch aparthotel brand City ID is working with hospitality designer Dexter Moren Associates (DMA) on its first site outside the Netherlands, in London, UK.
The project partners have now been granted revised planning permission for a 116-room aparthotel in the heart of London’s Victoria district.
UK introduction
City ID’s first UK venture is an eight-storey aparthotel designed to achieve BREEAM ‘Excellent’ standard and will showcase a mix of fully serviced studio and one-bed guestrooms.
Onsite amenities include a relaxing bar, food retail, delicatessen, a café and a formal restaurant, available to the public as well as guests.
Designed to meet the resurgent demand for tourist and business guest accommodation, the new aparthotel will deliver on City ID’s ethos of stylish comfort when it opens in 2024.
Eco design
Architect DMA’s final design for the main façade facing Vauxhall Bridge Road introduces an arcade of elegant two-storey high arches to the lower floors, creating a base that is aimed at being eye-catching and welcoming. The design references local historic buildings through the proportions, materiality and overall composition of the façade, enhancing the connection between the aparthotel and its surroundings.
Varying shades and patterns of brickwork add a modern edge, whilst deep reveals should create a rich and textured perspective. Lush foliage will cascade from first-floor planters, adding natural greenery to the urban streetscape.
To achieve the BREEAM ‘Excellent’ rating for the scheme, DMA specified materials with excellent thermal properties and included biodiverse green roofs and a number of PV panels. The Energy Strategy for the scheme, devised in conjunction with engineering consultancy Hoare Lea, is based on energy-efficient optimised facades, efficient building services systems and controls, and the use of Air Source Heat Pump technology. The strategy should result in a low-carbon scenario at present, as well as continuous improvement as the grid decarbonises, facilitating a shift towards clean energy systems.
Vibrant location
City ID’s CEO Alexander Goad, said: “We are very happy to create a fantastic new City ID location for our guests and local residents in this central location in one of London’s most vibrant and culturally rich areas. We hope our spaces inspire, provoke and enrich our guests and provide a platform for those looking for short or long term accommodation.
“We are excited by the journey ahead and the ability to provide a new level of accommodation across Europe together with our shareholders APG and Aware Super over the coming years. ”
DMA’s partner, Mark Wood, commented: ” When City ID acquired the site, they asked us to modify our previously consented design to fit their larger guestroom standards and develop the exterior design in line with the interior design concept.
“Our façade proposal responds positively to the surrounding area, referencing the architecture of the locale in a contemporary manner, whilst our expertise in space planning and the requirements of modern hospitality environments has allowed us to maximise the building’s accommodation efficiently whilst simplifying and streamlining the planning process. The final design will deliver an eye-catching, aspirational and classic building which is welcoming to the public and guests alike.”
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City ID is a fast-growing hotel group based in Amsterdam. Its specialty is developing apartment hotels suitable for short and longer stays. Quality, craftsmanship and eye for detail are central to its ambitious organisation.
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